In this guide — 10 sections
To verify a COA registered architect in India, visit the Council of Architecture’s official website at coa.gov.in and use the architect register search. Enter the name or registration number. The register shows whether the individual is currently registered, their number, and their status. If the person you are consulting does not appear, they are not legally permitted to use the title ‘Architect’ in India.
What COA Registration Is and why it exists
Professional registration with the Council of Architecture, a statutory body established under the Architects Act, 1972. Only individuals holding a recognised B.Arch degree who pass the COA’s registration process may be entered on the register and use the title ‘Architect’ in India. Section 37 of the Act makes it an offence for an unregistered person to use that title or claim to be practising as an architect.
The register exists because building design is a public safety matter, not only an aesthetic service. An architect’s decisions about structural column positions, floor-to-floor heights, staircase width, emergency exits and material specifications bear directly on structural safety, fire safety and habitability. The Act protects the public by ensuring only trained, registered professionals can legally perform architectural work and sign approval documents.
What a Registration Number actually looks like
A unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to each registered architect. The format is typically four segments separated by slashes:
The two highlighted segments are the ones worth reading. The state code tells you where the architect registered, and the year tells you when — both should be consistent with the practice history you have been given. This number must appear on every building plan approval drawing, and it can be checked independently on the register.
How to Verify Registration, step by step
Five steps. The whole process takes about three minutes:
Go to the official COA website
Open coa.gov.in directly. This is the only official source for registration verification — do not rely on third-party websites claiming to list registered architects.
Locate the Register of Architects
Find the ‘Register of Architects’ section. The COA publishes a searchable register of all currently registered architects in India. The interface changes occasionally, so look for a search field accepting a name or registration number.
Enter the name or COA number
Ask the person you are consulting for their registration number before searching. A registered architect will have it readily available and will expect the question.
Read the result carefully
The result should show the architect’s full name as registered, their registration number, their state of registration, and their status. Confirm the name matches the person you are consulting and that the status is active.
Cross-check against their documents
Ask to see the registration certificate, or a previous building plan approval drawing carrying their stamp. The number on those documents should match the register exactly. Any discrepancy between a claimed number and the register is a serious warning sign.
If the Search returns nothing
If the name or number provided does not appear in the register, the person is not currently registered. Three consequences follow immediately:
- They cannot legally use the title ‘Architect’ in India
- They cannot sign CMDA or GCC building plan approval drawings
- Any drawings they produce will not be accepted for planning authority submission
Do not proceed on the basis that registration will be obtained later. Engage a COA-registered architect first. The practical cost of getting this wrong is paying twice — once for drawings that cannot be filed, and again for a registered architect to review, revise, redraft and file replacements.
We Expect You to Check. Here Is the Number.
Buildiyo’s architects are COA-registered, and the registration number is provided before any design brief or fee discussion — so you can verify it on the public register before committing to anything.
Registered Architect versus unregistered designer
The practical difference, dimension by dimension:
Swipe or scroll to see the full table →
| Dimension | COA-registered architect | Unregistered designer |
|---|---|---|
| Legal authority to use the title | Yes — the Architects Act, 1972 restricts ‘Architect’ to COA-registered professionals | No — using the title without registration is an offence under Section 37 |
| Can sign CMDA/GCC approval drawings | Yes — the registration number is mandatory on all TNOBPAS submissions | No — CMDA and GCC reject drawings not signed by a registered architect |
| Can obtain Class 3 DSC for filing | Yes — issued to the registered individual for digital submission | Cannot obtain an architect-category Class 3 DSC, so TNOBPAS submission is impossible |
| Professional accountability | Bound by the COA code of conduct and subject to COA disciplinary action | No formal professional body accountability; disputes are contractual or consumer law only |
| Structural adequacy certificate | Architecture scope only; must co-ordinate with a licensed structural engineer | Same limitation, and without COA-regulated co-ordination responsibility |
| Verifiable on a public register | Yes — the COA register at coa.gov.in is publicly accessible | No — not on the register by definition |
| Registration number on drawings | Yes — required on all statutory submissions | Absent — cannot provide a valid number |
Why It Matters for CMDA, GCC and TNOBPAS
CMDA and GCC building plan approvals require that architectural drawings be prepared and signed by a COA-registered architect. Drawings signed by an unregistered person are not accepted. Since 2019, all Tamil Nadu building plan submissions are processed through TNOBPAS.
The TNOBPAS constraint
Every submission must be digitally signed using the architect’s Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate. Class 3 DSCs for architectural practice are issued to COA-registered architects specifically. An unregistered designer cannot obtain an architect-category Class 3 DSC, which means they literally cannot file. There is no workaround, no exception, and no informal arrangement that replaces this requirement.
The double-cost trap: an unregistered designer produces drawings that look like approval drawings but cannot be filed. You then re-engage a COA-registered architect, who must review, usually revise, redraft and re-file. Paying for the first set and then paying again for the replacement is entirely avoidable through a single verification check before engagement.
