AIA Continuing Education System

  AIASCV plays an active role in the continuing education of its members.  We strive to provide as many, valued opportunities to our members to maximize their professional skills through effective learning.  Check our Calendar for events that qualify for Continuing Education Credit.

National AIA Requirements

Active AIA members must successfully complete 18 learning unit (LU) hours each year, with at least 8 LU hours relating to Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) of which 4 LU hours relate to Sustainable Design (SD).  See the chart below:

Have questions about the AIA/CES Requirements?  Click here for FAQs

Calculating Your AIA Credits

Members must complete 18 LUs each year:  10 LUs + 4 HSW  + 4 HSW/SD
Go to AIA's Education website for more information

A member who fails to meet the annual requirement will be given a nine month grace period.  Any credit earned in the following year will apply toward the deficit.  During the grace period, members are able to report retroactively any activities that were completed in the previous year.

A member who exceeds the annual requirement may carry up to 18 LU hours (including eight hours of HSW) over to the next year.  Carryover credit can be used for one year only; it is not cumulative.  Only the number of credits needed to fulfill the annual requirement for the following year may be carried over.  Extra credit may not be carried past the one-year limit.

Getting Your AIA Credits

When you see the AIA/CES logo advertised in conjunction with our educational seminars, workshops, and conferences you'll know the specific program has been registered through the AIA CES system. If a program is registered, this means that all members who register and attend will have their time recorded for credit by the provider (eg. AIA Santa Clara Valley).  Make sure you bring your AIA member number so that the provider can report your credit accurately.

Self-Reporting

All AIA members have the option of self-reporting independent activities or research for CES credits. The program must be educational in nature and related to new knowledge aligned to their practice of architecture.

To be eligible for credit, all self-reported activities must be planned educational activities that provide you with new knowledge that can be applied toward the practice of architecture.  Members should complete the AIA/CES Self-Report Form and submit it to AIA/CES Records. 

Be sure to specify which type of learning activity you are reporting so the data can be entered accurately into your transcript.  The title should be indicative of the program content.  Members calculate LU hours for self-reported activities by reporting the number of hours spent in architecture-related learning.  Think in terms of billable hours applied to learning.

Log on to your AIA/CES Account through National to look up transcripts self-report credit.  All you need is your AIA number and you will be directed to a site to view your transcript online, fill out your online self-report form, and many other AIA CES options.

Become an AIA/CES Provider

If your company or architectural firm is a regular provider (throughout the year) of educational programs geared to architects you might want to explore becoming an AIA/CES Registered Provider.  Information on the AIA/CES Provider Program can be found on the AIA national web site.  Click here to learn whether this program might be right for your organization

If you and/or your firm are providers of quality educational programming and can offer speakers on related industry topics and issues of concern to local AIA members and design industry professionals, we'd like to hear from you.  Please contact the AIASCV office.  You might also want to learn more about becoming a local Professional Affiliate Member. One of the benefits of local Affiliate Membership with AIASCV is the opportunity to connect with AIA members through programs such as our "lunch and learns."