An AIA CES course may reference a manufacturer’s products when the reference supports a stated learning objective, but materials must not endorse or disparage any specific brand, and marketing content is prohibited inside the instructional portion. Providers such as Ron Blank & Associates submit course materials to AIA CES for review before delivery.
Last updated: August 12, 2026
Key Facts
| Governing Standard | AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs, Version 2018.10.15 |
|---|---|
| Core Prohibition | Marketing materials and brand endorsement in learning program content |
| Also Prohibited | Content disparaging a competitor’s products or organization |
| Permitted | Vendor products used in demonstrations supporting learning objectives |
| Instructor Rule | Delivery without endorsement, bias, marketing, or sales orientation |
| Enforcement | Program suspension, provider suspension, or revocation of provider status |
Key Takeaways
- Standard 5-05 prohibits course materials that endorse or disparage specific products, brands, organizations, or individuals.
- Standard 7-01 states plainly that learning programs are not sales or marketing events and must not promote products or services.
- Providers may not advertise a course as AIA endorsed, accredited, or certified, and may not use the AIA logo.
- Revocation of AIA CES provider status forfeits all fees paid and bars the organization for a minimum of two years.
- AIA CES providers must retain program materials and documentation for at least six years, whether or not the subscription lapses.
What the Non-Commercialism Rules Actually Cover
AIA’s restrictions apply to the instructional portion of a learning program: the slides, handouts, videos, and supplementary materials that carry the Learning Units. Standard 5-05 lists four categories of prohibited material — marketing content, content endorsing specific products or brands, content disparaging them, and anything misleading or factually inaccurate.
Two points surprise most manufacturers. First, the rule cuts both ways: naming a competitor’s product to criticize it violates the same standard as promoting your own. Second, the rule governs materials, not the sponsor relationship. A course funded entirely by one manufacturer is fully eligible for approval, including LU|HSW designation, provided the content itself stays educational.
Every approved course also carries AIA’s provider statement, which tells learners that registration with AIA CES is not AIA approval or endorsement of any construction material, method, or product. That disclaimer exists precisely because sponsored education is normal within the system.
What Is Allowed and What Is Not
| Content Element | Allowed in Instructional Portion | Why | Where It Belongs Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic assembly science and test data | Yes | Supports learning objectives without brand advocacy | Core of the course |
| Vendor product used in a hands-on demonstration | Yes, with care | Standard 5-05 permits demonstrations tied to objectives | Keep the teaching point, not the pitch |
| Sponsor logo and company identification | Not within instruction | Standard 7-01 excludes promotional material | Before or after the instructional segment |
| Comparison naming a competitor unfavorably | No | Standard 5-05 bars disparaging specific brands | Remove entirely; compare by system type |
Where the Line Falls in Practice
A slide showing a proprietary flashing detail is educational when it teaches drainage plane continuity, and promotional when it teaches why that manufacturer’s version is better.
A physical mockup using one company’s sealant is acceptable when the exercise demonstrates joint design, because Standard 5-05 permits vendor products in demonstrations tied to objectives.
A performance comparison is acceptable when it compares generic system types, and prohibited when it names a competitor’s product as the underperformer.
A sponsor introduction is acceptable when it runs before the instructional segment begins, since Standard 7-01 requires the start and end of instruction to be clearly identified.
A pricing or availability discussion is never instructional content, because it addresses purchasing rather than competence.
Applicable Standards
| Standard | What It Governs | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| AIA CE Standards, Standard 5-05 | Program materials | Bars marketing, endorsement, and disparagement |
| AIA CE Standards, Standard 7-01 | Program content | Prohibits marketing within the instructional portion |
| AIA CE Standards, Standard 15-02 | Instructor delivery | Requires delivery without bias or sales orientation |
| AIA CE Standards, Standard 14-03 | Advertising and claims | Forbids “AIA endorsed,” “accredited,” or “certified” |
| AIA CE Standards, Standard 1-04 | Audits and enforcement | Defines suspension and revocation consequences |
What Happens When a Course Crosses the Line
AIA CES staff may audit any provider at their discretion. Outcomes escalate: suspension of a program, suspension of a collection of programs, barring of an instructor, or revocation of provider status. A suspended course cannot be offered or advertised for AIA CES credit, and a suspended instructor cannot teach the affected material.
