Missouri Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
Missouri regulates architect continuing education in 20 CSR 2030-11.025, administered by the combined Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects. Renewal is biennial, and you must complete 24 CEUs within the two years immediately preceding the renewal date. One CEU equals one contact hour — at least 50 minutes of actual course time.
Within the 24, at least 16 CEUs must be HSW (health, safety, and welfare) earned through structured educational activities; the remaining 8 can be other qualifying architectural subjects, though all 24 may be HSW if you prefer. Missouri recognizes AIA-defined continuing education.
Excess credit helps: up to 12 CEUs beyond the 24 can be carried forward to the next two-year period. Architects who have held a Missouri license for less than 12 months need not report CE at their first renewal. Keep records for 4 years in case of audit.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 16 | Every renewal | At least 16 of the 24 CEUs must be related to health, safety, and welfare (HSW) and acquired in structured educational activities. All 24 units may be earned in HSW subjects if the licensee chooses. |
Exemptions
- First Renewal — Licensed Less Than 12 Months — An architect who has held Missouri licensure for less than twelve months from the date of initial licensure need not report continuing education hours at the first license renewal.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Missouri CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Missouri that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — A licensee who completes more than 24 CEUs within the preceding two calendar years may apply the excess — up to a maximum of 12 units — to the requirement for the next two-year renewal period.
- Missouri requires 24 continuing education units (CEUs) within the two years immediately preceding each biennial renewal, at least 16 of which must be HSW acquired in structured educational activities; all 24 may be HSW (20 CSR 2030-11.025).
- One CEU equals one nominal contact hour — a minimum of 50 minutes of actual course time.
- Up to 12 excess CEUs may be carried forward and applied to the next two-year renewal period.
- An architect licensed less than 12 months need not report CE at the first renewal. Records must be maintained for 4 years and furnished to the board on audit request.
Tips for Missouri Architects
- Front-load HSW. At least 16 of your 24 CEUs must be HSW earned in structured activities, so prioritize AIA/HSW-designated courses; the remaining 8 are more flexible.
- Structured matters for the HSW block. The 16-unit HSW minimum specifically requires structured educational activities, not self-directed learning.
- Bank up to 12 extra units. If you overshoot in one cycle, the excess (max 12) applies to the next two-year period — useful if you take a heavy course load.
- New licensees get a break: if you've held your Missouri license under 12 months, you don't report CE at your first renewal. Confirm timing with the board.
- Keep certificates for 4 years. You report compliance at renewal but must furnish records to the board if audited.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape 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.