Unfortunately in Ireland the title of architect is not protected and anybody can call him or herself an architect. The qualified architects are outnumbered 10:1 by unqualified persons who have only a passing knowledge of architecture. These could be people, such as Engineers, all kinds of technicians and even worse people with no qualifications at all.   The services provided cannot be compared. Can the services a nurse provides be compared with a doctor? It would definitely create some stir if nurses would be able to call themselves doctors. Nurses in their own right provide a very valuable service. In architecture this appears to be different , anybody who can put some pen to paper feels that they should call themselves architects. In my years of practice as an architect I have met only very few and far between unqualified architects who have feeling for architecture and would be capable of completing a degree course. Unfortunately this huge production of buildings by non qualified architects does not impress most people with some degree of architectural appreciation. The average standard bungalow,originating from the bungalow bliss era, is not of great architectural merit. The new era of dolled-up bungalow bliss designs is even more horrific with a multitude of architectural features crammed into one building which loses balance, theme and identity. These buildings reflect an identity crises which relates directly back to its creator. Because of this wild growth of unqualified architects there is also great fee competition. No explanation needed for the fact that the unqualified architects operate at much lower fees than the qualified architects. However, one should always remember that the end product is governed by the skills of the architect and saving a bit of money on the design work will result in a lesser architectural quality and a lower value of the products. All qualified architects are registered with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland founded in 1839, is the representative body for professional qualified architects in Ireland. The RIAI qualifications and membership are accepted by government, the courts and the EU as the required standard. The highest standard of professional competence is maintained by means of examination prior to entry. The affix MRIAI is recognised under Article 11 (F) of the EC directive (85/383/EEC) on the mutual recognition of diploma, certificate and other evidence of formal qualifications in architecture. In Europe the RIAI represents the profession through its membership of the Architects Council of Europe. Worldwide the RIAI represents the profession through membership of the International Union of Architects. The objectives of the RIAI are the advancement of Architecture and the associated Arts and Sciences, the promotion of high standards of professional conduct and practice and the protection of the interest of architectural training and education.