Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a compilation of HSW subject areas as defined by the various state licensing boards with HSW requirements. (An individual state may not accept all subject areas. Be sure to check your state licensing board’s HSW definition and requirements.)

Accessibility
Acoustics
Building design
Code of ethics
Construction administration
Construction contract laws, legal aspects
Construction documents, services
Construction functions, materials, methods, and systems
Energy efficiency
Environmental: asbestos, lead-based paint, toxic emissions
Environmental analysis and issues of building materials and systems
Fire: building fire codes—flame spread, smoke contribution, explosives
Fire safety systems: detection and alarm standards
Insurance to protect the owners of property and injured parties
Interior design
Laws and regulations governing the practice of architecture
Life safety codes
Materials and systems: roofing/waterproofing, wall systems, etc.
Material use, function, and features
Mechanical, plumbing, electrical: system concepts, materials, and methods
Natural hazards (earthquake, hurricane, flood) related to building design
Preservation, renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse
Security of buildings, design
Site and soils analysis
Site design
Specification writing
Structural issues
Surveying methods, techniques
Sustainable design

HSW: Further Details about Qualifying Subjects
The AIA definition for health, safety, and welfare (HSW) is based on the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The accompanying excerpt from the Architectural Design Portable Handbook,* by Andy Pressman, AIA, provides more detailed information about subject matter that can be used to earn HSW credit:

*Reprinted with permission from Stephen Schreiber, AIA, “The Architect Registration Examination” in Andy Pressman, NCARB, AIA, Architectural Design Portable Handbook: A Guide to Excellent Practices (McGraw-Hill, 2001), pp. 515-20.

The Architect Registration Examination and it's Ties to HSW Definition
Stephen Schreiber, AIA
The Architect Registration Examination is designed to determine whether applicants for architectural licensure posses’ sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide professional services while protecting the health, safety, and welfare (HSW) of the general public. An understanding of HSW is a focus of the ARE. The following is information useful for ARE students, that may also be useful for those trying for a better understaning of HSW.

The Pre-design division focuses on environmental analysis, architectural programming, and architectural practice, including:

Evaluation of existing structures
Impact of sociological influences on site selection and land use
Effect of physiographic and climatic conditions on land use
Ability to develop construction cost estimates and budgets
Development of design objectives and constraints for a project
Effect of human behavior, history, and theory on the built environment
Interpretation of land surveys and legal restrictions
Principles of practice, including office management
Consultant coordination

The General Structures division covers structural systems and long-span design, including:

Basic structural analysis and design
Selection of appropriate structural components and systems
Calculation of loads on buildings
Incorporation of building code requirements
Identification and selection of various structural connections
Analysis of soils reports

The Lateral Forces division concentrates on effects of lateral forces on the design of buildings, including:

General concepts of lateral loads
Identification and calculation of wind loads and seismic loads
Incorporation of code requirements
Requirements for non-structured building components related to lateral forces

The Mechanical/Electrical Systems division addresses mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and acoustical systems (and their incorporation into building design), including:

Incorporation of code requirements
Evaluation, selection, design, and incorporation of appropriate plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and sound control systems
Determination of heating and cooling loads
Selection of building envelope elements
Evaluation of costs of mechanical and electrical systems

The Materials and Methods division addresses the evaluation and selection of materials and methods of installation and the development of building details, including:

Evaluation of site conditions
Incorporation of environmental and cultural issues
Identification and ability to detail concrete, masonry, wood, structural metal, and miscellaneous metal construction
Analysis, selection, and ability to detail moisture and thermal protection systems, door and window systems, finish materials, specialties, and conveying systems
Evaluation of costs of systems
Incorporation of code requirements

The Construction Documents and Services division covers the conduct of architectural practice, including:

Preparation and review of working drawings and specifications
Coordination of contract documents
Preparation of bidding instruments
Evaluation of substitutions and preparation of cost estimates
Interpretation of general conditions
Review of standard agreements
Observation of the progress of work and material testing
Preparation and review of documents for change orders, progress payments, and project closeout

