Navigating AIA Continuing Education Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide for Architects

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) champions continuing education (CE) as a cornerstone for professional development in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. AIA continuing education (CE) is universally recognized around the world as the AEC industry’s best learning. As practice evolves, codes are updated, and new trends emerge, architects and design professionals rely on AIA’s CE program to enhance their architectural expertise and strengthen their business acumen. This article provides a detailed overview of AIA continuing education requirements, covering aspects relevant to both AIA membership and state licensure.

The Importance of Continuing Education

AIA/CES enables architects to keep current, master new knowledge and skills, plan for the future, and responsibly meet the role society entrusts to a professional. Every single day new technologies are coming out. The only way to stay on top of that is to keep doing the new education classes. Industry-best virtual, in-person, & peer-to-peer learning. With hundreds of courses and a range of certificate programs-led by top experts in architecture, design, and beyond-AIA CE offers premium, on-demand courses that cover both design excellence and the essential business skills needed to run a successful practice. AIA emphasizes the importance of continuing education in architecture to advance and improve the profession.

AIA Membership Requirements for Continuing Education

The AIA has specific CE requirements for its members, measured in Learning Units (LUs). The AIA measures continuing education in Learning Units (LUs). You earn one LU for every hour of continuing education.

Annual Requirements

AIA Architect and International Associate members are required to complete 18.0 LUs from registered AIA/CES providers each year. Of the 18.0 LUs, 12.0 must be in the topic areas of health, safety and welfare (HSW).

Requirements for Emeritus Members

Architect Emeritus members are required to complete 1 LU annually.

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Associate Members

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.

Tracking Your Progress

An AIA Transcript is maintained for all AIA members on the national AIA’s web site. You can check your transcript at any time by visiting AIA Education.

State Licensure Requirements for Continuing Education

In addition to AIA membership requirements, licensed architects must also fulfill CE requirements mandated by their state licensing boards. These requirements vary by state and often include specific topics such as accessibility, sustainable design, or ethics. CE requirements for licensed architects. You may also need to complete continuing education requirements to renew your state license(s). If you’re working on getting licensed, some AIA-approved courses count toward the experience requirement for licensure. Most state licensing boards accept the AIA transcript as proof of your completed continuing education courses. Check with the New York State state licensing board for any specific requirements for license renewal.

CE Requirements by State

Below is a summary of CE requirements for architects by state:

Alabama: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Renewal deadline is December 31.
California: 10 Hours, including 5 hours in Disability Access and 5 hours in Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD). Biennial renewal, deadline is the last day of the birth month in odd years.
Connecticut: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, CEUs due April 30, license renewal due July 31.
Florida: 24 Hours, including 22 HSW and 2 Florida Building Code. Biennial renewal, deadline is February 28 in odd years. For Florida licensed architects, the continuing education requirement deadline is Dec. 31, 2026. This means your continuing education hours must be obtained from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. The deadline for license renewal for this biennium is Feb.
Georgia: 24 Hours, including 16 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is June 30 in odd years.
Idaho: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is the licensee's birth date.
Illinois: 24 Hours, including one-hour sexual harassment prevention training from an Illinois-approved CE provider and 16 HSW total will include min. one-hour design practice focused on high wind or natural disasters beginning Nov. 30, 2024. Biennial renewal, deadline is November 30 in even years.
Indiana: 24 Hours, including 16 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is December 31 in odd years.
Iowa: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is June 30 (A-K even years, L-Z odd years).
Kansas: 30 Hours, including 24 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is June 30 (A-L even years, M-Z odd years).
Kentucky: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is June 30.
Maryland: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is the licensure date.
Michigan: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is the licensure date.
Minnesota: 24 Hours, including 18 HSW and 2 Professional ethics. Biennial renewal, deadline is June 30 in even years. Continuing education is mandatory both for maintaining your AIA membership as well as maintaining your license to practice architecture in Minnesota. The requirements vary slightly and are as follows:AIA’s RequirementAIA’s requirement is 18 hours of continuing education, 12 of which must address Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) issues. This is an annual requirement on a calendar-year basis. If you exceed the requirement in any given year, up to 18 hours can be carried over to the following year. If you do not meet the requirement, you have a grace period of nine months (through September 30) to make up the preceeding year’s requirement (but you must meet the current year’s requirement, as well).
Mississippi: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is November 30 in odd years.
Nebraska: 24 Hours, including 23 HSW and 1 Professional Ethics in Architecture. Biennial renewal, deadline is December 31 (A-K odd year, L-Z even year).
New Hampshire: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is the last day of the licensee's birth month.
New Jersey: 24 Hours, including 16 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is July 31 in odd years.
New York: 36 Hours, including 24 HSW. Renewal every three years, deadline is the last day of the month preceding the birthday month.
North Carolina: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is June 30.
Ohio: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is December 31.
Oregon: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial 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 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is December 31, odd years.
South Dakota: 30 Hours, including 20 CEUs in technical subjects + 10 CEUs max. in professional management subjects. Biennial renewal, deadline is the last day of month of initial licensure.
Tennessee: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is the last day of the month of initial licensure.
Texas: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is the last day of the licensee's birth month.
Utah: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, deadline is May 31 in even years.
Washington: 24 Hours, including 16 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is the licensee's birthday.
West Virginia: 12 Hours, all in HSW topics. Annual renewal, deadline is June 30.
Wisconsin: 24 Hours, including 16 HSW. Biennial renewal, deadline is July 31, even year.
Wyoming: 24 Hours, all in HSW topics. Biennial renewal, first renewal is year after initial year of licensure.

