Continuing Education Units: Requirements for Architects

The architectural profession constantly evolves, demanding continuous learning and adaptation. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are a vital part of maintaining competence, ensuring public safety, and advancing architectural expertise. This article explores the requirements for continuing education for architects, focusing on AIA membership and state licensure renewal.

What are Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?

Continuing education is measured in Learning Units (LUs). One hour of continuing education earns one LU. By taking continuing education courses, architects expand their knowledge, refine their skills, and stay updated on new technologies, codes, and trends in the industry.

CE Requirements for Licensed Architects

Licensed architects must earn continuing education credits each year to fulfill AIA membership requirements. They may also need to complete continuing education requirements to renew their state license(s). If you’re working on getting licensed, some AIA-approved courses count toward the experience requirement for licensure.

AIA Membership Requirements

AIA Architect and International Associate members are required to complete 18 LUs from registered AIA/CES providers each year. Of the 18 LUs, 12 must be in the topic areas of health, safety, and welfare (HSW). Architect Emeritus members are required to complete 1 LU annually. Associate members are not required to meet a minimum number of hours but are encouraged to take continuing education courses to advance in their careers and the profession.

Earning AIA Credits

Look for AIA-approved providers to earn LUs that apply to your AIA requirements. When you take a course, provide your AIA member number and we’ll automatically update your AIA member transcript. Most state licensing boards accept the AIA transcript as verification that you have completed continuing education courses.

Read also: Explore LaGuardia's Programs

State-Specific CE Requirements

Continuing education requirements vary by state. Here is a summary of CE requirements by state:

Alabama: 12 HSW hours annually, with a renewal deadline of December 31.
California: 10 hours biennially, including 5 hours of Disability Access and 5 hours of Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) for license expirations on or after January 1,. Renewal deadline is the last day of the birth month in odd years.
Connecticut: 12 HSW hours annually, with CEUs due April 30 each year, and actual license renewal due July 31. No CEUs are due at first license renewal.
Florida: 24 hours biennially, including 22 HSW hours and 2 hours of Florida Building Code. Renewal deadline is February 28 in odd years. No CEUs are due at first license renewal.

Read also: Radiologic Technologist CE in Texas
Georgia: 24 hours biennially, including 16 HSW hours. Requirements vary for first-time renewals based on licensure duration. Renewal deadline is June 30 in odd years.
Idaho: 12 HSW hours annually, with a maximum of 6 HSW hours carryover to the next licensing period. Renewal deadline is the licensee's birth date.
Illinois: 24 hours biennially, including one-hour sexual harassment prevention training from an Illinois-approved CE provider. Beginning Nov. 30, 2024, renewal, 16 HSW total will include min. one-hour design practice focused on high wind or natural disasters. Renewal deadline is November 30 in even years.
Indiana: 24 hours biennially, including 16 HSW hours. A maximum of 6 CEUs can carry over to the next licensing period. No CEUs are due at first license renewal. Renewal deadline is December 31 in odd years.
Iowa: 24 HSW hours biennially. Requirements vary for first-time renewals based on licensure duration. Renewal deadline is June 30 (A-K, even years; L-Z, odd years).