The Site Planning division focuses on the relationship between site use and environment; the consideration of topography, vegetation, climate geography, and law on site development; and the synthesis of programmatic and environmental requirements. Six vignettes test the candidate’s understanding of specific areas:

Site design—general site planning principles
Site zoning—cross-sectional building area limitations imposed by zoning and other setback requirements
Site parking—requirements and limitations that influence the design of parking areas and driveways
Site analysis—requirements and limitations that influence subdivisions of land and delineation of building limit areas
Site section—influence of site design requirements on sections
Site grading—understanding of requirements affecting topographic changes

The Building Planning division covers the synthesis of programmatic and environmental issues into coherent designs through the process of schematic design. Three vignettes test the candidate’s understanding of specific areas:

Block diagram—development of a diagrammatic floor plan from a bubble diagram
Interior layout—principles of design and accessibility that govern interior space planning
Schematic design—understanding of the planning process involved in schematic design

The Building Technology division also concentrates on the synthesis of programmatic and environmental issues into coherent designs at the design development level. The six vignettes test candidate’s understanding of specific areas:

Building section—impact of structural, mechanical, and lighting components on the vertical form of buildings
Structural layout—basic structural framing concepts through development of a framing plan for a simple building
Accessibility/ramp—accessibility requirements related to ramp and stair design
Mechanical/electrical plan—integration of mechanical, lighting, and ceiling systems with structural and other building components
Stair design—the three-dimensional nature of stair design and code issues
Roof plan—basic concepts related to roof design through the development of a roof plan for a small structure

I am an AIA Registered Architect Member. What is the Annual Requirement for Continuing Education What is mandatory continuing education (MCE)? What is AIA/CES and How does AIA/CES work? What is a learning unit hour (LU hour)? What is an AIA/CES Registered Provider Course? What is the relation between HSW and state mandatory continuing education requirements (MCE)? How are transcript records kept and how may they be accessed? How is quality control addressed and maintained? How does “health, safety, and welfare” (HSW) tie into CES? What subject areas qualify for HSW credit? How do I receive credit for the articles in Architectural Record magazine? What type of distance education courses can count for CES credits? What about IDP credit for supplemental education? How do I receive credit for becoming LEED Accredited? How often can I take the same class for AIA credit? On the transcript what does Competency mean? On the transcript what does Core mean? Where Can I Find Courses? Where Can I Find Presenters of Courses?