Can Anyone Call Themselves an architect in India?
No. Section 37 of the Architects Act, 1972 makes it a legal offence for an unregistered person to use the title or claim to practise as an architect. Only COA-registered individuals may use it, and the Council of Architecture is the only body that can register architects in India. Degrees, diplomas and CAD skills do not substitute for registration.
In practice, the market uses several titles that sound similar but carry no regulatory meaning:
- Architectural Designer
- Building Designer
- Design Consultant
- Home Designer
An important distinction: none of these titles require COA registration, none can sign approval drawings, and none are bound by the COA’s code of professional conduct. There is nothing inherently wrong with these roles — many talented professionals practise under them. But they are not COA-registered architects, and their drawings cannot legally represent the work of a registered architect for planning authority purposes.
What to Do If Your Architect is not registered
- Stop before the approval processDo not proceed with a building plan approval using an unregistered designer. The drawings cannot be filed, and the cost of preparing them is wasted.
- Ask the question directly‘Are you COA-registered? What is your registration number?’ A registered architect answers immediately and confidently. Reluctance, deflection or inability to provide the number is a clear indicator.
- Search the registerEnter the name or number at coa.gov.in and verify the result against what you were told.
- Engage a registered architect for the statutory workThe unregistered designer may remain involved in the creative design process informally, but the COA-registered architect must be the professional of record for all statutory submissions.
- Do not accept an indirect assuranceClaims that the designer works ‘with’ or ‘under’ a registered architect mean nothing without confirming that architect’s name, number and direct involvement in your specific project.
Registered Architects and the Build, Under One Roof
In-house COA-registered architects handling design, TNOBPAS filing and construction — so the professional of record for your approval is the same team building the house.
Credential Verification checklist
Swipe or scroll to see the full table →
| Check | Complete before you engage |
|---|---|
| Ask for the COA registration number before any design brief or fee discussion | |
| Verify the number independently on coa.gov.in — do not rely on the architect’s own assertion | |
| Confirm the status is active, not expired, suspended or cancelled | |
| Ask for the registration certificate to cross-check name against number | |
| Ask to see a previous approval drawing carrying their stamp and number | |
| Confirm the registered architect signs your drawings — not an unregistered staff member | |
| Confirm they hold a Class 3 DSC for TNOBPAS submission, for Tamil Nadu projects | |
| Ask for a filed plan reference if they claim prior Tamil Nadu approval experience |
For the full list of questions to ask before hiring, see 12 questions to ask an architect before hiring. For what the fee itself should cover, see the architect quotation red flags guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my architect is COA registered?
Visit coa.gov.in and use the architect register search. Enter the architect’s name or their COA registration number. The register shows current registration status. This verification is free, public, and takes under three minutes. If the name does not appear, the person is not COA-registered and cannot legally sign building plan approval drawings in India.
What is a COA registration number and what does it look like?
A unique identifier assigned by the Council of Architecture to each registered architect. It typically follows the format CA/[State Code]/[Year]/[Sequential Number] — for example CA/TN/2015/12345 for a Tamil Nadu-registered architect. This number must appear on all statutory building plan approval drawings and can be verified independently on the register.
Can anyone call themselves an architect in India without COA registration?
No. Section 37 of the Architects Act, 1972 makes it a legal offence to use the title ‘Architect’ or claim to practise as one without registration. Titles like ‘Architectural Designer’ or ‘Building Designer’ are unregulated and require no registration, but they cannot sign CMDA or GCC approval drawings or file on TNOBPAS.
Does my architect need COA registration for CMDA approval in Tamil Nadu?
Yes. CMDA and GCC approvals require drawings signed by a COA-registered architect. TNOBPAS submissions additionally require the architect’s Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate, issued only to COA-registered architects for architectural practice. An unregistered designer cannot file on TNOBPAS, and drawings not signed by a registered architect will be rejected.
What should I do if the architect I am consulting is not COA-registered?
Do not proceed with a building plan approval process using an unregistered designer, since their drawings cannot legally be filed with CMDA or GCC. Engage a COA-registered architect for the approval process. The register at coa.gov.in is public and free — verify before any fee or engagement discussion begins.
Every other credential — years of experience, portfolio, software certificates, studio reputation — supplements this check. None of them replace it.
— Why the register comes first
Verify Before You Commit
Work with COA-registered architects whose credentials are verifiable on the public register as a matter of standard practice — including Class 3 DSC filing on TNOBPAS.
One search, total confidence
A COA registered architect is not a marketing designation or a quality tier — it is a legal requirement for the work you need done. Verify registration before any conversation about fee, design brief or project timeline. The register at coa.gov.in is public, free, and takes three minutes. The Council of Architecture registration number is the only reliable confirmation that the person you are about to engage can legally sign your building plan approval drawings. Once that question is answered with a verified register entry, you can engage with full confidence in the statutory foundation of your project. Contact Buildiyo to work with COA-registered architects whose credentials are verifiable as standard practice.