Continuing Education

Beginning January 1, 2012, all Ohio registered architects are required to earn 12 Structured HSW Continuing Education hours per calendar year in order to renew their license.  All of the hours must be in the areas of health, safety, and welfare (HSW). (For the Architect Continuing Education rules prior to 1/1/2012, please download the old rules, below.)

Structured hours are defined as educational activities in which at least 75% of the content and instructional time is devoted to HSW subjects related to the practice of architecture and provided by qualified individuals or organizations, whether delivered by direct content or distance learning methods (e.g., online courses.) Architectural Record articles are accepted, as are other online courses with AIA HSW credit.

Landscape Architects must earn 24 hours per two year renewal period; 16 of these hours must be health, safety, and welfare hours. The current renewal period for registered landscape architects is 11/1/2011 through 10/31/2013.

We require that you provide documentation of your activities, and documentation in advance simplifes audits. It is your responsibility to track your continuing education activities. See "Acceptable Proof of Completion" below for what is considered appropriate documentation.

It is not necessary to pay for Continuing Education courses. Free HSW courses are available on the internet. Please download the CE Resources document below.

The following information is available to download:

Note: If you are unable to open the CE Log, which is in Office 2010, you may need to install an Excel converter. Instructions for downloading and installing the converter are available at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/use-office-excel-2010-with-earlier-versions-of-excel-HA010342994.aspx#BM2

Where to find Continuing Education

The Board maintains a list of resources for continuing education opportunities. While not all inclusive, the list is updated regularly and will help the licensee find courses ranging from free online courses to conferences sponsored by professional associations. Regardless of what resource you use, be sure to obtain a Certificate of Completion or ensure that the program is being reported to one of the professional associations who maintains transcripts.

Penalties

 

If the CE requirement is not met, the Board may issue written reprimands, suspend or revoke the individual's license, or levy a fine. Additional requirements may also be imposed at the Board's discretion.

Renewal, reinstatement and restoration applications cannot be submitted unless the CE requirement has been completely fulfilled.

Exemptions
The following individuals are automatically exempt from the requirement:

  • Exam candidates (those who are currently taking the exam)
  • State of Ohio Emeritus architects (not the same as AIA Emeritus.) There is no Emeritus status for Landscape Architects, however, the Board is seeking legislative authority to create such a status.

Architects registered by reciprocity are not exempt from Ohio's requirement.

Landscape Architects who were initially registered in Ohio by reciprocity and who are currently registered in another state with a mandatory continuing education requirement, are exempt from Ohio's requirements, provided the other jurisdiction accepts Ohio's continuing education requirements. If audited, the LA will be required to verify compliance with that state's requirements.

The following individuals must submit an Application for Exemption from the CE Requirement form in order for the Board to consider an exemption:

  • Military duty - Licensees are exempt when they are on full time duty, or temporarily called up for active duty, in the United States military service, where such activity restricts participation in continuing education activities.
  • Serious medical condition or disability.
  • Unforeseen emergencies, e.g., natural disasters such as a tornado or hurricane, extreme hardship, or other similar circumstances.

Financial hardship is not a valid exemption, due to the wide availability of free continuing education on the internet.

A written request for an exemption must be approved by the Board prior to submitting the renewal application.

A new exemption request is required for each renewal period.

Download the exemption request form from the Board's website and mail, fax or email the form to the Board office. If you have questions regarding an exemption, please call Amy Kobe at the Board office at 614-466-2316.

Credit Hours Defined
A contact hour is equal to a clock hour. It must be at least 50 minutes duration. Most continuing education providers give credit in hours (e.g., one AIA Learning Unit (LU) is equivalent to 1 contact hour of continuing education), however, some courses may be given in continuing education units (CEU's).

One continuing education unit (CEU) equals 10 contact hours. Therefore, .1 CEU equals one contact hour, .2 CEU's equals two contact hours, and so on.

One Professional Development Unit (PDU) equals one contact hour.

One semester hour of college-level course work equals 15 contact hours. One hour in a school on a quarterly schedule equals 10 contact hours. College coursework must be related to the profession.

Late Renewals

All late renewal applications must be accompanied by proof of completion of CE.

Carry-over
Architects may not carry over excess credit from one renewal period to another.

Landscape architects may carry over up to 12 hours in excess credit, but only from one renewal period to the next.