Note: This information is subject to change. Always verify the most current requirements with your state licensing board.

District of Columbia Requirements

Licensed architects in the District of Columbia must accumulate a total of 24.0 learning units (LUs) each 2-year renewal period. All 24.0 Learning Units must be of HSW (Health, Safety & Welfare) designation. Of your 24.0 HSW|LUs, up to 8.0 LUs may be earned by participation in unstructured learning activities (i.e. online courses or self-reported activities); the remaining 16.0 HSW|LUs must be earned in structured lectures, seminars or other educational events. DCRA will accept AIA- and NCARB-approved online learning activities as structured learning activities.

Earning AIA Credits

AIA offers a variety of ways to earn continuing education credits that make meeting your goals and licensing requirements interesting and convenient. Our transcript service makes it easy to track your progress. 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.

AIAU: Virtual Learning

Learn at your pace, on your time, whenever and wherever you need with AIAU, which curates 250+ premium, on-demand courses and certificate programs-earning HSW, ADA, GBCI, RIBA, and AIA LU credits. 24/7 Virtual access to 250+ CE courses. Getting licensed? There’s also an extensive catalog with thousands of AIA-approved learning programs by AIA partners, chapters, and other organizations.

Peer-to-Peer Learning

Take advantage of peer-to-peer learning through AIA’s Knowledge Communities.

AIA Continuing Education Providers

Our provider network includes some of the biggest names in the AEC industry, academia, manufacturing, business, and climate science, plus AIA chapters and experts. Your firm may choose to become a Cornerstone Partner or a Continuing Education Provider. One of our chapters may offer additional options.

Tools and Resources

AIAU: Access online courses and track your CE progress.
AIA Transcript: Maintain a record of completed CEUs.
State Licensing Boards: Verify specific requirements for your state.
AIA Member Support Center: Contact for assistance with AIA membership and CE questions. Or call (800) 242 3837, option 2, to pay by phone.
CES FAQs: To review answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit CES FAQs.
Dues Calculator: Visit our dues calculator to estimate your membership dues.

Additional AIA Resources and Services

AIA Membership

AIA is a three-tier organization-national, state, and local-and members pay dues at all three levels. Per our bylaws, members must belong to all tiers of membership.

Group Enrollment Program

Through the AIA Group Enrollment Program, architecture firms with 10 or more Architect or Associate members can provide AIA membership to their entire team-through one convenient annual invoice. It’s a smart way to support professional growth, retention, and engagement across your firm. From new grads to firm principals, everyone can be included and benefit from full access to AIA resources, support, and community.

Membership Dues Payment Plan

The Membership Dues Payment Plan is available to renewing, new, and rejoining members. Enrollment is open from October 1 through April 30 and offers six equal monthly installments. Payments must be made by electronic check (e-check). Credit and debit cards are not accepted for installment payments.

Advisory Opinion Letters

This service is exclusively available to current AIA members. Members must provide the following details to process their request:

AIA Member Number
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
USCIS Service Center location

Beginning in January 2025, AIA will charge members for this service. The fee structure is as follows:

Standard Delivery: $250 (30 business days)
Rush Delivery: $400 (14 business days)

Key Considerations for Meeting CE Requirements

Check on the status of carry-over credits. Many states do not allow carry-over credits.
Determine HSW requirements and other topic area requirements. Some states require a minimum amount of continuing education in specific topics like accessibility, sustainable design or ethics.
Understand the timeframe in which credits must be earned.
Confirm details with your state licensing boards. Still have questions? Browse hundreds of courses earning LUs, HSWs, ADA credits, and more.

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