Architect Continuing Education (CE) Requirements by State (2026)
Licensed architects must complete continuing education to renew their license, most commonly measured in Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) hours or learning units (LUs). Requirements are set by each state architecture licensing board and vary widely — from 12 or 24 HSW hours per renewal, sometimes with mandatory topics such as accessibility, building codes, or disaster-resilient design, to no continuing education requirement at all. Compare requirements across all states below.
48
States Covered
12-24 HSW
Typical Hours Range
1-2 years
Most Common Cycle
NCARB
National Body
Disclaimer: Requirements are set by each state's licensing board and may change. Always verify with your state board before making CE decisions.
National Overview
Architect requirements vary significantly by state. Among states that mandate continuing education, totals typically range from 12-24 HSW hours per renewal cycle, and most follow a 1-2 years cycle. The national coordinating body is NCARB. Online CE is widely accepted, though some states impose limits on self-study hours.
All States Comparison
| State | Hours | Cycle | Online? | Key Topics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Alaska | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | — | View → |
| Arkansas | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| California | 10 | 2 yr | Yes | Disability access requirements, Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) | View → |
| Colorado | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Connecticut | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Delaware | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Florida | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW), Advanced Florida Building Code | View → |
| Georgia | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Public Protection (Health, Safety & Welfare) Subjects | View → |
| Hawaii | 16 | 2 yr | Yes | Public Protection / Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Idaho | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Illinois | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Public Protection / Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW), Sexual Harassment Prevention Training | View → |
| Indiana | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Iowa | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Kansas | 30 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety, Property & Welfare (HSPW) | View → |
| Kentucky | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Louisiana | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Maine | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Maryland | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Massachusetts | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Michigan | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Minnesota | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Professional ethics, Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Mississippi | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Missouri | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Montana | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Nebraska | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Professional ethics, Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) / technical subjects | View → |
| Nevada | 8 | 1 yr | Yes | Code-related research or learning, Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| New Hampshire | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| New Jersey | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| New Mexico | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| New York | 36 | 3 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| North Carolina | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Ohio | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Oklahoma | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Oregon | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Pennsylvania | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Rhode Island | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| South Carolina | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| South Dakota | 30 | 2 yr | Yes | Technical / Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) subjects | View → |
| Tennessee | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) / technical competency | View → |
| Texas | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Sustainable / energy-efficient design, Barrier-free / accessibility design | View → |
| Utah | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Vermont | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Virginia | 16 | 2 yr | Yes | — | View → |
| Washington | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| West Virginia | 12 | 1 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |
| Wyoming | 24 | 2 yr | Yes | Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | View → |