What is AIA/CES?

It is a continuing education system developed by the AIA to emphasize learning and record participation in professional learning activities. 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. The program also allows members to fulfill a requirement for AIA membership and meet any state mandatory continuing education requirement. In this role, the program has the potential to be a primary force in the improvement and revitalization of our profession.

More general AIA/CES FAQs

 

What is my annual requirement?

All active AIA members must successfully complete 18 learning unit (LU) hours each year, with at least 8 of the 18 LU hours relating to health, safety, and/or welfare (HSW).

• 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.

NOTE: Most state licensing boards do not allow carryover and deficit credit. States have strict continuing education timeframes, and credits must be earned within them.

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More Annual Requirement FAQs

 

Upcoming CES Programs?

Let AIA San Diego help you complete your annual requirements! More info on upcoming Continuing Education events here. See you at an event soon!

 

What are Self Reported Activities?

If a program is not offered by an AIA/CES Registered provider, members have the option of self reporting the program or activity. The intent of this activity must educational in nature and new knowledge in reference to their practice of architecture. Members must indicate whether the activity they are reporting is self-designed or a structured self-reported program:

• Self-Designed Activity. This type of learning activity is organized by the member specifically to meet his or her individual needs. A self-designed activity frequently involves more than one type of medium or method, such as research, reading, interviewing subject experts, listening to audiotapes, and/or viewing videos. To determine what qualifies for self-reporting, ask yourself the following questions: (1) Is this a planned learning activity? (2) Is this activity intended to be educational or operational? (3) Are you acquiring new knowledge or are you sharing your knowledge with others? (4) How will you apply this new knowledge to your practice? This method is not acceptable for health, safety, and welfare (HSW) credit. Some state licensing boards will not accept this type of reporting for mandatory continuing education (MCE) requirements. (Recommended minimum of three hours)
• Structured Self-Reported Program. This is a structured activity offered by an organized, third-party, non-CES provider. Documentation of attendance/participation will usually be required as a supplement when reporting this activity to meet a state licensure requirement. For members who self-report a structured activity, the AIA is not able to assist in acquiring any support documentation that may be required by a state licensing board MCE audit.
• Professional Community Service This type of activity could include architecture panels or community board meetings. Members can self-report 2 hours (LUs) of community service per calendar year.

More Self Reported Activities FAQs

 

New! CES Sustainability Requirement in 2009

During the March 2008 AIA National Board of Directors meeting, it was approved that beginning January 1, 2009 the AIA would require all members to complete four (4) hours of sustainable design. These 4 Sustainable Design (SD) hours would be included as part of the current 8 hour / HSW requirement. They are not additional hours to the 18/8 LU hours that the AIA already requires. This requirement would run until 2012, at which time it will be evaluated.

The AIA is currently finalizing the rules of Sustainable Design (SD) Learning Units. During the course of this summer the AIA/CES will be establishing the infrastructure for CES providers to determine, register, and report their future continuing education courses to qualify for Sustainable Design (SD) learning units. These rules will be based upon the following definition.

Sustainable Design (SD) Learning Units
Sustainable design is achieved through an integrated design and delivery process that enhances the natural and built environment by using energy sensibly with a goal toward carbon neutrality, improves air and water quality, protects and preserves water and other resources, and creates environments, communities and buildings that are livable, comfortable, productive, diverse, safe, and provide enduring value to our community and society as a whole.

To qualify as Sustainable Design learning units, the content must meet 4 thresholds:

1. It must address the AIA definition of sustainability.
2. It must be a structured (third-party) program (i.e. no self-study).
3. At least 75% of program content must qualify as HSW.
4. Its primary purpose must address at least one of the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Measures of Sustainable Design and Performance Metrics

Examples: Design & Innovation; Regional/Community Design; Land Use & Site Ecology; Bioclimatic Design; Light & Air; Water Cycle; Energy Flows & Energy Future; and Materials & Construction to reduce product-cycle environmental impacts and optimize occupant health and comfort.

AIA San Diego will keep you updated here... so keep checking back!