Acceptable Subject Matter
Acceptable subject matter includes those topics which increase the registrant's knowledge and understanding of technical or professional subjects related to the practice and contribute directly to the improvement of the registrant's professional knowledge and competence. This includes any subject matter covered on the Architect Registration Exam (ARE) or Landscape Architect Registration Exam (LARE).

Health, safety, and welfare topics

  • Architects: All 12 hours must be HSW subjects. A list of HSW subjects is in the Continuing Education rules.
  • Landscape Architects: Of the total 24 hour requirement, 16 hours must be Health, safety, and welfare (HSW). A complete list of HSW topics is located in the Continuing Education rules.

Self-reported activities for Landscape Architects
Beginning 1/1/2012, Architects may not self-report. Activities for which Certificates of Completion are received are not considered self-report. For example, Architectural Record activities are not considered self-report.

Self-reported activities for Landscape Architects must be submitted on the Board's Self-Report form, which can be downloaded from the Forms page.

Only the following activities may be self-reported by Landscape Architects:

  •  Part-time teaching at an accredited institution of higher learning. Twelve hours of continuing education credit for each one hour of academic credit provided by the course except that after the first year, the maximum credit for the same course may not exceed a total of six hours of continuing education credit. Course must be related to the profession of architecture.
  •  Publishing a book or an article in a professional journal, for one time credit for each book or article and must be related to the profession. Credit: One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of preparation; may not exceed five hours total of the continuing education requirements of the renewal period.
  • Teaching a course or seminar, delivering a lecture, presenting a paper, or a program, workshop or monograph at an educational event meeting the Board's requirements. Two credit hours maximum.
  • Voluntary (unpaid) professional service to the public which draws upon the licensee's professional expertise and license status, on public Boards and commissions such as: planning Boards, design review Boards and other similar activities. Credit: One hour of continuing education credit for each hour of work, however, may not total more than six hours of the total continuing education requirements of the renewal period.

Audits
Audits may be conducted on a random basis at any time during the renewal period, during the course of a disciplinary investigation, or as a result of a late renewal. Individuals subject to audit will be notified in writing, via U.S. Mail or email.

Proof of completion
Proof of completion of the Continuing Education requirements should not be submitted to the Board office unless you are requested to do so in writing.

Proof of completion IS required for all late renewals, restorations, and reinstatements.

Proof of completion may be submitted via email, fax or U.S. Mail.

If submitting via email, submit one PDF with all documents/activities in chronological order.

Acceptable proof of completion consists of:

  • Certificates of attendance or completion.
  • Transcripts/records of credits maintained by providers who may qualify/certify such credits and activities. The transcript must contain the name of the participant.
  • Not acceptable documentation: Power Points, course programs or activity descriptions or receipts/registration forms. Obtain other documentation, such as a letter from the program provider verifying completion of the activity.
  • For professional service, minutes showing licensee's presence at meetings/activity or a letter from the sponsoring organization. The number of hours served must be included.

Record keeping
Registrants should keep written records, such as Certificates of Completion or transcript.

Architects must maintain all documents for six years. Landscape architects must maintain documents for four years.

Records shall be made available to the Board at anytime upon request for review and audit.

Records may be requested at any time in connection with an investigation or enforcement proceeding.

Failure to provide the requested record in the time frame established by the Board may result in disciplinary action, including fine, reprimand, suspension, revocation or denial of the application for renewal of the licensee's registration.

Disallowed hours
Architects have 60 days to make up any hours that are disallowed by the Board; landscape architects have 90 days.

This does not apply to persons who, in the opinion of the Board, have willfully disregarded the CE requirements.

Certificates of Completion

A Certificate of Completion should contain the following information:

  • Title of the course or program and any identification number assigned to it by the provider
  • A brief description of the subject matter covered
  • Number of hours completed
  • Provider name and contact information
  • Whether or not the content qualifies for Health, Safety and Welfare credits
  • Name of the attendee
  • Name and original signature of the provider
  • Date and location of the program or course.
  • Proof of attendance should be retained indefinitely.

Special information regarding the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Construction Education Network (CEN):

On June 30, 2011, the Construction Specifications Institute terminated the CSI Construction Education Network (CEN) program. 

CSI transcripts and course certificates will be available at education.csinet.org until June 30, 2011.
 
CSI chapters may continue to provide educational credits through industry organizations such as the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System, and the United States Green Building Council Education Provider Network. 

Questions? Contact CSI at csi@csinet.org.

 

Amy Kobe, CAE, Hon AIA  Executive Director
77 S. High Street, 16th Floor • Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108
Tel: (614) 466-2316 • Fax: (614) 644-9048