Continuing education (CE) is part of maintaining an architecture license, but the exact requirements depend on where you are licensed. Some jurisdictions require 12 Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) hours every year. Others use a biennial or triennial cycle, require a specific number of total continuing education hours, or include special course topics such as accessibility, building codes, sustainability, ethics, or live instruction.
Architect continuing education requirements also overlap with AIA continuing education requirements, but they are not always the same thing. AIA measures continuing education in Learning Units (LU), and one hour of continuing education earns one LU. AIA Architect and International Associate members are required to complete 18 LU each year, including 12 LU in HSW topics.
This guide gives you a state-by-state overview of architect continuing education requirements so you can plan ahead, track your hours, and stay ready for license renewal.
Editor’s note: Requirements can change. Use this guide as a planning resource, then confirm final requirements with the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool or your state licensing board before renewing your license. NCARB notes that jurisdiction rules and requirements may change at any time, so architects should check with their jurisdiction for the most updated information.
Architect continuing education unit requirements are the continuing education hours licensed architects must complete to keep their licenses active. Depending on the state or jurisdiction, these credits may be called CEU, continuing education hours (CEH)s, learning units (LU), professional development hours (PDH).
Most licensing boards use continuing education to help architects stay current on codes, design standards, professional practice, building systems, accessibility, sustainability, and topics that protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Your state board may use different terminology, so always check your jurisdiction’s terminology, reporting rules, and renewal requirements before renewing your license. The AIA state continuing education requirements page and the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool are helpful starting points for comparing requirements, but your licensing board is the final authority.
HSW stands for Health, Safety, and Welfare. HSW continuing education focuses on topics that support the health, safety, and welfare of occupants of the built environment.
According to the AIA Health, Safety, and Welfare CE guidelines, learning programs must address knowledge intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of occupants of the built environment. AIA also says that at least 75% of a learning program’s content and instructional time must be on acceptable HSW topics for the course to qualify for HSW credit.
Common HSW topics can include accessibility, life safety, building systems, structural systems, environmental design, materials, codes, site design, construction documentation, and construction administration.
Because many state boards require HSW hours, it is important to confirm whether a course is designated for HSW credit before you count it toward your renewal.
Last updated: December 2025
The table below summarizes architect continuing education requirements by jurisdiction. Use it as a planning guide, then confirm final requirements through the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool, the AIA state CE requirements page, or your state licensing board before renewal. NCARB’s tool is designed to help users find and compare requirements for licensure, renewal, reciprocal licensing, and practice by jurisdiction.
Important note: Continuing education requirements can change and may vary based on your license type, renewal cycle, residency status, or individual circumstances. While this guide was researched carefully, it may contain outdated, incomplete, or misinterpreted information. This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be used as the final authority for license renewal. Always verify your current requirements with your jurisdiction’s licensing board before completing courses or renewing your license.
