COA Approval Checker 2026
Verify whether your target architecture college holds valid Council of Architecture (COA) recognition before you apply. Admission to a non-COA-approved college means your B.Arch degree will not be recognised, putting your career and registration as an architect at risk.
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Check COA approval status
No login neededSearch for any architecture college to check its Council of Architecture (COA) recognition status.
How it works
How the COA Approval Checker 2026 works
Search Your College
Enter the full or partial name of the architecture college you want to verify. The checker searches across all COA-recognised and listed institutions in India.
View Approval Status
Get the current COA approval status: Fully Approved, Provisionally Approved, or Not Recognised. See the approval date and the number of seats sanctioned by COA.
Check Approval History
Review the college's COA approval history. Some colleges have had approvals lapsed or renewed over the years. This history is important for understanding institutional stability.
Compare with Alternatives
If your target college is not fully approved, find nearby COA-recognised colleges in the same state with similar fee structures and seat availability.
Features
Key features
- Real-time COA StatusPulls from an updated list of COA-recognised architecture colleges across India. Status reflects the most recent COA inspection and approval cycle.
- Approval History TimelineShows when the college first received COA approval, any lapses, and renewal dates. A stable, long-standing approval record is a strong indicator of institutional quality.
- Intake Seats VerificationDisplays the number of B.Arch seats sanctioned by COA for each college. If a college admits more students than the approved intake, the extra admissions may not be recognised.
- State-wise College ListingBrowse all COA-approved colleges in any state. Useful for students exploring options in multiple states during the counseling process.
- University Affiliation CheckVerifies which university the architecture college is affiliated to. Degree-granting authority and affiliation matter for degree recognition by professional bodies.
- Alert for Lapsed ApprovalsFlags colleges with lapsed or expired COA approval. Some colleges operate in a legal grey area with expired approvals and students should be cautious about such institutions.
Why COA Approval Matters for Your B.Arch Degree
The Council of Architecture (COA) is the statutory body under the Architects Act, 1972 that regulates architectural education in India. Every B.Arch program must receive COA approval to function legally. A degree from a non-COA-approved institution is not recognised for registration as an architect under Section 25 of the Architects Act, which means graduates from such colleges cannot practise architecture professionally.
COA approval is granted after a physical inspection of the institution, covering infrastructure, faculty qualifications, library facilities, studio space, and computer labs. Approvals are typically given for specific intake sizes, for example, 40 or 60 seats per year. Colleges that admit students beyond the approved intake may face penalties, and the additional admissions may not be officially recognised.
Colleges hold either full approval or provisional approval. Full approval means the institution has met all COA standards and has a stable record. Provisional approval is granted to newer institutions or those with pending compliance requirements. Students should prefer fully approved colleges for better institutional stability and cleaner degree recognition records.
Before confirming any architecture college admission, always verify the COA approval status directly. Some colleges may advertise COA affiliation that has since lapsed or is under dispute. Our COA Checker pulls from the most recent recognition lists to give you an accurate picture before you make this important decision.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
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