Architects and technical architects in Spain

Two professions, two roles

The LOE (Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación) names the roles in a building project. Article 10.2.a requires the author of the project to hold the qualification of architect, technical architect, engineer or technical engineer “según corresponda”. For buildings in group a) of article 2.1, which includes residential use in all its forms, “la titulación académica y profesional habilitante será la de arquitecto”. Article 13.2.a covers the director of the execution of the works (director de ejecución de la obra): for the same group, the qualification is that of technical architect.

In plain terms, for a residential building the architect designs the project and the technical architect supervises that the works are carried out as designed. We did not read the Ley 12/1986 on the professional attributions in detail, so we say nothing on which small works fall outside these roles; ask the municipality and the college.

College membership

Ley 2/1974, article 3.2, says that belonging to the college is “requisito indispensable para el ejercicio de las profesiones” where a state law so establishes. It adds that the registration fee cannot exceed the costs of processing the registration. We read the following on each profession:

• Technical architects: Real Decreto 352/2025, which approves the statutes of their general council (CGATE), says in its sole transitional provision that compulsory membership “se mantendrá hasta la entrada en vigor de la ley estatal que determine las profesiones para cuyo ejercicio será obligatoria la colegiación”. It was in force from 11 May 2025.
• Architects: Real Decreto 129/2018 (statutes of the CSCAE), article 19.1, says the duty of membership, “cuando venga establecido por ley estatal”, requires registration as a member. We found no equivalent transitional provision in the text we read, so we cannot say more than this. Ley 25/2009, transitional provision 4, keeps existing membership obligations in force until the state law foreseen takes effect, and we read nothing replacing it.

The public register and how to check

Article 10 of Ley 2/1974 requires each college to offer, through a single window (ventanilla única) on its website, a register of members kept up to date. Article 10.2.a lists what it shows: name, membership number, official qualifications, professional address and whether the person is authorised to practise. The statutes of the two councils repeat it (CSCAE, article 71.4.a; CGATE, article 3.2.a).

To check a professional:

1. Ask for the full name, college and membership number, and whether the person is currently authorised to practise.
2. Open the register of the college concerned and search the name or number yourself.
3. Compare the qualification on the register with the role: architect for the project, technical architect for the works.
4. If the person does not appear, ask the college that the person names.

The architects’ council (CSCAE) publishes its register through the single window of its website; the register is called Registro de arquitectos (ventanilla única). We name it in plain text and do not link to it, because the council’s legal notice says links “únicamente permitirá el acceso a la home-page” and that anyone wanting to link must first ask for written authorisation, which we have not obtained. We did not find a search address for the technical architects’ council and name it in text only; its legal notice has similar link terms and forbids framing.

Terms of use of these registers

• Architects’ council (CSCAE): “quedan expresamente prohibidas la reproducción, la distribución y la comunicación pública” without authorisation. Payotte therefore copies nothing from the register.
• Technical architects’ council (CGATE): reproduction needs prior express written authorisation; “No se creará un frame sobre las páginas web de la Web”.
• We found nothing on automated access in either notice. The absence of a clause is not a permission.

When a buyer may need one

The official texts we read describe who may sign a project and direct works; they do not tell a buyer when to hire. We therefore limit ourselves to this:

• Renovation or new building: the LOE roles above apply to the project and the execution of works in covered buildings.
• A building or home you are considering buying: nothing we read makes a technical inspection compulsory before a purchase. If you want a technical opinion on the structure or condition, it is a choice, and the professional to ask is a qualified architect or technical architect.

Which professional to consult

The architect or technical architect is the person for the technical file. A property lawyer can advise on the legal side of the purchase, and an approved appraisal firm gives a value, not a technical survey.