Quick Summary
The development timeline for an AIA online CE course through Ron Blank & Associates depends primarily on the completeness of materials a manufacturer provides. Manufacturers with existing PowerPoint presentations, professional photos, technical drawings, case studies, and clear learning objectives move significantly faster than those starting from scratch. Ron Blank & Associates’ two-time AIA Award for Excellence team — architects, graphic designers, and A/E curriculum experts — coordinates with manufacturer product experts throughout development. A free estimate including timeline is provided after reviewing the course development form with no commitment required.
The Key Timeline Variable: What You Bring to Development
The single biggest factor determining how long it takes to develop an AIA CE course is the quality and completeness of the materials a manufacturer brings to the process. Ron Blank & Associates asks manufacturers to complete a course development form inventorying all available materials: digital photos, CAD details, video clips, case studies, existing PowerPoint presentations, and learning objectives. The more complete these materials, the less development work the RBA team needs to create from scratch — and the faster the course can be developed, registered, and launched.
A manufacturer with a complete, polished existing PowerPoint, professional product photography, technical drawings, and a LEED case study can move through development significantly faster than a manufacturer starting with only a product spec sheet. Ron Blank & Associates provides a free estimate — including a development timeline — after reviewing the course development form with no commitment required.
The Development Process: Stages and Timing
Stage 1 — Course Development Form and Materials Review
The first stage is completing the course development form and submitting all available materials to Ron Blank & Associates. The RBA continuing education department reviews the materials, assesses the development scope, and prepares a free estimate including a development cost and timeline. This initial stage typically takes one to two weeks depending on how quickly the manufacturer can gather and submit materials.
Stage 2 — Content Development
Once the estimate is accepted, the RBA development team begins working with the manufacturer’s product experts. The two-time AIA Award for Excellence winning team — architects, graphic designers, and A/E curriculum experts — takes the manufacturer’s materials and develops them into an AIA-compliant, multimedia educational course. New online courses are developed as 50–60 minute voiced-over videos or traditional slide-deck format. Content development time depends directly on the completeness of materials provided.
Stage 3 — Manufacturer Review and Revision
Once a draft course is developed, the manufacturer reviews it for accuracy, brand consistency, and completeness. Ron Blank & Associates incorporates manufacturer feedback and revises the course as needed. This review stage ensures the course accurately represents the manufacturer’s product expertise while meeting all AIA CES content requirements. The time for this stage depends on the speed and thoroughness of the manufacturer’s review feedback.
Stage 4 — AIA CES and Multi-Credential Registration
Ron Blank & Associates submits the finalized course for registration with AIA CES under RBA’s providership umbrella. Registration covers AIA, IDCEC, RCEP, and USGBC simultaneously. If the manufacturer pursues LEED specific hour designation, GBCI registration through GreenCE.com is included. Registration timing varies based on the AIA CES review queue and whether any compliance revisions are requested.
Stage 5 — Platform Launch and Promotion
Once registered, the course launches on RonBlank.com, available 24/7 to 100,000+ design professional subscribers. Ron Blank & Associates begins promoting the course through its online course listing and A/E database. Manufacturers receive notification of the launch and are encouraged to simultaneously promote the course via their own website, email campaigns, and product literature.
Materials That Accelerate Development
| Material Available | Development Impact | Timeline Effect |
| Complete existing PowerPoint | Foundation for all three delivery formats | Significantly reduces development time |
| Professional product photography | Visual content ready for course slides | Eliminates photography development time |
| CAD details and technical drawings | HSW technical content ready to illustrate | Reduces technical content development time |
| LEED case study documentation | Enables LEED specific hour designation | Adds GBCI registration step, boosts participation 30-40% |
| HPD or EPD documentation | Product transparency content module ready | Speeds sustainability content development |
| Clear learning objectives (2+ required) | Required for AIA registration | Speeds registration process significantly |
| Video clips of product installation | Enables richer multimedia format | Reduces video production requirement |
| No existing materials at all | All content must be created from scratch | Longest development timeline |
The PowerPoint Advantage: One Presentation, Three Delivery Formats
The most successful building product manufacturers in the industry have learned to use a single PowerPoint as a universal format for their online course, lunch-and-learns, and webinar programs — one PowerPoint presentation, three ways to deliver it. This approach not only reduces development cost but also significantly reduces development timeline. A manufacturer who arrives at the development process with a complete, professional PowerPoint already in place can reach the launch stage much faster than one starting from scratch.
