Mandatory Degree &
Continuing Education

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March 2004

Issue

AIA Washington Council supports adoption of improved minimum competency requirements for registration. Those requirements shall include a professional degree from an accredited school of architecture, or other defined equivalencies, and a mandated continuing education requirement for licensing renewal, based upon the American Institute of Architect’s Continuing Education System (CES).

Background

As of 2004, twenty-nine states require Continuing Education for architects renewing their state licenses, and a mandatory degree for people to sit for the architectural exam. Washington State has neither at this time. The Washington State Board of Registration for Architects has established a goal to, “Enhance the qualifications of architects by encouraging continuing professional development programs.” Identified as a strategy under that goal, the Board will “support mandatory continuing education requirements for license renewal.

Enabling legislation is required to allow the Registration Board to adopt rules to accomplish both a mandatory degree and continuing education. The Board has signaled its willingness to develop an alternative to a professional degree that would allow someone to sit for the examination.