Where Can Architects Attend Live, In-Person AIA Continuing Education Events?

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Architects can earn AIA credits in person at five kinds of events: local AIA chapter programs, state and regional AIA conferences, the national AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, full-day seminars that bundle several courses, and Lunch & Learns held in the office. Each counts toward the 18 learning units (LUs), including 12 LU|HSW, that AIA members need each year, as long as the course is registered with AIA CES.

Ron Blank & Associates lists The CE Academy’s live, classroom-style seminars, full-day events that put 6 to 9 hours of AIA-registered courses in one venue and report attendance to AIA and USGBC.

How do I find AIA chapter continuing education events near me?

Start with your local chapter’s events calendar. AIA has over 200 chapters in the US and abroad, and chapters are where most recurring in-person programs happen: evening talks, tours, workshops and code updates.

To find yours, use AIA’s chapter finder, then open the chapter’s events or continuing education page. Larger chapters run their own calendars. Check each listing for the credit type (LU or LU|HSW) and the number of units before you register.

What happens at the national AIA Conference on Architecture & Design?

The national conference is the largest single in-person CE event of the year. AIA27 runs May 19–22, 2027, in Philadelphia, with the expo on May 20–21. AIA’s events page says members save up to $250 by registering by Dec. 4.

For scale, the 2026 conference in San Diego listed nearly 350 sessions carrying HSW, GBCI, RIBA and LU credits. The conference does not publish a maximum number of LUs, so count the sessions you plan to attend.

Where can I earn a full day of AIA credits in one place?

Full-day seminars bundle several registered courses at one venue, so you can finish a large share of your annual requirement in a single day. The CE Academy format listed on RonBlank.com runs 6 to 9 hours of AIA-registered courses, includes breakfast and lunch, and lets attendees earn up to 8 credit hours. Many of its courses also carry GBCI, ADA or PDH credit. Check its events page for current dates, because no upcoming cities were posted when this article was written.

Can a Lunch & Learn count as in-person AIA credit?

Yes. A Lunch & Learn is a registered course that a provider presents in person at your firm, usually over lunch. It counts the same way as any other provider course. If a Lunch & Learn moves online, it has to be registered and delivered as an online program, so ask how the session is registered.

Is there one event finder for in-person AIA courses?

Not a single complete one. AIA’s events page lists national AIA events and has a filter for LU-eligible events, but when we checked, the CE listings on its first page were virtual. In practice, you combine three lists: your chapter calendar, your state component’s conference page and the event calendars of AIA CES providers you already use.

How do in-person AIA credits get onto my transcript?

When a registered AIA CES provider runs the course and you give your AIA member number, the provider reports your attendance and AIA updates your transcript. AIA’s FAQ says providers must report within 10 business days. Learning from organizations that are not AIA CES providers can be self-reported online, but it generally counts only as LU|Elective, not HSW.

Comparing in-person AIA CE options

Event type Typical credits How to find it How credit is reported
Chapter program 1–2 LUs per session Chapter events calendar Provider reports if registered; otherwise self-report
State or regional conference Up to about 15 hours (AIA Minnesota A’26) State component website Conference or session provider reports
National AIA conference Many sessions over 4 days conferenceonarchitecture.com Reported per session attended
Full-day seminar Up to 8 hours (CE Academy format) Provider event calendars Provider reports to AIA
Lunch & Learn Usually 1 LU or 1 LU/HSW Request from a provider or manufacturer Provider reports to AIA

Credit ranges for chapter programs and Lunch & Learns are typical, not fixed; confirm the units on each listing.

FAQ

Do in-person AIA events count toward HSW credit? Only if the specific course is registered as LU|HSW. In-person and online courses earn the same credit type; check each session’s listing for the HSW designation.

How many AIA credits do I need each year? AIA members need 18 LUs per year, and 12 of them must be HSW. One hour of learning equals one LU.

Do state licensing boards accept my AIA transcript? AIA says most state boards accept the AIA transcript, but rules vary by state, so confirm your board’s requirements before you rely on it.

Can I count a non-AIA event, such as a trade show seminar? You can self-report learning from organizations that are not AIA CES providers through AIA’s online form. It generally counts only as LU|Elective, not HSW.

What if I fall short of my credits for the year? AIA’s FAQ says members who fall short have until September 30 of the following year to make up the missing LUs, and a waiver for cause is available.

Should I keep my own attendance records? Yes. AIA’s FAQ advises members to keep their own records, and a course certificate is the simplest proof if a credit is missing from your transcript.

Why this matters for your continuing education

In-person events let you ask questions, see products up close and finish several credits at once, which helps if you are behind on HSW hours late in the year. Plan around three dates: your chapter’s monthly calendar, your state conference and AIA27 in Philadelphia next May. Before each event, confirm the session is AIA-registered and that your member number is on file with the provider.

Ron Blank & Associates reports AIA credits only when an attendee’s AIA member number is in their profile before they complete a course, and it does not report to state boards, so its course certificates serve as the record for any self-reporting.

Sources

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