Ron Blank & Associates develops new online courses as 50–60 minute voiced-over videos or traditional slide-deck presentations. The platform sees strong success with both formats. A manufacturer’s existing PowerPoint can often be adapted for the online anytime format with voice-over narration, professional graphics enhancements, and AIA-compliant restructuring. For live webinars and lunch-and-learns, the same PowerPoint serves directly with minimal adaptation.
LEED Specific Hour Registration: The Additional Step Worth Taking
For manufacturers whose products are routinely specified on LEED projects, Ron Blank & Associates strongly recommends adding the LEED specific hour designation. This requires an additional registration step with GBCI beyond standard AIA CES registration. However, the 30–40% monthly participation increase from this designation — and in peak months up to 50% — consistently delivers more leads per month than the general AIA course alone. The incremental time investment for LEED registration is worth the sustained participation advantage.
The LEED case study format is one of the most effective strategies for creating a LEED specific hour course. If a product was specified and widely used on a LEED Platinum or Net Zero project, this provides an excellent framework. LEED case studies with the LEED specific hour designation are the highest-performing CE courses in the industry. Manufacturers who can provide LEED project documentation speed the LEED content development process significantly.
After Launch: Ongoing Course Maintenance
Building product manufacturers can and should update their AIA courses as products evolve, LEED rating systems update, and new technical information becomes available. Ron Blank & Associates coordinates course updates with manufacturer product experts. Keeping course content current — especially LEED content as new LEED versions are released — ensures architects receive accurate product information and maintains the course’s AIA registration status and participation momentum. Updated courses can also incorporate new HPD documentation or LEED case studies as they become available.
The LEED Advantage: Free LEED Specific Hour Content
One of the most powerful strategies for building product manufacturers is the LEED specific hour designation. There are over 100,000 LEED professionals who must maintain their credentials on two-year cycles. LEED Green Associates must earn 15 continuing education hours biennially, with at least 3 LEED-specific. LEED APs must earn 30 CE hours with at least 6 LEED-specific hours related to their specialty.
The problem: 99.9% of LEED specific hours are premium content on education platforms. LEED APs can pay the USGBC $200 to access them or pay $50 per credit hour on other websites. Free LEED specific hours are extraordinarily rare. Currently, there is only one website in North America offering free LEED specific content sponsored by building product manufacturers.
Ron Blank & Associates conducted a four-year study on participation rates comparing GBCI general hour credit versus LEED specific hour credit. Manufacturers who created and sponsored a free LEED specific hour course saw a 30–40% uptick in course participation monthly. In some months, especially November and December, the increase reached 50%. The Copper Development Association launched a LEED specific hour course in 2012; by 2017, the five-year-old course was still averaging 250+ leads per month. The course documented the design challenges for the Health Sciences Education Building in Arizona — a $135 million LEED project that provided content for two LEED specific hour courses.
99% of product manufacturers register their course with GBCI for general hour education, not LEED specific hours. This is a huge mistake costing manufacturers 30–40% in participation rates. If the product is routinely specified on LEED projects, there is no reason not to offer LEED specific hour education. Topics that support LEED specific hour courses include: LEED credits the product contributes to, Health Product Declaration content, and LEED case studies from real projects.
Health Product Declarations and Product Transparency in AIA Courses
Health Product Declarations (HPDs) provide a standardized way of reporting the material contents of building products and the health effects associated with those materials. The HPD is developed according to directions set forth by the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC). Major AEC firms have begun requesting HPDs — firms such as Perkins+Will, ZGF, SmithGroup JJR, and HKS encourage manufacturers to provide HPDs in order to be considered for product specification.