I am an AIA Registered Architect Member. What is the Annual Requirement for Continuing Education
All active registered architect 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). Of the 8 HSW, at least 4 credits must be in sustainable design (SD) topics. 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/four of SD) 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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What is mandatory continuing education (MCE)?
Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) is education required by a state to retain licensure. Approximately 40 states and 10 Canadian Provinces have implemented a MCE license requirement, but these requirements vary from state to state, province to province. For a quick overview of individual state/province MCE requirements, please visit the MCE Chart. Each state has the legal right to establish its own guidelines and requirements. However, most states requirements are similar, whether they require architects to meet them annually or biannually. If you, like the average AIA member, have four or more state licenses, you must meet the continuing education requirements for all the states in which you intend to practice. To date, most states that require MCE indicate they will accept AIA/CES transcripts as documentation for completion of valid continuing education credit. For AIA members, this means that our single record-keeping system is the documentation needed for reporting your state MCE requirements when requested. We do, however, strongly suggest that you keep backup documentation of your activities as support, especially if the credit is a self-reported activity as it may be requested.
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What is AIA/CES and How does AIA/CES work?
AIA/CES 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. Members can earn LU hours by attending courses offered by AIA/CES registered providers or through self-reporting independent activities and research.
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What is a learning unit hour (LU hour)?
The AIA records continuing education credit in learning unit hours (LU hours). A one-LU hour activity is equal to one contact hour. An LU hour is not a continuing education unit (CEU). One tenth of a CEU (.1) is equal to one contact hour, which is equal to one LU hour. In other words, one CEU is equal to 10 contact hours or 10 LU hours.
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What is an AIA/CES Registered Provider Course?
The AIA has developed a network of more than 2500 educational providers made up AIA Chapters, affiliate organizations, firms, manufacturers, universities, non-profit organization, and government agencies. You can search for providers through the CES Registered Provider Database. These educational providers offer more than 25,000 programs each year. To find courses search the CES Courses Database. Courses offered by AIA/CES providers are filed with AIA/CES Records in Oklahoma. Within 14 days of a course's conclusion, AIA/CES providers verify and report the course attendees to AIA/CES Records. For non-AIA members the AIA/CES Provider will provide a certificate of completion upon request. The complete activities are then posted on AIA member’s transcripts.
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What is the relation between HSW and state mandatory continuing education requirements (MCE)?
Both the AIA and state licensing boards base their programs on the contact hour. A majority of states require 8 contact hours of HSW for their MCE. (Exceptions are Kansas, which has no HSW requirement, and Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Vermont, and West Virginia which require 12 HSW contact hours.) The AIA/CES program requires eight contact hours of HSW from a third-party provider. Some states allow some forms of self-reporting. Due to the quality assurance issues posed by the states, the AIA does not accept self-designed activities for HSW credit. CAUTION: For members who self-report structured activities for HSW credit, it has become very important that you clearly report all HSW courses and activities separately, ensuring that they are clearly identified. Failure to do so could result in the loss of your license because of noncompliance with state MCE requirements.
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How are transcript records kept and how may they be accessed?
Individual transcript records are updated daily. Anyone with an active AIA membership number can access a transcript. To find your transcript visit the Education page of AIA.org. Scroll down a little, and click on Sign In on the right of the page. On the next page enter your AIA member number. The first line item on the next screen is the View Transcript option. You are able to print out an unofficial copy of your CES transcript. If you are not able to sign in with your AIA member number, please email CES. Official CES transcripts are available upon written request to the AIA CES Records. A hard copy of the transcript can be faxed or mailed to a member. The first request is free and for each consecutive request a fee of $10 per copy will be assessed.
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How is quality control addressed and maintained?
Quality control begins when CES providers and AIA members file their records with our CES Records Office at the University of Oklahoma. If the forms submitted are incomplete or inaccurate, they are returned to the submitter with instructions for correcting the error. Course quality is monitored through audit/review reports filed by members, subject matter experts, and providers. The AIA works in close cooperation with the state licensing boards and will audit any course requested by a licensing board. The primary object of an audit/review is to determine how well program content meets learning objectives. AIA/CES transcripts constitute a 6-year history file of each member’s continuing education credits. We recommend that you keep course materials and documentation for 6 years as well. You will find these materials useful if your CES records are audited by the AIA or a state licensing board.
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How does “health, safety, and welfare” (HSW) tie into CES?
The AIA requires members to earn 8 of the basic LU hour requirements in the area of HSW. The percentage of HSW content in any HSW-related activity must be a minimum of 75% to qualify a course or educational event for HSW credit. This accomplishes three goals: To ensure that HSW-related programs have a real relevance to our members To eliminate any question of whether the content of a course was actually HSW-related To protect AIA members with state mandatory continuing education (MCE) requirements
