Washington Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
The Washington State Board for Architects, part of the Department of Licensing (DOL), requires 24 professional development hours (PDH) across each two-year license period. At least 16 of those 24 hours must address public health, safety, and welfare (HSW); the remaining 8 may cover any subject related to the practice of architecture.
Washington uses a self-certification model — you attest to compliance at renewal and are not asked to submit certificates unless you are audited. Each year 5% to 15% of licensees are selected at random for audit, so documentation matters. For every activity, keep the date, the instructor's name, a description, the location, and the number of PDH, and retain those records for 5 years.
Excess hours can help you get ahead: up to 12 extra PDH earned in the second half of a license period may be carried over into the next two-year period.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 16 | Every renewal | At least 16 of the 24 professional development hours in each two-year period must address public health, safety, and welfare (HSW). The remaining 8 hours may cover any subject related to the practice of architecture. There are no additional mandated sub-topics. |
How You Can Complete Your CE
Washington CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Washington that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — Up to 12 excess professional development hours may be carried over to the next two-year license period. Only hours earned during the second half of the license period are eligible to carry forward, and the carry-over is capped at 12 hours.
- 24 professional development hours (PDH) are required across each two-year license period, of which at least 16 must address public health, safety, and welfare (HSW).
- Records are not submitted at renewal — you self-certify compliance and produce documentation only if audited. Each year 5% to 15% of licensees are randomly selected for audit.
- For each activity keep the date, instructor name, activity description, location, and number of PDH. Retain records for 5 years after the audit.
- Up to 12 excess hours from the second half of a license period may be carried into the next two-year period.
Tips for Washington Architects
- Front-load your HSW hours. 16 of the 24 must be HSW, so track which activities carry the HSW designation and make sure you clear that 16-hour floor before filling the remaining 8 with general practice topics.
- Only excess hours from the second half of your license period can carry over, capped at 12. Timing matters — hours banked too early in the cycle will not roll forward.
- You will not upload certificates at renewal. Keep a per-activity log (date, instructor, description, location, PDH) because Washington randomly audits 5% to 15% of architects every year.
- Retain your records for 5 years after an audit. A clean, itemized log is what protects you if you are selected.
- The Board does not pre-approve courses. AIA/NCARB HSW-designated activities are a safe way to be confident an activity counts — but always verify against the current DOL rules.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Washington State Board for Architects (Department of Licensing)'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.