HPDs contribute to the LEED v4 MR Credit: Building product disclosure and optimization — material ingredients. The HPD Public Repository was launched in November 2016 and has become a crucial resource for architects, spec writers, interior designers, contractors, and LEED consultants. Architects and designers trying to achieve MR Credit material ingredient disclosure now use the Repository to locate HPDs. HPDs have become the most popular method to achieve this LEED credit.
AIA courses that cover HPD content — what an HPD discloses, how it contributes to LEED credits, and why AEC firms request it — are among the highest-performing courses on the RonBlank.com platform. Courses covering HPDs, Declare Labels, EPDs, and other product transparency documentation are popular with designers and drive higher participation. Manufacturers who build HPD education into their AIA course differentiate themselves from competitors and signal product transparency as a core company value. GreenCE, an affiliate of Ron Blank & Associates, helps building product manufacturers develop HPDs to validate product claims and increase specification on LEED v4 projects.
Follow-Up Strategy: Turning Course Completers into Specification Leads
A point person in the manufacturer’s office receives lead reports containing the contact information of everyone who has participated in the online program or webinar. Participation indicates interest in the product or service. Ron Blank & Associates recommends a ‘Thank You For Participating in Our Course’ email with additional literature, or a call to action and incentive. Personalization is effective and meaningful — delegating a specific rep in the participant’s area to follow up by asking what questions the architect has and how they can be of service converts course completers into specification relationships.
With webinars, attendees can ask questions during the session, providing a direct guide for follow-up in terms of what each potential lead is looking for. Time is of the essence — someone on the manufacturer’s staff must be able to quickly follow up on leads. Follow-up is crucial for lunch-and-learns just as it is for webinars and online anytime courses. A manufacturer can educate a room of 100 architects, but unless they answer emails, telephone messages, and sample requests after an event, the opportunity is wasted. The lead report is the beginning of the specification relationship, not the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I estimate timeline before completing the full course development form?
Manufacturers can discuss general timeline expectations with Ron Blank & Associates before completing the full form. However, an accurate estimate — including specific timeline — requires review of the course development form and available materials. The completeness of materials is the primary determinant of development speed, making the form review essential to any meaningful timeline estimate.
Q: Can I launch a webinar more quickly than an online anytime course?
Webinars can often be scheduled and executed faster than a full online anytime course because they leverage the manufacturer’s live presentation capability rather than requiring complete multimedia production. The manufacturer presents live using an existing PowerPoint; Ron Blank & Associates handles registration, marketing, credit processing, and moderation. This makes webinars an effective way to begin generating leads and brand awareness while the more comprehensive online anytime course is still in development.
Q: How many review cycles should I expect during development?
Ron Blank & Associates typically involves the manufacturer in at least one review cycle — the manufacturer reviews the draft course for accuracy and brand consistency, provides feedback, and RBA incorporates revisions. The most efficient process is when the manufacturer provides complete, well-organized materials upfront and consolidated feedback during review. Additional review cycles may occur if significant changes are needed.
Q: What happens to the development timeline if LEED specific hour designation is added?
Adding LEED specific hour designation requires additional GBCI registration beyond standard AIA CES registration. This adds a registration step to the process but delivers a 30–40% monthly participation increase that consistently justifies it. Manufacturers who plan to pursue LEED designation from the outset can streamline the process by providing LEED project documentation and HPD materials during the initial course development form submission.
Q: Who from my company needs to be involved in the development process?
The manufacturer should designate a primary product expert who can review course content for technical accuracy and provide feedback during development. This person should have comprehensive knowledge of the product’s HSW properties, LEED applications, HPD status, and installation requirements. Ron Blank & Associates coordinates with this designated point person throughout development, keeping the process efficient and manageable for the manufacturer’s team.
Q: How often should a manufacturer update their AIA course after launch?
Ron Blank & Associates recommends reviewing and updating course content whenever significant product changes occur, when relevant building codes or standards are updated, or when LEED rating system updates affect the product’s credit contributions. Updated courses can be used as an opportunity to add LEED specific hour content if it was not included in the original version. Keeping course content current ensures architects receive accurate information and maintains the course’s AIA registration validity.
Q: Can the same course be updated to add LEED content after it has already launched?
