Continuing Education Requirements & Transcript

The AIA emphasizes the importance of continuing education in architecture to advance and improve the profession. Architects engage in continuing education to maintain competency, prepare for the future, fulfill AIA membership requirements, and register to practice architecture in North Carolina.

Earning AIA credits

The AIA measures continuing education in Learning Units (LUs). You earn one LU for every hour of continuing education. AIA Architect and International Associate members must complete 18 LUs from registered AIA/CES providers each year. Of these 18 LUs, 12 must cover health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics.

Architects licensed in North Carolina must obtain 12 HSW Hours to maintain their license.

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. 

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.

The average AIA member has four or more state licenses, and a licensed architect must meet the continuing education requirements for all the states in which you intend to practice. Most states that require mandatory continuing education will accept AIA CES transcripts as documentation for valid continuing education credit completion. For AIA members, as a benefit, this means a single record-keeping system is the documentation needed to report your state MCE requirements when requested.

To access this valuable member service from the AIA, go to MY CES and enter your email address and password. All programs completed by an AIA CE Provider will appear on your transcript. If you have questions about the transcript, please contact AIA CES Member Care at 800-242-3837 or cessupport@aia.org.

Most state licensing boards accept the AIA transcript as proof of your completed continuing education courses.

AIA members who take a course from an AIA Continuing Education provider will see credits reflected in their transcript within 10 business days of learning program completion.