AIA & state continuing education requirements
Learn about architecture continuing education requirements for AIA membership & state licensure renewal. Architect CE requirements vary by location.
CE requirements for licensed architects
Licensed architects must earn continuing education credits each year to fulfill AIA membership requirements. 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.
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.
CE requirements for AIA membership
AIA measures continuing education in Learning Units (LUs). One hour of continuing education earns one LU. 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. Check with your state licensing board for any specific requirements for license renewal.
CE requirements by state
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for current calendar year, Jan.–Dec.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: December 31
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 LU (Total CE for current & previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. Max. 12 LU carryover to next renewal period).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: December 31, odd years
No continuing education requirement
Arizona Board of Technical Registration of Architects
No continuing education requirement
Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects & Interior Designers
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: July 31
Total Hours: 10 Hours
Detail: 5 hours Disability Access + 5 hours Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) (Total for licensing period). The additional ZNCD education is required for expiration of license on or after 01 January 2023.
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: Last Day of Birth Month for a Licensee, odd years
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW per renewal period (CE calculated current & previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. Min. 12 HSW per calendar year. See state licensing board for special rules regarding first license renewal if licensed less than one year.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: October 31, odd years
Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection
Total Hours: 12 Hours annual
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for 05/01 thru 04/30 each licensing period, which differs from the license renewal date. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: CEUs due 04/30 each year, actual license renewal due July 31
Division of Professional Regulation: Board of Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Total CE for previous two calendar years, Jan.–Dec. Minimum 8 HSW per calendar year. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: January 31, even years
Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Total CE for two-year licensing period. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: April 30, even years
Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 22 HSW + 2 Florida Building Code (CE calculated for previous two calendar years, Jan.–Dec. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: February 28, odd years
Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (For two-year licensing period. If licensed 12–23 months = 12 LUs total CEUs/8 HSW req. for 1st. renewal. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30, odd years
No continuing education requirement
Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects
Total Hours: 16 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (For two-year licensing period. If licensed 12–23 months = 8 HSW req. for 1st. renewal. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: April 30, even years
Idaho Bureau of Occupational and Professional Licenses
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (Calculated for previous calendar year. Max. 6 HSW carryover to next licensing period)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: Licensee's birth date (MCE is for previous calendar year)
Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation
Total Hours: 24 Hours, 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.
Detail: 16 HSW (Calculated for two-year licensing period)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: November 30, even years
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (For two-year licensing period. Max. 6 CEUs carryover to next licensing period. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: December 31, odd years
Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (For two-year licensing period. If licensed 12–23 months = 12 HSW req. for 1st. renewal. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30 (Last name beginning with A-K, even years. Last name beginning with L-Z, odd years)
Kansas State Board of Technical Professions
Total Hours: 30 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (for previous two licensing years. Max. 10 HSW in a 24-hour period. Max. 15 LU carryover to next licensing renewal. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30 (Last name beginning with A-L, even years. Last name beginning with M-Z, odd years)
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (for previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: June 30
Louisiana Board of Architectural Examiners
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (for previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: December 31
State Board of Licensure for Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers
No continuing education requirement
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Min. 12 HSW CE per year for previous two calendar years prior to the year of renewal, Jan.–Dec. Max. 12 HSW carryover to next license renewal. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Renewal date is licensure date
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (for previous licensing period).
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: August 31
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (For two-year licensing period. If licensed 12–23 months = 12 HSW req. for 1st. renewal. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Renewal date is licensure date
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 18 HSW + 2 Professional ethics (for previous two licensing years. Max 12 HSW carryover to next license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30, even years
Mississippi State Board of Architecture
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Min. 12 HSW CE for current & previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. previous year and Jan.–Nov. current year. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: November 30, odd years
Missouri Board for Architects, Prof. Engineers, Prof. Land Surveyors & Landscape Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours, current calendar year and previous calendar year
Detail: 16 HSW (for previous two licensing years. Max. 8 HSW per day. Max. 12 LUs carryover to next license renewal. Licensed < 12 months = 0 CEUs due at first license renewals.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial from year of licensure.
Renewal Deadline: December 31
Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: June 30
Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 23 HSW + 1 Professional Ethics in Architecture (for the previous two licensing years). Max. 12 CEUs carry over to the next license renewal period.
