Alabama Architect CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every Year
Requirements Overview
The Alabama State Board for Registration of Architects requires every registered architect to earn 12 structured continuing education hours (CEH) each calendar year as a condition of annual registration renewal. Under Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-3-.03, all 12 hours must be devoted to Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) subjects related to the practice of architecture — there is no general-education portion.
One CEH equals at least 50 minutes of actual contact time. Acceptable subjects span codes and life safety, accessibility, building systems, sustainability and natural hazards, materials and methods, and construction contract administration. Courses may be delivered in person or through distance learning, so online HSW courses count.
The Board does not pre-approve courses and keeps final authority over what qualifies. Architects self-certify compliance at renewal and track hours through CE Broker, so keep certificates for every course in case of audit.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 12 | Every renewal | All 12 CEH each calendar year must be devoted to health, safety, and welfare (HSW) subjects related to the practice of architecture and earned in a structured setting. There is no separate general-education allotment — every hour must be HSW. |
How You Can Complete Your CE
Alabama CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Alabama that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Annual minimum — at least 12 hours must be completed each year of the cycle, not just by the renewal deadline.
- All 12 CEH per calendar year must be Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) subjects related to the practice of architecture, earned in a structured setting (Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-3-.03).
- One CEH = a minimum of 50 minutes of actual contact time.
- The Board does not pre-approve courses and has final authority to accept credit; compliance is self-certified and tracked through CE Broker.
- Registration renews annually (December 31); CE is a condition of annual renewal and of reinstating a lapsed registration.
Tips for Alabama Architects
- Plan for all 12 hours to be HSW — Alabama gives no credit for non-HSW professional-development hours, so confirm each course carries an HSW designation before you enroll.
- Earn your hours within the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). The count resets every year and registration renews December 31.
- Remember that one CEH means at least 50 minutes of actual contact time, so a 45-minute session does not earn a full hour.
- The Board does not pre-approve courses. Keep your own certificates of completion and log hours in CE Broker in case you are audited.
- Verify current requirements directly with the Alabama State Board for Registration of Architects before renewing, since the CE rule was last amended effective January 2024.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Alabama State Board for Registration of Architects's official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Jul 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.