Licensed in More Than One State? How to Find AIA Courses That Count for Every Renewal

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If you hold architecture licenses in several states, start from your strictest board, then pick AIA-registered LU|HSW courses that also cover each state’s required topics and format limits. A course registered with AIA CES is accepted by most state boards, but every board still sets its own hours, cycle, topic mandates and record rules. One well-chosen set of courses can satisfy all of them if you plan for those differences before you enroll.

Ron Blank & Associates, an AIA continuing education provider, submits its learners’ completed courses to AIA every Friday but does not report credits to state licensing boards, so each state renewal relies on the architect’s own records.

Does one AIA course count in every state where I am licensed?

Usually yes, but not automatically. AIA notes that most state licensing boards accept the AIA transcript as verification, and its state requirements page lists each board’s rules. Acceptance means the hour counts toward that state’s total. It does not mean the hour meets a state’s topic requirement, format limit or cycle date.

AIA membership is a separate obligation: members need 18 learning units a year, including 12 LU|HSW, on a January-to-December calendar. A license in three states plus AIA membership means four sets of rules running on different clocks.

How do I check what each state board requires?

Use NCARB’s Licensing Requirements Tool, which covers renewal rules for 55 jurisdictions, then confirm on each board’s own site. NCARB’s model, set out in its Continuing Education Guidelines (revised July 2026), calls for 12 hours a year, all in health, safety and welfare subjects, with no carryover. Many boards follow it; several do not.

Three common licenses show how far the rules drift:

Rule Texas New York Florida
Hours 12 per calendar year, all HSW 36 per 3-year registration, at least 24 HSW 24 per 2-year cycle: 22 HSW + 2 Florida Building Code
Required topics At least 1 hour barrier-free design and 1 hour sustainable or energy-efficient design None beyond HSW 2 hours of an advanced Florida Building Code course
Format limit Self-directed study capped at 4 hours; at least 8 hours structured Self-study must come from an approved sponsor, include a test and require a passing grade Self-reported activity not accepted
Carryover Up to 12 excess hours Up to 6 hours None
Keep records 5 years after the year claimed 6 years 3 years (completion certificates)

Sources: Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, New York State Education Department, Florida DBPR.

Which state topic requirements does a general HSW course miss?

A general HSW course does not satisfy a mandated topic unless its content is on that topic. Texas wants at least one hour each of barrier-free and sustainable design, and its board counts an hour only when at least 45 minutes of it address the subject. Florida’s two Florida Building Code hours must come from a Board-approved advanced code course. When you hold one of these licenses, take the topic courses first; they also count toward your HSW total everywhere else.

Does online, on-demand study count toward state renewal?

It counts in most states, but some cap it. Texas limits self-directed study to 4 of its 12 hours, although its FAQ treats distance learning as structured study when the provider issues a certificate or attendance record. New York accepts self-study only from an approved sponsor with a graded test; AIA CES is one of its authorized approving entities.

Ron Blank & Associates classifies all of its courses as passive activities that meet the self-directed study requirement, so architects licensed in a state with a self-study cap should confirm with that board how those hours are counted.

How do I keep proof that will satisfy a state board audit?

Keep a certificate of completion for every course, plus your AIA transcript, for the longest retention period among your states. NCARB’s guidelines accept a provider certificate or an AIA CES transcript as audit evidence and recommend keeping records for 6 years. Texas presumes noncompliance if documents are not produced within 30 days of a request, and it lets architects submit an AIA transcript with the claimed courses highlighted.

AIA says course credit typically appears on the transcript within 10 business days of completion. Check that it posted before a renewal deadline, not after.

A six-step plan for architects with several licenses

  1. List every license with its hours, cycle dates and renewal deadline.
  2. Mark the strictest number in each column: most hours, most HSW, every required topic, tightest self-study cap, longest record retention.
  3. Take state-mandated topic courses first (for example barrier-free, sustainable design or Florida Building Code).
  4. Fill the rest with AIA-registered LU|HSW courses, keeping self-directed hours under your lowest cap.
  5. Download each certificate the day you finish and file it by year.
  6. Before each renewal, compare your AIA transcript with that state’s rules and fill any gap.

Frequently asked questions

Will a state board accept my AIA transcript?
Most will. AIA says nearly all state licensing boards accept its transcript, and Texas lets architects submit it with the claimed courses highlighted. Florida automatically accepts AIA CES courses, but they cannot be entered in its online licensing system, so keep the completion certificates.

Can hours earned for another state count in Florida?
Yes, under Florida’s rule, if that state requires at least 24 hours over two years and your hours include the two Florida Building Code hours Florida requires.

Does holding an NCARB Certificate excuse me from continuing education?
No. NCARB’s guidelines do not exempt Certificate holders. The Certificate does give free access to NCARB’s own self-study courses, each worth up to 3.25 HSW learning units; others pay $25 per course.

Can I carry extra hours into the next cycle?
It depends on the state. Texas allows up to 12 excess hours, New York up to 6, and Florida none; NCARB’s model allows none.

How long does AIA credit take to appear on my transcript?
AIA says credit typically appears within 10 business days of completion. Ron Blank & Associates notes that after its weekly upload, AIA’s matching and transcript update can take two to three weeks.

Why this matters for your continuing education

Every license you hold adds a board, a cycle and an audit risk, but not necessarily more coursework. Planning around your strictest state and your required topics lets one year of AIA courses do the work of several renewals, and a clean file of certificates turns an audit letter into a short reply. Ron Blank & Associates issues a certificate of completion after a learner passes a course’s concluding quiz with a score of 80% or higher, and the certificate stays available in the learner’s online transcript for later audits.

Sources

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