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What subject areas qualify for HSW credit?
The following is a compilation of HSW subject areas as defined by the various state licensing boards with HSW requirements. (An individual state may not accept all subject areas. Be sure to check your state licensing board’s HSW definition and requirements.) Accessibility Acoustics Building design Code of ethics Construction administration Construction contract laws, legal aspects Construction documents, services Construction functions, materials, methods, and systems Energy efficiency Environmental: asbestos, lead-based paint, toxic emissions Environmental analysis and issues of building materials and systems Fire: building fire codes—flame spread, smoke contribution, explosives Fire safety systems: detection and alarm standards Insurance to protect the owners of property and injured parties Interior design Laws and regulations governing the practice of architecture Life safety codes Materials and systems: roofing/waterproofing, wall systems, etc. Material use, function, and features Mechanical, plumbing, electrical: system concepts, materials, and methods Natural hazards (earthquake, hurricane, flood) related to building design Preservation, renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse Security of buildings, design Site and soils analysis Site design Specification writing Structural issues Surveying methods, techniques Sustainable design HSW: Further Details about Qualifying Subjects The AIA definition for health, safety, and welfare (HSW) is based on the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The accompanying excerpt from the Architectural Design Portable Handbook,* by Andy Pressman, AIA, provides more detailed information about subject matter that can be used to earn HSW credit: Reprinted with permission from Stephen Schreiber, AIA, “The Architect Registration Examination” in Andy Pressman, NCARB, AIA, Architectural Design Portable Handbook: A Guide to Excellent Practices (McGraw-Hill, 2001), pp. 515-20. The Architect Registration Examination* and it's Ties to HSW Definition Stephen Schreiber, AIA The Architect Registration Examination is designed to determine whether applicants for architectural licensure posses’ sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide professional services while protecting the health, safety, and welfare (HSW) of the general public. An understanding of HSW is a focus of the ARE. The following is information useful for ARE students, that may also be useful for those trying for a better understaning of HSW. The Pre-design division focuses on environmental analysis, architectural programming, and architectural practice, including: Evaluation of existing structures Impact of sociological influences on site selection and land use Effect of physiographic and climatic conditions on land use Ability to develop construction cost estimates and budgets Development of design objectives and constraints for a project Effect of human behavior, history, and theory on the built environment Interpretation of land surveys and legal restrictions Principles of practice, including office management Consultant coordination The General Structures division covers structural systems and long-span design, including: Basic structural analysis and design Selection of appropriate structural components and systems Calculation of loads on buildings Incorporation of building code requirements Identification and selection of various structural connections Analysis of soils reports The Lateral Forces division concentrates on effects of lateral forces on the design of buildings, including: General concepts of lateral loads Identification and calculation of wind loads and seismic loads Incorporation of code requirements Requirements for non-structured building components related to lateral forces The Mechanical/Electrical Systems division addresses mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and acoustical systems (and their incorporation into building design), including: Incorporation of code requirements Evaluation, selection, design, and incorporation of appropriate plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and sound control systems Determination of heating and cooling loads Selection of building envelope elements Evaluation of costs of mechanical and electrical systems The Materials and Methods division addresses the evaluation and selection of materials and methods of installation and the development of building details, including: Evaluation of site conditions Incorporation of environmental and cultural issues Identification and ability to detail concrete, masonry, wood, structural metal, and miscellaneous metal construction Analysis, selection, and ability to detail moisture and thermal protection systems, door and window systems, finish materials, specialties, and conveying systems Evaluation of costs of systems Incorporation of code requirements The Construction Documents and Services division covers the conduct of architectural practice, including: Preparation and review of working drawings and specifications Coordination of contract documents Preparation of bidding instruments Evaluation of substitutions and preparation of cost estimates Interpretation of general conditions Review of standard agreements Observation of the progress of work and material testing Preparation and review of documents for change orders, progress payments, and project closeout The Site Planning division focuses on the relationship between site use and environment; the consideration of topography, vegetation, climate geography, and law on site development; and the synthesis of programmatic and environmental requirements. Six vignettes test the candidate’s understanding of specific areas: Site design—general site planning principles Site zoning—cross-sectional building area limitations imposed by zoning and other setback requirements Site parking—requirements and limitations that influence the design of parking areas and driveways Site analysis—requirements and limitations that influence subdivisions of land and delineation of building limit areas Site section—influence of site design requirements on sections Site grading—understanding of requirements affecting topographic changes The Building Planning division covers the synthesis of programmatic and environmental issues into coherent designs through the process of schematic design. Three vignettes test the candidate’s understanding of specific areas: Block diagram—development of a diagrammatic floor plan from a bubble diagram Interior layout—principles of design and accessibility that govern interior space planning Schematic design—understanding of the planning process involved in schematic design The Building Technology division also concentrates on the synthesis of programmatic and environmental issues into coherent designs at the design development level. The six vignettes test candidate’s understanding of specific areas: Building section—impact of structural, mechanical, and lighting components on the vertical form of buildings Structural layout—basic structural framing concepts through development of a framing plan for a simple building Accessibility/ramp—accessibility requirements related to ramp and stair design Mechanical/electrical plan—integration of mechanical, lighting, and ceiling systems with structural and other building components Stair design—the three-dimensional nature of stair design and code issues Roof plan—basic concepts related to roof design through the development of a roof plan for a small structure
