Continuing education is a requirement for AIA architect membership. It enables the architect to keep current, master new knowledge and skills, plan for the future, and responsibly meet the role society entrusts to a professional.

Many states require mandatory continuing education units for licensing, although Virginia currently does not. (View additional information below). AIA credits are accepted in all jurisdictions requiring continuing education.

Information on AIA/CES can be obtained online from the AIA's website by clicking here. Following are the offerings you will find there:

CES transcripts
Information on state mandatory continuing education requirements
Information on CES programs
AIA eClassroom which provides courses over the Internet
CES questions and answers
List of all currently approved CES registered providers
CES forms including self-reporting forms

For more information or clarification on a CES issue, contact the Chapter House at (703) 549-9747 or at aianova@aianova.org or call the national headquarters at (800) 242-3837.

Info on Mandatory Continuing Education in Virginia

Soon Virginia will join more than 30 other states in requiring mandatory continuing education for license renewal for architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors. The law requiring this was passed by the General Assembly in 2006. Currently, a subcommittee of the regulatory board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA) is meeting to craft the requirements. The subcommittee is reviewing existing models from both the AIA and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Typically, it takes 18-24 months for regulations to be approved. There will be opportunity for public comment. Final approval rests with the full APELSCIDLA board.

AIA Northern Virginia provides numerous continuing education opportunities for members, offering seminars on a wide range of subjects, from building codes to building tours. These events are held locally and are often offered free of charge. AIA Northern Virginia continually lists chapter sponsored continuing education opportunities on this site, as well as other seminars and classes available in the metro area. The AIA provides a free online transcript service for members, making it easy to track and report continuing education activities. AIA transcripts are accepted as official records by all states with mandatory continuing education. Membership in the AIA will make meeting the new state requirements a simple task.