The American Institute of Architects plays an active role in the continuing education of its members. We strive to provide valued opportunities for AIA members to maximize their professional skills through effective learning partnerships with firms, continuing education providers, and all AIA components.

The AIA Board of Directors modified the AIA-member continuing education requirement to include four hours of education in sustainable design as part of the existing 18-hour annual requirement. This sustainable design requirement became effective in calendar year 2009.

  • 18-hour annual continuing education requirement
  • 12 LU must address health, safety, and welfare (HSW) of which 4 LU must address sustainable design (SD)

How to Calculate Your Credits

For your reference, members’ credits are calculated as follows:

Overage from previous year + audit year + current year

The overage carries over only if there is a deficit in the audit year. The current year’s credits apply to the audit year’s requirement only if there is a deficit in the audit year. For more information please visit the FAQ:

All active AIA members must successfully complete 18 learning unit (LU) hours each year, with at least 12 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 time frames, and credits must be earned within them.