| Jurisdiction | CE Cycle / Deadline | Hours Required | Renewal Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; December 31 | — |
| Alaska | Biennial; due December 31, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; no HSW minimum listed | Biennial; December 31, odd-numbered years | — |
| Arizona | — | No CE requirement listed | Triennial; date of initial licensure | — |
| Arkansas | Annual; due July 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; July 31 | — |
| California | Renewal cycle; due before license expiration | 10 hours; 5 disability access + 5 zero net carbon design | Biennial; last day of licensee’s birth month, odd-numbered years | California requires CE during each renewal cycle. See the California Architects Board continuing education requirements. |
| Colorado | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours per calendar year; HSW required | Biennial; October 31, odd-numbered years | Colorado requires 12 CEH each calendar year in HSW subjects. See the Colorado AES continuing education requirements. |
| Connecticut | Annual; due April 30 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; July 31 | — |
| Delaware | Biennial; due January 31, even-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; January 31, even-numbered years | Minimum of 8 CEUs required in each calendar year. |
| District of Columbia | Biennial; due April 30, even-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; April 30, even-numbered years | — |
| Florida | Biennial; due December 31, even-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; February 28, odd-numbered years | Includes 2 CEH in a Florida Building Code Advanced Course. See Florida Building Code Online education and accreditation resources. |
| Georgia | Biennial; due June 30, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; June 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| Guam | — | No CE requirement listed | Annual; April 30 | — |
| Hawaii | Biennial; due April 30, even-numbered years | 16 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; April 30, even-numbered years | — |
| Idaho | Biennial; due licensee’s birth date, odd-numbered year | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Biennial; licensee’s birth date, odd-numbered year | — |
| Illinois | Biennial; due November 30, even-numbered years | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; November 30, even-numbered years | Includes 1 CEH of sexual harassment prevention training and 1 CEH related to high winds or natural disasters. |
| Indiana | Biennial; due November 30, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; December 31, odd-numbered years | — |
| Iowa | Biennial; due June 30 | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; June 30 | — |
| Kansas | Biennial; due June 30, based on last name | 30 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; June 30, even years for A–L and odd years for M–Z | — |
| Kentucky | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; June 30 | — |
| Louisiana | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; December 31 | — |
| Maine | — | No CE requirement listed | Annual; June 30 | — |
| Maryland | Biennial; due date of initial licensure | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; date of initial licensure | Minimum of 12 CEUs required each calendar year; board may accept 24 LUs during the licensing term if annual distribution is not met. |
| Massachusetts | Annual; due August 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; August 31 | — |
| Michigan | Biennial; due October 31 | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; October 31 | — |
| Minnesota | Biennial; due June 30, even-numbered year | 24 hours; no HSW minimum listed | Biennial; June 30, even-numbered years | Includes 2 CEH dedicated to professional ethics. |
| Mississippi | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Biennial; November 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| Missouri | Biennial; due December 31, based on initial licensure date | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; December 31, odd or even years depending on initial licensure | — |
| Montana | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; June 30 | — |
| Nebraska | Biennial; due December 31, based on last name | 24 hours; no HSW minimum listed | Biennial; odd years for A–K and even years for L–Z | Includes 1 CEH related to ethics of practice. |
| Nevada | Annual; due December 31 | 8 hours; 8 HSW | Annual; December 31 | Includes 2 CEH in research or learning relevant to building codes. |
| New Hampshire | Biennial; due last day of licensee’s birth month | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; last day of licensee’s birth month | At least 12 CEU per year. |
| New Jersey | Biennial; due July 31, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; July 31, odd-numbered years | At least 8 HSW per year. |
| New Mexico | Biennial; due December 31 | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; December 31 | At least 12 HSW per year. |
| New York | Triennial; due last day of the month prior to licensee’s birth month | 36 hours; 24 HSW | Triennial; last day of the month prior to licensee’s birth month | 18 CEH must be with a live instructor. |
| North Carolina | Annual; due June 30 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; June 30 | — |
| North Dakota | — | No CE requirement listed | Biennial; June 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| Northern Mariana Islands | — | No CE requirement listed | Biennial; date of initial licensure | — |
| Ohio | Annual; due December 31, odd-numbered years | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Biennial; December 31, odd-numbered years | — |
| Oklahoma | Biennial; due June 30, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; June 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| Oregon | Biennial; due December 31 | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; December 31, based on registration number | — |
| Pennsylvania | Biennial; due June 30, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; June 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| Puerto Rico | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual for non-residents; quinquennial for residents | Renewal deadline based on date of initial licensure. |
| Rhode Island | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Biennial; December 31, odd-numbered years | — |
| South Carolina | Biennial; due June 30, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; June 30, odd-numbered years | — |
| South Dakota | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Biennial; date of initial licensure | Alternative: minimum of 30 Professional Development Hours during the biennium preceding renewal. |
| Tennessee | Biennial; due month of initial licensure | 24 hours; 13 HSW | Biennial; month of initial licensure | — |
| Texas | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; last day of licensee’s birth month | Includes 1 CEH sustainable or energy-efficient design, 1 CEH barrier-free design, and 8 CEH structured course study; maximum of 4 hours may be self-directed study. |
| Utah | Biennial; due December 31, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; May 31, even-numbered years | Must complete 12 CEU per year. |
| Vermont | Biennial; due January 31, odd-numbered years | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; January 31, odd-numbered years | — |
| Virgin Islands | — | No CE requirement listed | Annual; August 31 | — |
| Virginia | Biennial; due end of month of initial licensure | 16 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; end of month of initial licensure | — |
| Washington | Biennial; due licensee’s birth date | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; licensee’s birth date | — |
| West Virginia | Annual; due December 31 | 12 hours; 12 HSW | Annual; June 30 | — |
| Wisconsin | Biennial; due July 31, even-numbered years | 24 hours; 16 HSW | Biennial; July 31, even-numbered years | — |
| Wyoming | Biennial; due December 31, based on initial licensure date | 24 hours; 24 HSW | Biennial; December 31, even or odd years depending on initial licensure | — |
The easiest way to stay ahead of CE requirements is to treat continuing education as an ongoing professional habit, not a renewal-season scramble.
