All active AIA members must successfully complete 18 LU/hours per year (including 8 hours of health, safety, and welfare issues) to fulfill the CES requirement for membership renewal.

A member who fails to meet the annual requirement will be given 9 months to earn the deficient LUs and meet the current annual requirement of 18 LUs.

*NOTE : See Transition Years 1998 and 1999 under AIA/CES Reinstatement Policy
A member who exceeds the annual requirement in a given year may carry up to 18 LUs (including 8 hours of HSW) into the next year. Members' CES carryover credits allow only as many hours as needed to fulfill the annual requirement.

How does reinstatement work?

The AIA/CES Reinstatement Policy took effect on January 1, 1999, as approved by the AIA Board of Directors and published in the October 1997 issue of AIArchitect. A notice of noncompliance goes out March 31st of each year. Members wanting to reinstate must obtain 9 LUs prior to applying for reinstatement. These must have been completed within at least one year of the date of applying for reinstatement. The reinstated member must also obtain 18 LU/hours (including 8 hours of health, safety, and welfare issues) for the current membership year for a total of 27 LU/hours. Any LUs in a member's record will be dropped on the date of lapsed membership due to noncompliance with the continuing-education requirement. AIA reinstatement does not necessarily meet state licensing requirements.

There are three exceptions:
1) Severe medical difficulties for at least the last three months of the probation year
2) Unexpected/nonpermanent overseas assignment for more than six months or the last three months of the membership year
3) Severe financial hardship
The above exceptions and other unusual circumstances must be reviewed by the member's component and its findings submitted to the CES Audit/Review Committee.

Why did the AIA enact CES requirements?

The membership passed the requirement at an annual convention in hopes that our process would become a model for any states which began to require continuing education as a part of continuing licensure. Currently, 22 states and 7 Canadian Provinces require continuing education.

How can I get the necessary credits before year end?

For example: Enroll in the class on new documents, A201 and B141 to be held on December 11 and earn 18 LU's with 6 HSW's.