Revocation is the severe outcome. It forfeits all fees paid and bars the organization from being an AIA CES provider for at least two years. Findings may be appealed to the AIA Continuing Education Committee, whose decisions are final.
The exposure is larger than the course itself. Providers must retain program materials, participation records, and reviewer credentials for six years, and produce them within 15 business days of a valid AIA CES request.
When Your Content Should Not Be a CE Course
Installer certification and product training belong outside AIA CES, because their purpose is proficiency with one product rather than architectural competence.
A product launch belongs in a non-credit format. A firm visit without Learning Units carries no content restrictions, and architects can still attend.
A competitive comparison of named brands cannot be made compliant by softening the language. Rebuild it around system types, or publish it as marketing collateral outside the CE program.
Content assembled from a sales deck rarely survives review, because Standard 5-05 requires materials developed for instruction.
How to Keep a Sponsored Course Compliant
- Write learning objectives describing architect competence, not product features, and confirm at least 75 percent map to HSW topics if seeking that designation.
- Separate the deck: sponsor identification before and after, uninterrupted instruction in between.
- Replace brand names in the body with generic descriptors — the system, the assembly, the membrane.
- Remove every comparative claim naming another company, favorable or unfavorable.
- Have a licensed architect review the content, and retain that reviewer’s credentials.
- Brief the presenter: Standard 15-02 requires delivery without added endorsement, bias, or sales orientation.
The most common failure is not an overt sales pitch. It is a course written by a marketing team and edited for compliance afterward, which keeps the persuasive structure while removing only the obvious brand language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we put our logo on the slides?
Sponsor identification belongs outside the instructional portion. Standard 7-01 requires providers to clearly identify where instruction begins and ends when a program runs alongside other activities, which is why sponsor recognition conventionally appears before the opening and after the close rather than throughout.
Does using our own product images violate the rules?
Not automatically. Images supporting a learning objective are instructional; images functioning as advertising are not. The test is whether the visual teaches the concept or sells the item. Demonstrations using a vendor’s products are permitted when they support the stated objectives.
Can we compare our system to a competitor’s?
Not by name. Standard 5-05 prohibits materials that disparage specific products, brands, or organizations, and comparative claims almost always read as disparagement. Compare generic system categories instead — fluid-applied versus sheet membrane — and let the architect draw conclusions from the performance data.
Who checks the course before it reaches architects?
AIA CES reviews every program before delivery, typically within 3 to 7 business days. Providers must also arrange independent review by a qualified person other than the developer, and should consult a licensed architect for any program submitted for HSW credit.
What if we are not an AIA CES provider ourselves?
Manufacturers can work through a registered provider rather than holding a subscription. Ron Blank & Associates develops and hosts AIA-approved courses for building product manufacturers under its own AIA CES provider number. Under Standard 6-03, the organization submitting the course and issuing certificates carries compliance responsibility.
Can we say our course is AIA approved in our marketing?
Approved programs may be described as AIA CES approved, and providers may describe themselves as AIA CES registered. Standard 14-03 prohibits claiming AIA endorsement, accreditation, or certification, prohibits AIA logo use implying endorsement, and bars stating credit amounts before approval is granted.
Reviewed against the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs by Ron Blank & Associates, an AIA CES registered provider.
Sources
- AIA, Standards for Continuing Education Programs, Version 2018.10.15
- AIA, Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) CE Guidelines
- AIA, Become an AIA Continuing Education Provider
- NCARB, Continuing Education Guidelines