Yes. A manufacturer who launched a general AIA HSW course can subsequently add LEED specific content and pursue GBCI LEED specific hour designation. Ron Blank & Associates coordinates course updates and GBCI registration for manufacturer sponsors. Adding LEED content to an existing course is one of the highest-ROI course improvements available — the 30–40% participation increase begins immediately upon LEED registration approval.
Q: What is the fastest development path for a manufacturer new to AIA CE?
The fastest development path for a manufacturer new to AIA CE is to contact Ron Blank & Associates, gather all available materials — photos, CAD details, case studies, and most importantly any existing PowerPoint presentation — and submit a complete course development form. RBA then provides a free estimate and timeline. Starting the webinar format while the online anytime course is in development allows the manufacturer to begin generating leads before the online course is fully launched.
Glossary of Key Terms
AIA (American Institute of Architects) — The professional association for licensed architects in the United States. AIA members must complete 18 Learning Units (LUs) annually to retain membership, with at least 12 carrying an HSW designation.
AIA CES (Continuing Education System) — The framework through which the American Institute of Architects manages, tracks, and reports continuing education credits for its members. AIA CES registers and approves courses from providers and education platforms like Ron Blank & Associates.
AIA Award for Excellence — A recognition awarded by the AIA to continuing education providers for quality and professional rigor. Ron Blank & Associates has won this award twice.
Brand Awareness — The extent to which a building product is recognized by architects, specifiers, contractors, and interior designers. Ron Blank & Associates identifies brand awareness as the first step for any manufacturer seeking product specification.
CE Academy — A live events platform affiliated with Ron Blank & Associates, providing 4–8 hours of AIA and GBCI-registered education credit per live event. Designed as a complementary delivery channel to ronblank.com.
CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) — The professional association for construction specification professionals. CSI MasterFormat organizes building products into numbered divisions. Ron Blank & Associates serves course sponsors across all CSI divisions.
Declare Label — A voluntary self-disclosure program owned by The International Living Future Institute disclosing where a product comes from, what it is made of, and where it goes at end of life. More stringent than the HPD.
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) — A third-party verified document quantifying a product’s environmental impact across its lifecycle. Required or rewarded under LEED v4 and increasingly specified by institutional owners.
GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.) — The body providing third-party verification for LEED certification and awarding LEED CE hours. Courses registered with GBCI reach over 200,000 LEED professionals.
GreenCE.com — The sister site of ronblank.com focused on LEED certification education and USGBC credit reporting for courses developed by Ron Blank & Associates.
HPD (Health Product Declaration) — A product transparency document disclosing chemical contents of a building product and associated health hazards, developed per HPDC standards. Required for LEED v4 MR material ingredient credits. Requested by major AEC firms including Perkins+Will, ZGF, and SmithGroup JJR.
HPDC (Health Product Declaration Collaborative) — The not-for-profit organization maintaining the HPD Open Standard and the HPD Public Repository, launched November 2016.
HSW (Health, Safety, and Welfare) — The quality designation for AIA CE confirming content addresses structural integrity, building health, or occupant safety. At least 12 of 18 required annual LUs must carry this designation.
IDCEC (Interior Design Continuing Education Council) — The credentialing body providing CE credit for interior designers. RonBlank.com reports IDCEC credits, expanding manufacturer reach beyond architects.
Lead Report — A monthly document provided to course sponsors identifying all design professionals who completed the manufacturer’s online AIA CE course, including contact information for follow-up outreach.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) — The most widely used green building rating system, administered by USGBC and certified by GBCI. Manufacturer AIA courses with LEED-specific content reach both architects and 200,000+ LEED professionals.
LEED Specific Hour — An AIA credit type requiring explicit connection to LEED credit categories, credits, or prerequisites in current LEED rating systems. Free LEED specific hour courses are available on only one North American website and see 30–40% higher participation than general courses.
LU (Learning Unit) — The AIA’s unit of CE credit. One LU equals approximately one hour of study time. AIA members must complete 18 LUs per year, at least 12 of which must be HSW.
MCE (Mandatory Continuing Education) — Required CE hours architects must complete to maintain their state license. California requires 5 hours on Disability Access Requirements; New York requires 24 HSW hours every three years. Most states accept AIA CE hours.