Start by checking every jurisdiction where you are licensed. If you hold licenses in multiple states, you may need to meet more than one set of requirements. Pay close attention to total hours required per cycle, required HSW hours, annual minimums within a biennial cycle, special topic requirements, live or structured learning rules, self-study limits, renewal deadlines, and documentation requirements.
It is also smart to save certificates, transcripts, course descriptions, dates, and credit designations as soon as you complete each course. Some boards ask for documentation only during an audit, but you still need to be able to prove completion. For official verification, use the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool and contact your jurisdiction’s licensing board with specific renewal questions. NCARB explains that each of the 55 U.S. jurisdictions has an architecture board responsible for issuing licenses, regulating architecture practice, and protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
Often, yes, but not always automatically. Many state licensing boards accept AIA continuing education credits as part of license renewal documentation, especially when the course is clearly designated for LU or LU|HSW credit.
The AIA continuing education requirements page notes that most state licensing boards accept the AIA transcript as verification that an architect has completed continuing education courses. AIA also recommends checking with the state licensing board for any specific license renewal requirements.
That means an AIA-approved LU|HSW course can be a strong option when your state requires HSW hours, but you should still confirm that the course meets your jurisdiction’s rules before relying on it for renewal.
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In most jurisdictions, yes. Many states and territories require licensed architects to complete continuing education before renewing a license. The number of hours, HSW requirements, deadlines, and accepted course types vary by jurisdiction.
Use the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool or the AIA state CE requirements page to review requirements by jurisdiction, then confirm your specific renewal requirements with your jurisdiction’s licensing board.
Not exactly. CEU (continuing education unit) and CEH (continuing education hour) are general continuing education terms. LU stands for Learning Unit, which AIA uses for continuing education. HSW refers to Health, Safety, and Welfare content.
A course can be worth LUs or CEHs and may also qualify as HSW if it meets the required criteria. AIA states that one hour of continuing education earns one LU and that 12 of the 18 annual LUs required for AIA Architect and International Associate members must be in HSW topic areas.
It depends on where you are licensed. Many jurisdictions require all or most continuing education hours to be HSW, while others require a specific number of HSW hours or no HSW minimum.
AIA Architect and International Associate members are required to complete 18 LUs each year, including 12 LUs in HSW topics. For state licensure, check your jurisdiction’s requirements through the AIA state CE requirements page, the NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool, or your state licensing board.
Often, yes. Many jurisdictions accept online courses, especially when they are structured, documented, and include a certificate or transcript.
However, some jurisdictions have live-course, structured-study, documentation, or topic-specific requirements, so always verify your board’s rules before renewal. The AIA continuing education requirements page is a helpful reference for AIA credits and state requirements, and the NCARB state licensing board directory can help you find the appropriate board for jurisdiction-specific questions.
Spectacular CE can help architects earn free online continuing education credits, including qualifying HSW hours. Spectacular CE states that users can earn free online AIA continuing education credits, complete required HSW hours, access courses across devices, and learn on their own schedule.
Before renewal, check each course’s credit designation and confirm that it satisfies the rules in the jurisdiction where you are licensed.