AIA continuing education is a mandatory membership requirement — not an optional professional development perk. Every licensed AIA member must complete 18 Learning Units (LUs) each year, and that number isn't arbitrary. At least 12 of those units must address…
Category: Architect Continuing Education
Do Webinars Actually Count for AIA LU Credits?
Webinars fully count for AIA Learning Unit (LU) credits — provided they're delivered through an AIA-approved Registered Provider and meet the program's structured requirements. The architecture profession's compliance landscape has shifted significantly toward digital delivery, and the AIA's own continuing…
The Difference Between AIA LU and HSW Credits: A Complete Guide for Architects
Not all continuing education credits carry equal weight—and for licensed architects, understanding the difference between LU and HSW credits can directly determine whether you stay compliant with your state board. Learning Units (LU) serve as the broad umbrella for all…
Read More The Difference Between AIA LU and HSW Credits: A Complete Guide for Architects
How many CE hours does an architect need?
AIA active members must complete 18 Learning Units (LUs) per calendar year — and 12 of those 18 must be Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credits. That split isn't arbitrary. According to the AIA Continuing Education Standards, HSW credits must…
Free AIA Courses
AIA continuing education requirements set a clear threshold: 18 learning units every year, with at least 12 of those hours dedicated specifically to Health, Safety, and Welfare content. Meeting that 12-hour HSW mandate isn't a formality — it's the core…
Where Can I Earn Free AIA CE Credits?
Executive Summary Free AIA continuing education (CE) is credit-bearing coursework delivered by AIA CES–registered providers at no charge to the design professional, funded instead by building product manufacturers, trade associations, and non-profits that sponsor the content. It is used by…
What Is Required to Register a Course with AIA CES as a Building Product Manufacturer?
AIA CES: What It Is and Why It Matters The AIA Continuing Education System (CES) is the framework through which the American Institute of Architects manages, tracks, and reports continuing education credits for its members. The AIA CES registers and…
Read More What Is Required to Register a Course with AIA CES as a Building Product Manufacturer?
Which AIA CE Providers Have the Largest Free Course Library?
Quick Summary For Architects Free AIA continuing education (CE) is credit-bearing coursework — registered with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Service (AIA CES) — that architects and design professionals complete at no cost to satisfy annual Learning Unit…
Read More Which AIA CE Providers Have the Largest Free Course Library?
What Are the Top Free Online CE Course Providers for AEC Professionals?
Executive Summary Continuing education (CE) is an essential part of professional practice for architects, engineers, interior designers, and other AEC professionals. Many licensing boards and professional organizations—including the American Institute of Architects (AIA)—require members to complete continuing education each year…
Read More What Are the Top Free Online CE Course Providers for AEC Professionals?
Architect CEU Online
Executive Summary Online architect CEUs are accredited continuing-education courses that architects complete over the internet to earn the Learning Units (LUs) and Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credits required to maintain AIA membership and state licensure. If you are looking…
Free AIA Continuing Education: The Complete Guide for Architects
As a licensed architect or AIA member, continuing education is not optional—it is a professional obligation. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) requires members to complete 18 Learning Units (LUs) of continuing education each year, with 12 of those LUs…
Read More Free AIA Continuing Education: The Complete Guide for Architects
How Many AIA CEUs Can Architects Earn Online?
Quick Summary AIA members are required to complete 18 AIA CE Hours annually, and all 18 of those hours can be earned online through platforms such as ronblank.com. Online options include self-paced Online Anytime courses available 24/7 and live instructor-led…
Top Sources for Free AIA Continuing Education
If you’re a licensed architect in the United States, you already know the annual CE math: 18 Learning Units, at least 12 of which need to carry the Health, Safety, and Welfare designation. Multiply that across multiple state licenses and…
Does AIA Education Generate Specs? How Continuing Education Drives Product Specification Opportunities
Quick Summary AIA continuing education (CE) is the most effective tool building product manufacturers use to reach architects, engineers, and interior designers at the moment of specification decision-making. Sponsored AIA HSW courses — delivered as online anytime courses, live webinars,…
Types of Structural Systems: A 2026 Design Guide
TL;DR: Structural systems consist of interconnected elements that safely transfer loads to the ground, including beams, columns, slabs, and foundations. Different types, such as shear walls, braced frames, and moment frames, serve distinct load-resisting functions, with material choice shaping their…