Read also: Navigating Continuing Legal Education
Kansas: 30 hours biennially, including 24 HSW hours. Restrictions apply to HSW hours within a 24-hour period and carryover LUs. No CEUs are due at first license renewal. Renewal deadline is June 30 (A-L, even years; M-Z, odd years).
Kentucky: 12 HSW hours annually, with a renewal deadline of June 30.
Maryland: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW CE per year. A maximum of 12 HSW hours can carry over to the next license renewal. No CEUs are due at first license renewal. Renewal date is the licensure date.
Michigan: 24 HSW hours biennially. Requirements vary for first-time renewals based on licensure duration. Renewal date is the licensure date.
Minnesota: 24 hours biennially, including 18 HSW hours and 2 hours of professional ethics. A maximum of 12 HSW hours can carry over to the next license renewal. Renewal deadline is June 30 in even years.
Mississippi: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW CE for the current & previous calendar year. No CEUs are due at first license renewal. Renewal deadline is November 30 in odd years.
Nebraska: 24 hours biennially, including 23 HSW hours and 1 hour of Professional Ethics in Architecture. A maximum of 12 CEUs can carry over to the next license renewal period. Renewal deadline is December 31 (A-K odd year, L-Z even year).
New Hampshire: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW CE per year. A maximum of 12 HSW hours can carry over to the next license renewal. Renewal date is the last day of the licensee's birth month.
New Jersey: 24 hours biennially, including 16 HSW hours. Restrictions apply to CEUs earned per calendar day and carryover CEUs. No CEUs are required for the first renewal if licensed for less than 12 months. Renewal deadline is July 31 in odd years.
New York: 36 hours every three years, including 24 HSW hours. A maximum of 6 CEUs can carry over to the next renewal period. Renewal deadline is the last day of the month preceding the birthday month.
North Carolina: 12 HSW hours annually, with a renewal deadline of June 30. No CEUs are required for the first renewal if licensed for less than 12 months.
Ohio: 12 HSW hours annually, with a renewal deadline of December 31.
Oregon: 24 HSW hours biennially. Renewal deadline is Dec. 31 (odd year if arch. license ends in odd number, even year if arch license ends in even number).
Pennsylvania: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW CE per year. CEUS for first renewal = 1 CEU per month licensed. Renewal deadline is December 31, odd years.
South Dakota: 30 hours biennially, including 20 CEUs in technical subjects and a maximum of 10 CEUs in professional management subjects. Alternatively, an AIA transcript with a minimum of 12 HSW per calendar year can be submitted. Renewal date is the last day of the month of initial licensure.
Tennessee: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW per calendar year. Requirements vary for first-time renewals based on licensure duration. Renewal date is the last day of the month of initial licensure.
Texas: 12 HSW hours annually, including one-hour SD or energy-efficient design, one-hour barrier-free design, a minimum of eight hours structured, and a maximum of four hours self-directed. Renewal date is the last day of the licensee's birth month.
Utah: 24 HSW hours biennially, with a minimum of 12 HSW per calendar year. Renewal deadline is May 31 in even years.
Washington: 24 hours biennially, including 16 HSW hours. A maximum of 12 CEUs can be carried forward to the next renewal period if earned in excess of required CEUs in the second half of the licensing period. Renewal date is the licensee's birthday.
West Virginia: 12 HSW hours annually, with a renewal deadline of June 30.
Wisconsin: 24 HSW hours biennially. Requirements vary for first-time renewals based on licensure duration. Renewal deadline is July 31, even year.
Wyoming: 24 HSW hours biennially. Contact the state licensing board for CE requirements on first license renewal if licensed less than two years. The first renewal is the year after the initial year of licensure.

Key Considerations for State Requirements

Carry-Over Credits: Many states do not allow carry-over credits from one renewal period to the next.
HSW and Other Topic Requirements: Some states require a minimum amount of continuing education in specific topics like accessibility, sustainable design, or ethics.
Timeframe for Earning Credits: Understand the specific timeframe in which credits must be earned for each renewal cycle.
Verification: Confirm details with your state licensing boards to ensure compliance with the latest regulations.

New York State Continuing Education Requirements

In New York State, to renew your registration as an architect, New York State Education Law requires you to complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) in each three-year registration period.

Key aspects of New York's requirements:

Registration is Required to Practice: To practice architecture in New York, a licensee must be currently "registered" for a 3-year period.
Everyone Must Take CE: Every New York State licensed and registered architect must take continuing education in appropriate subject areas offered by approved sponsors. No one is exempt.
Adjustments and Exemptions: The New York State Education Department (the Department) may grant an adjustment and/or exemption to the requirement for reasons, which in the Department's judgment make it impossible for a licensee to comply. An adjustment and/or exemption may be granted for reasons of health (certified by an appropriate health care professional), for extended active duty with the armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to the Department that may prevent compliance.
First Registration Period: Licensees are required to take 36 hours of continuing education during their first three-year registration period of initial licensure.
Prorated Hours: Registration periods may be adjusted so that renewals occur during the licensee's month of birth. If your registration period is less than three years, to determine the number of contact hours required, count the number of months of the registration period. You must complete one hour of continuing education for each month.
Definition of an Hour: An hour is one contact hour of at least 50 minutes duration. One continuing education unit (CEU) equals 10 contact hours.
Acceptable Courses: Courses must be offered through an acceptable sponsor (provider) and are in an acceptable subject area.
Inactive Registration: To reactivate your New York State registration, you are required to have completed the number of hours applicable to the period of time of your last registration period and to take 1 hour of continuing education for each month your registration is inactive, up to a maximum of 12 additional hours.
Timing of Completion: You can complete the hours any time during the three-year registration period as long as you have completed the required hours prior to the expiration date of your registration, unless your registration has been inactive.
Acceptable Continuing Education: Acceptable continuing education includes courses of learning and educational activities. Courses of learning must be offered by an approved New York State sponsor (provider) and in an acceptable subject area. These courses must allow students the opportunity for immediate interaction with an instructor.
Modes of Delivery: In addition to the requirements above, for a course to be considered acceptable, a student must have the opportunity for immediate interaction with an instructor/presenter, (for example, a seminar, workshop, lecture, technical presentation, etc.).
Approved Sponsors: The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Services (AIA/CES), International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), The Practicing Institute of Engineering (P.I.E), and colleges, universities and other degree granting institutions offering degree programs registered by the State Education Department or accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency.
Subject Areas: Acceptable continuing education shall be in a subject area that may contribute to professional practice. Of the 36 hours required, at least two-thirds (24 hours) must be in the areas of health, safety and welfare (HSW). No more than one-third (12 hours) will be accepted in other topics, which may contribute to the professional practice of architecture as such practice is defined in section 7301 of the Education Law.
Independent Study: Independent study or informal group "study clubs" and/or book clubs of architects that are not approved sponsors cannot be accepted.
Teaching Courses: For a continuing education course taught, or technical presentation you give, through an approved sponsor and in an acceptable subject area, you may count towards satisfying your continuing education requirement the same number of hours that would be earned by a person who attended the course. Continuing education hours credited for this activity can include actual instructional time plus preparation time, which may be up to two additional hours for each hour taught.
College-Level Courses: Individuals teaching a college-level course may receive New York State continuing education credit.
Certificate of Completion: Sponsors must provide a Certificate of Completion to licensees who complete courses for continuing education credit. For AIA members, in lieu of the certificate, the sponsor may report the completion of the course or educational activity directly to AIA/CES Records for inclusion on an AIA transcript.
Record Keeping: When you renew your registration, you will be required to certify that you have completed the required continuing education. You should retain your CE records in your files for a period of six years. However, you are required to make your continuing education records available for inspection by the Education Department upon our request.
Consequences of Non-Compliance: You may be subject to charges of professional misconduct. Willfully making or filing a false report is unprofessional conduct, according to Section 29.1 of the Rules of the Board of Regents.
Conditional Registration: If you request, the Department, at its discretion, may issue you a conditional registration. The conditional registration is valid for one year only and is not renewable.
Inactive Status: This is permitted, as long as you are not practicing your profession in New York State. Your status will remain "not registered" until you meet the continuing education requirement and submit a registration renewal application with the appropriate fee.

AIA Continuing Education Program

AIA continuing education (CE) is universally recognized around the world as the AEC industry’s best learning. As practice changes, new codes are developed, and trends emerge, architects and design professionals turn to AIA’s CE program-not just for architectural expertise, but also to strengthen their business acumen.

Benefits of AIA CE:

Industry-Best Learning: AIA offers premium, on-demand courses that cover both design excellence and the essential business skills needed to run a successful practice.
Provider Network: The provider network includes some of the biggest names in the AEC industry, academia, manufacturing, business, and climate science, plus AIA chapters and experts.
Virtual Access: AIAU curates 250+ premium, on-demand courses and certificate programs-earning HSW, ADA, GBCI, RIBA, and AIA LU credits.
Peer-to-Peer Learning & Networking: Take advantage of peer-to-peer learning through AIA’s Knowledge Communities.

Course Examples and Topics

A wide range of courses are available to fulfill CEU requirements. These courses cover various aspects of architecture, design, and related fields. Here are some examples:

Designing and Building with Wood: Courses focusing on mass timber construction, wood products in green building, and designing modern wood schools.
Sustainable Design: Courses covering disruptive ecologies, regenerative city building, and calculating the wood carbon footprint of a building.
Resilient Design: Courses on designing for earthquakes and high winds, building resilience, and using wood to achieve thermal performance goals.
Material Selection and Performance: Courses exploring western red cedar finishes, pressure-treated southern pine for marine applications, and optimizing acoustic performance of wood buildings.
Interior Design and Well-being: Courses on designing beneficial spaces for living and working, the impact of wood use on indoor environments, and replica green walls.
Building Envelope Performance: Courses focusing on high-performance building envelopes and thermal barriers in aluminum framing.
Egress Marking Systems: Courses designed to introduce the architect to egress marking systems that are used for ordinary way finding and building evacuation in emergency situations.
Metal Applications: Courses exploring interior and exterior applications and functions for woven metal mesh products in architectural design.

Resources

AIA Website: For information on AIA membership requirements, approved providers, and continuing education programs.
State Licensing Boards: Contact your state licensing board for specific CE requirements and regulations.
AIAU: For 24/7 virtual access to CE courses.

tags: #continuing #education #units #for #architects #requirements