Education
The AIA Continuing Education System is designed to assist the architect in maintaining competence and achieving professional goals. The requirement applies to full AIA members only. Associate and emeritus members are encouraged to participate but are exempt from the requirement. All members are exempt during their first calendar year of membership.
Requirements and Resources
- Requirements
- Health Safety & Welfare (HSW)
- Sustainable Design (SD)
- Meeting Requirements
- Credit for LEED Certification
- Credit for Teaching
- Non-compliance & AIA Audits
- Assistance
On December 9, 2011, the AIA National Board of Directors voted to modify the AIA’s calendar year continuing education requirement. Per year, AIA members will be required to complete 12 hours of health, safety, and welfare (HSW) education, an increase from the previous requirement of 8 HSW. The AIA Board will re-evaluate the sustainable design (SD) requirement in 2012. The new HSW requirement goes into effect in January 2012 and AIA members should fulfill their total 18 hours of continuing education during the calendar year.
Additionally, in calendar year 2012, aligning closer with state licensing boards’ practice, AIA members will no longer be able to self-report HSW courses (or SD courses) for credit. Members will need to complete HSW & SD credits by taking qualifying courses from registered AIA CES Providers and Providers will need to report HSW & SD courses for members to receive HSW & SD credits. Members can continue to self-report learning unit (LU) credit hours for non-provider courses and programs.
Additionally, in calendar year 2012, aligning closer with state licensing boards’ practice, AIA members will no longer be able to self-report HSW courses (or SD courses) for credit. Members will need to complete HSW & SD credits by taking qualifying courses from registered AIA CES Providers and Providers will need to report HSW & SD courses for members to receive HSW & SD credits. Members can continue to self-report learning unit (LU) credit hours for non-provider courses and programs.
To maintain their active status, members are required to earn 18 Learning Units (LUs) per calendar year of which 12 must be Health, Safety, and Welfare learning and 4 of the HSW must also qualify for Sustainable Design learning units. LUs are now measured by hour. The minimum program length is one hour of actual learning time. All states requiring continuing education credits for licensure acceptAIA accredited programs. For a more detailed explanation of the program, click here to view the CES member manual.
These programs are defined as those that relate to the structure or soundness of a building site. This requirement is based in states having the power to grant professional licensure as a means of protecting the life, safety and welfare of the public. Examples would be programs on nontoxic building materials, sprinkler systems, uses of natural light, ventilation and provisions for users with disabilities. Click here.
As of January 1, 2009, AIA members are required to earn 4 Sustainable Design Learning Units. These units are part of the 12 Health Safety Welfare learning units. For more information about this requirement, click here.
There are three options for members to earn Learning Units (credits).
• Registered Provider Programs
Members receive credits by attending programs presented by AIA Registered Providers. Registered providers are those AIA components, private vendors, educational institutions and other associations that have pre-approved their programs for CES learning units with AIA National. It is highly recommended members keep records of the courses attended, including course title, number, date, program provider and contact information for future reference. Click here to visit the events page for a listing of local programs.
• Self Report
Members may also submit Self-Report Forms for other activities, either structured or self-designed. AIA members cannot self-report HSW or SD courses for credit. Click here to view the CES member manual for details.
• Distance Education
Members can take approved distance education programs to meet AIA/CES requirements. Distance education is defined as a method of instruction in which there is a separation of place and/or time between the instructor and learner, between fellow learners, and/or between learners and the learning resources. These courses may use one or more delivery methods. Examples of distance education course delivery (alone or in combination): Internet; Podcasts; Publications/articles; Teleconference/audio conference; Webcasts; and NCARB monographs. Some AIA registered providers offer distance education and AIA National offers distance learning for convention programs.
Distance education courses can be found on AIA national website online course directory by clicking here. Click here for virtual convention program information.
If you studied on your own and took the exam you may self report that time online as a self-designed activity (research). Since it was not structured and presented to you by a third party, it will not be eligible for HSW credit. If you took a class from an organization that was not an AIA/CES Registered Provider then you may self-report the class as a structured activity program. This type of activity will be eligible for HSW credit, and possibly SD credit. If the program was presented by an AIA/CES Registered Provider then the program provider is responsible for the submission of your activities to AIA/CES Records.
Members who present a program or class, serve on a panel or give a speech of one hour or longer can self-report the program for credit as a Structured/Self-Reported Program by completing an online self report form. Members can file for HSW credits for the program if appropriate. Members can self-report the research and preparation time for presentations, speeches, programs and classes they teach. This research must be reported as a Self-Designed Activity and, regardless of the topic, will not qualify for HSW credits. The AIA allows a maximum of 10 LU hours of research for each hour of presentation time. Members must select just one of the above described options, either teaching credit (Structured/Self-Reported Program) or research (Self-Designed Activity) for a presentation, program, speech or class. Full-time university faculty can not apply for credit for a course that is part of their regular curriculum workload. They can apply for credit if the course or program is "outside" of their normal assignments. Part-time faculty can apply for credits for any course taught once every three years.
Member transcripts are randomly selected for review throughout the year to ensure compliance. An audit of members' transcripts is done in January for the previous year. A member who was audited and found not to be in compliance with the annual requirement will be notified by AIA National and given the opportunity to report activities completed the previous year. These retroactively reported credits (deficit credits) will be posted in the year in which completed and automatically be applied to the year the member was found not to be in compliance. It is the responsibility of the member to regularly check his/her transcript to ensure compliance.
- AIA Philadelphia: Pat Gourley; 215-569-3186; pat@aiaphila.org
- AIA National: 202-626-7436 or 202-626-7478
- AIA/CES Records: 800-605-8229, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time
- Online: AIA National website: www.aia.org/education/ces/index.htm. You can view your transcript, self report programs, submit program evaluations, and download forms on AIA National's website. The AIA website provides up-to- date information on state Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) requirements, lists AIA Certified Providers and accredited programs, contains a listing of eClassroom courses, offers an extensive "frequently asked questions," and the CES Survival Guide. We urge you to visit the website often and refer to it for any information.
