Continuing Education
Like with most professions, continuing ones education is essential and mandatory to maintain an architect license. Some jurisdictions have not adopted any rules or regulations for their continuing education requirements, however, this is expected to change over the course of the next several years. Continuing your education can be done in a variety of ways, such as:
- Attending seminars
- Attending conferences
- Attending lectures
- Attending workshops
- Taking formal university classes
- Self-study courses
By continuing ones education, you ensure yourself, colleagues, employers, clients, the AIA, the NCARB and the general public that you are up-to-date on building codes, construction materials, design techniques, health issues, business management practices, problem solving, and understand the continual changing needs and wants of their clients. Continuing your education can keep you motivated, intrigued and ready to push the boundaries while overcoming obstacles. It’s also a great way to stay refreshed on coursework, peer-to-peer evaluations and networking.
Continuing education programs can be found in a variety of places, including:
- The American Institute of Architects
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- Architecture Magazines
- City, County, State Agencies
- Colleges and Universities
Continuing Education by State
Below is a list of each state and how many continued education hours they must complete annually to maintain their license. Requirements do vary by state, so if this is a concern, you should make sure you know ahead of time, which state you’d like to go to school, obtain your license and work in. The amount of continued education hours an architect needs to maintain his or her license in each state are:
| State | Annual CE Hours Needed |
| Alabama | 12 |
| Alaska | 12 |
| Arkansas | 8 |
| California | 2 ½ |
| Colorado | 8 |
| Delaware | 12 |
| D.C. | 12 |
| Florida | 10 |
| Georgia | 12 |
| Hawaii | 8 |
| Idaho | 8 |
| Illinois | 12 |
| Indiana | 12 |
| Iowa | 12 |
| Kansas | 15 |
| Kentucky | 12 |
| Louisiana | 12 |
| Maryland | 12 |
| Massachusetts | 12 |
| Minnesota | 12 |
| Mississippi | 12 |
| Missouri | 12 |
| Nebraska | 12 |
| Nevada | 8 |
| New Hampshire | 12 |
| New Jersey | 12 |
| New Mexico | 12 |
| New York | 12 |
