The architecture profession demands great responsibility from its practitioners. Therefore, Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects was enacted by the state to establish a shared understanding and regulate matters related to this profession. Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Architects Law defines an architect as a person who practices architecture and holds a Certificate of Architect Registration (Surat Tanda Registrasi Arsitek / STRA). Under this definition, an architect is legally recognized when fulfilling two main requirements:
- Practicing Architecture: providing professional services including planning, designing, supervising, and evaluating buildings and their surrounding environments.
- Holding a STRA: possessing an official certificate issued by the Indonesian Architects Council (Dewan Arsitek Indonesia / DAI) as written proof that the individual has met nationally recognized competency standards.
The first step toward becoming an architect is completing a minimum of 5 years of architectural education, in accordance with the UIA Accord on Recommended International Standards of Professionalism in Architectural Practice. In Indonesia, this 5-year minimum can be fulfilled through two pathways: a Bachelor’s Program in Architecture (4 years) + a Professional Architecture Education Program (1 year), or a Bachelor’s Program in Architecture (4 years) + a Master’s Program in Architecture with a Design Concentration (2 years). This educational process provides aspiring architects with their first exposure to architectural practice while simultaneously fulfilling one of the requirements for obtaining a STRA. Upon completing this education, graduates may work as Junior Assistant Architects.
The next step is completing an internship of 4,000 hours as mandated by Law No. 6/2017 and regulated by the Indonesian Architects Council (DAI). During this internship process, managed by the Indonesian Institute of Architects (Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia / IAI), aspiring architects receive direct mentorship from STRA-certified architects who are licensed as internship mentors. Upon completing the internship, candidates may register to take a competency examination. Passing this examination serves as the gateway for candidates to apply for the issuance of a STRA. The title Architect (Ar.) is used before the individual’s name, signifying that the person is a registered architect.
A STRA grants national recognition as an architect. If the architect wishes to practice independently, establish their own firm, or act as the responsible designer who signs building permit documents (such as the Building Approval / Persetujuan Bangunan Gedung / PBG), they are required to obtain a License. Licenses are issued by the provincial government and are valid within that province. When an architect works in the construction sector, they require a Work Competency Certificate (Sertifikat Kompetensi Kerja / SKK). The Architect SKK falls under levels 7, 8, and 9, and is issued by a Professional Certification Body (Lembaga Sertifikasi Profesi / LSP). The LSP established by IAI is LSP SARSI. A summary of this process is illustrated in the diagram below.
In support of the minimum 5-year architectural education process, the Architecture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada has been running the Professional Architecture Education Program (1 year) since 2017, and the Master’s Program with a Design Concentration (2 years) since 2023. These programs are part of the Department of Architecture and Planning, alongside the Bachelor’s Program in Architecture, the Bachelor’s Program in Urban and Regional Planning, the Master’s Program in Architecture (also available in regular, research concentration, and tourism concentration tracks), the Master’s Program in Urban Design, the Doctoral Program in Architecture, and the Doctoral Program in Urban and Regional Planning.