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How do I receive credit for the articles in Architectural Record magazine?
All acceptable articles (the expiration date can be found on the exam answer page) are to be returned with exam and $10 to Architectural Record at the address listed in the magazine. If you successfully pass the test then the score is forwarded to AIA/CES Records at The University of Oklahoma by Architectural Record as long as you provide them with your membership number. Please allow 30 days from the time you send your test to Architectural Record and the time it appears on your transcript. Important: all Architectural Record articles may count towards the AIA continuing education requirement. The 8 article limit has been removed.
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What type of distance education courses can count for CES credits?
Distance education is defined as a method of instruction in which there is a separation of place and/or time between the instructor and learner, between fellow learners, and/or between learners and the learning resources. These courses may use one or more delivery methods. Examples of distance education course delivery (alone or in combination): Internet PodCasts Publications/articles Teleconference/audio conference Webcasts NCARB monographs
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What about IDP credit for supplemental education?
Supplementary education is a way for interns to earn IDP training units outside of normal work in a firm or other recognized training setting. You can earn IDP training units by attending or completing AIA-registered continuing education courses and resources, such as the AIA convention, education courses conducted by your local AIA or CSI component, or education available through the Internet. Please access the AIA’s IDP web site for more information.
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How do I receive credit for becoming LEED Accredited?
Study time, and any preparation courses are eligible for credit and can be self-reported. Study time is not eligible for HSW or sustainable design credit. The self-report form can be found when you sign in on the right of the education section of AIA.org as if to sign in for the transcript. The first line item you will see after you sign in will be the View Transcript option. The next line item is the self-report form option. AIA members can self-report up to 50 hours of study time on a self-designed self-report. Also, until September 30, 2010 USGBC will report 3 HSW/SD Learning Units for candidates who took and passed the LEED AP NC, CI, or EB exam between January 1, 2006 and June 30, 2009. In order to receive Learning Units, you need to send an email containing your name, test date, exam track, and valid 8-digit AIA member number to exam@gbci.org.
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How often can I take the same class for AIA credit?
AIA members can take the same class once every 3 years to receive credit. For example, if a member attended a class in 2008, and it was offered with the same title by the same provider in 2009, then the 2009 learning units will not count towards the AIA CES continuing education requirement, if the member attends that class.
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On the transcript what does Competency mean?
The State of Colorado recently passed a new mandatory continuing education (MCE) requirement. In part it requires that each course establish a demonstration of competency. There are a variety of ways that this can be achieved. The AIA requires that all asynchronous courses include a competency based approach with the course structure. Some CES Providers also include a competency based approach within their synchronous courses. To make it easier for AIA members with a Colorado license to demonstrate proof of competency after taking such a course we have added it to the AIA/CES transcript. It is likely that several other states will follow Colorado’s example over the next few years.
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On the transcript what does Core mean?
To strengthen the relevance of continuing professional education, AIA/CES provides you with Designing Your Future- a collection of curriculum frameworks developed to provide a pathway of learning for architects interested in advancing their professional knowledge, skills and abilities. The curriculum frameworks mark the beginning of an ongoing effort of AIA Continuing Education (CE) to provide meaningful structure to architectural professional development and education. Each curriculum framework provides guidelines for selecting continuing professional education for career development. We encourage you to personalize the application to focus on your individual needs and interests. To begin using the curriculum frameworks select the practice specialty area i.e., CORE (e.g., educational facilities, sustainable design, etc.) applicable to your continuing professional education interests. If you do not see a curriculum framework that meets your professional development needs, use the general framework.
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Where Can I Find Courses?
To view a variety of courses, please visit the online course directory. Courses can be searched based on location, date, and subject matter among other criteria.
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Where Can I Find Presenters of Courses?
The first place to look for approved providers of courses is the online provider directory. You can search for providers based on location, type of provider, and subject matter among other criteria. Also, you may want to review the Speaker’s Registry.
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