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: December 31 (Last name Beginning with A–K odd year, L–Z even year)
Nevada Board of Arch., Interior Design and Residential Design
Total Hours: 8 Hours
Detail: 8 HSW (for current licensing year. 6 HSW + 2 Code-related HSW courses total)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: December 31
New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (min. 12 HSW CE per year for previous two calendar years prior to year of renewal, Jan.–Dec. Max. 12 HSW carryover to next license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Renewal date is last day of licensee's birth month
New Jersey State Board of Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (CE is for the previous two licensing years. Max. 6 CEUs per calendar day. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal. Max. 12 CEUs/8HSW earned in the last six months of the current licensing period can carry over to the next renewal period.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: July 31, odd years
New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Min. 12 HSW CE for current & previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: December 31, odd years
New York State Education Department: Office of the Professions
Total Hours: 36 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (CEUs are for three previous licensing years. Max. 6 CEUs carryover to the next renewal period.)
Renewal Cycle: Every three years (from the initial year of registration)
Renewal Deadline: Last day of the month preceding birthday month
North Carolina Board of Architecture
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for the previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. If licensed <12 months = no CEUs req. for 1st renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: June 30
North Dakota State Board of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
No continuing education requirement
No continuing education requirement
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for current calendar year, Jan.–Dec. Licensed < 60 days prior to 12/31 renewal date = 0 CEUs due at license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: December 31
Oklahoma Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Registered Commercial Interior Designers
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (CE calculated for previous two licensing years. Max. 4 HSW carryover to next renewal period)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30, odd years
Oregon Board of Architect Examiners
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (CE calculated for previous 2 licensing years).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: Dec. 31 (odd year if arch. license ends in odd number, even year if arch license ends in even number)
Pennsylvania State Architects Licensure Board
No continuing education requirement
Department of State, Board of Examiners of Architects and Landscape Architects
Total Hours: 12 hours non-residents, 60 hours residents
Detail: CE calculated for current calendar year, Jan.–Dec. (Min. 2 HSW per calendar year.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual for non-residents; Every five years for residents (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Renewal date is licensure date
Division of Design Professionals
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Min. 12 HSW CE per year for current & previous calendar years, Jan.–Dec. CEUS for first renewal = 1 CEU per month licensed.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: December 31, odd years
South Carolina State Board of Architectural Examiners
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Total CE for previous two licensure years. No CEUs due at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: June 30, odd years
South Dakota Board of Technical Professions
Total Hours: 30 Hours
Detail: 20 CEUs in technical subjects + 10 CEUs max. in professional management subjects. Can also submit AIA transcript with min. 12 HSW per calendar year (previous two calendar years before license renewal) for 24 HSW max. of total required hours.
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of initial licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Last day of month of initial licensure
Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW Min. 12 HSW per calendar year CEUs are for the previous two licensing years. If licensed <24 months = 12 CEUs/7 HSW req. for 1st renewal).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Last day of the month of initial licensure.
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for previous calendar year, Jan.–Dec. One-hour SD or energy-efficient design + one-hour barrier-free design + min. eight hours structured + max. four hours self-directed).
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: Last day of licensee's birth month
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
No continuing education requirement
Utah Division of Professional Licensing
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (Total CE for previous two calendar years, min. 12 HSW per calendar year)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: May 31, even years
Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation: Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (CE calculated for previous two licensing years. If licensed < 24 months = no CEUs required at first license renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: January 31, odd year
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
Total Hours: 16 Hours
Detail: 16 LU (CE calculated for previous two licensing years)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Renewal date is last day of licensure month
Washington State Department of Licensing
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (CE calculated for previous two licensing years. Max. 12 CEUs carried forward to the next renewal period if earned in excess of required CEUs in second half of the licensing period).
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (from year of licensure)
Renewal Deadline: Licensee's birthday
West Virginia Board of Architects
Total Hours: 12 Hours
Detail: 12 HSW (CE calculated for the current calendar year, Jan.–Dec.)
Renewal Cycle: Annual
Renewal Deadline: June 30
Department of Safety and Design Professions
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 16 HSW (CE calculated for previous two licensing years. If licensed at least 12 months and < 23 months = 8 CEUs required for the first renewal period. If licensed < 12 months = 0 CEUS due at first renewal.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial
Renewal Deadline: July 31, even year
Wyoming Board of Architects and Landscape Architects
Total Hours: 24 Hours
Detail: 24 HSW (CE calculated for previous 2 licensing years. Contact the state licensing board for CE requirement on first license renewal if licensed less than two years.)
Renewal Cycle: Biennial (first renewal is year after initial year of licensure. License renewal is biennial after that.)
Renewal Deadline: December 31
CE checklist for licensed architects
- 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. We base the information above on the most recent information available, but we recommend that you contact your state’s board to verify your requirements.
- Have fun choosing among the thousands of courses available—locally through your chapter, at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, on AIAU, and through thousands of AIA-registered providers.
Still have questions? Visit our comprehensive FAQ or email us at cessupport@aia.org.
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