Online Anytime Course — A self-paced CE course available 24/7 on RonBlank.com. Typically 50–60 minute voiced-over videos or slide-deck presentations with quiz-based credit completion.
RCEP (Registered Continuing Education Program) — A CE credit program for engineers and design professionals. RBA reports RCEP credits, expanding manufacturer reach to engineers involved in building product specification.
Ron Blank & Associates (RBA) — A leading AIA CE and specification services firm operating ronblank.com, GreenCE.com, and CE Academy. Develops, registers, hosts, and markets sponsored AIA CE courses and webinars for building product manufacturers.
Specification — The formal designation of a building product in an architect’s project documents. Getting specified is the primary commercial goal of manufacturer AIA CE investment.
USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) — The nonprofit that developed and administers the LEED rating system. USGBC credits are processed through GreenCE.com by Ron Blank & Associates.
Webinar — A live, instructor-led AIA CE course delivered online. RBA webinars typically attract 100–300 design professional attendees per event. Manufacturers receive a detailed attendee list immediately after each event.
Industry Standards and Authoritative References
Building product manufacturers developing AIA CE courses should understand the following standards organizations and their role in architect CE requirements and specification decisions:
- AIA — Sets 18 LUs/year (12 HSW) for all AIA members. AIA CES registers and approves manufacturer courses.
- GBCI — Awards LEED CE hours to 200,000+ LEED professionals. LEED specific hour courses must explicitly connect to LEED credits.
- USGBC — Administers the LEED rating system. USGBC Education Partners develop LEED-specific CE content.
- HPDC — Maintains the HPD Open Standard and HPD Public Repository. HPD compliance required for LEED v4 MR material ingredient credits.
- IDCEC — CE credit for interior designers. RBA reports IDCEC credits for manufacturer-sponsored courses.
- RCEP — CE credit for engineers. RBA reports RCEP credits to expand manufacturer audience.
- CSI — MasterFormat divisions organize building product content. RBA serves sponsors across all CSI divisions.
- NCARB — Oversees architectural licensing standards across U.S. states and territories.
- ADA — Federal accessibility law. California requires 5 ADA CE hours for license renewal; Texas has its own ADA CE requirements.
About Ron Blank & Associates
Ron Blank & Associates (RBA) is one of the leading continuing education and specification services companies in the AEC industry, operating ronblank.com — a free continuing education platform serving architects, engineers, and interior designers across the United States and Canada. Building product manufacturers sponsor the free AIA continuing education courses on the platform. Course sponsors include trade associations, non-profit organizations, and manufacturers across every CSI division.
RBA’s education development team has won the AIA Award for Excellence twice — recognition of the quality and professional rigor the team brings to every course it develops. The team includes architects, graphic designers, and A/E curriculum experts who coordinate with manufacturer product experts to develop and register courses. Ron Blank & Associates also operates affiliate platforms including GreenCE.com (focused on LEED and sustainability CE) and CE Academy (live events for AIA and GBCI credit). Contact Ron Blank & Associates at (800) 248-6364 or visit http://www.ronblank.com.
How to Evaluate an AIA CE Course: A Specification Checklist for Manufacturers
Before investing in an AIA CE course, building product manufacturers should evaluate the following criteria to ensure maximum ROI and specification impact:
- Platform subscriber base — the larger the subscriber base, the more monthly leads generated
- Credit types reported — AIA, IDCEC, RCEP, and USGBC/GBCI all expand the eligible audience
- Course format — video and voiced-over presentations outperform PDF-only formats significantly
- LEED content capability — ability to register for GBCI LEED specific hour designation
- HPD and EPD content integration — product transparency documentation increases engagement
- Development team expertise — architects, designers, and A/E curriculum experts on staff
- Monthly lead reporting — complete contact data delivered to manufacturer for prompt follow-up
- Post-webinar attendee reporting — immediate attendee list after each live event
- Platform marketing support — active promotion through course listings and A/E database
- Record keeping compliance — minimum three years of attendance records maintained
- Award recognition — platform quality validated by AIA Award for Excellence
- Pricing transparency — free estimate provided before any development commitment