Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) is education required by a state to retain licensure. Approximately 35 states and 10 Canadian Provinces have implemented a MCE license requirement, but these requirements vary from state to state, province to province. Alabama, for example, requires 12 hours per year, while Florida requires 20 hours every two years, and New York requires 36 hours every 3 years. Except for Kansas, the states with MCE also require that between 8-12 of the hours be in the area described as health, safety, and welfare (HSW).
Each state has the legal right to establish its own guidelines and requirements. However, most states' requirements are similar, whether they require architects to meet them annually or biannually. If you, like the average AIA member, have four or more state licenses, you must meet the continuing education requirements for all the states in which you intend to practice.
To date, most states that require MCE indicate they will accept AIA/CES transcripts as documentation for completion of valid continuing education credit. For AIA members, this means that our single record-keeping system is the documentation needed for reporting your state MCE requirements when requested. We do, however, strongly suggest that you keep backup documentation of your activities as support, especially if the credit is a self-reported activity as it may be requested.
Each state has the legal right to establish its own guidelines and requirements. However, most states' requirements are similar, whether they require architects to meet them annually or biannually. If you, like the average AIA member, have four or more state licenses, you must meet the continuing education requirements for all the states in which you intend to practice.
To date, most states that require MCE indicate they will accept AIA/CES transcripts as documentation for completion of valid continuing education credit. For AIA members, this means that our single record-keeping system is the documentation needed for reporting your state MCE requirements when requested. We do, however, strongly suggest that you keep backup documentation of your activities as support, especially if the credit is a self-reported activity as it may be requested.
Comments (7)
I would like to know what the AIA's opinion is on this disrageful situation:
Illinois Pulls Walter Netsch's License Over CEUs
State cites former SOM architect's failure to comply with requirements and denies medical waiver
Source: ARCHITECT Magazine
Publication date: 2007-07-01
By Edward Keegan
Architectural designer Walter Netsch can not practice architecture nor even refer to himself as an architect without risk of criminal prosecution by the state of Illinois.
Originally issued on Feb. 25, 1948, Netsch's license is listed by the state's Department of Professional Regulation as “Not Renewed.” The 87-year-old Netsch has failed to comply with Illinois' continuing education requirements for at least four years. He was granted a medical waiver in 2005 after filing suit against the regulators, but the state informed Netsch on March 26 of this year that it would no longer offer him this option. Netsch is in failing health and confined to a wheelchair due to partial amputations on both of his legs. A spokesperson for the state cites the fact that continuing education requirements for license renewal can now be accomplished online as a factor in declining to issue another medical waiver.
Netsch was a design partner for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where he worked from 1947 until 1979. He designed the Colorado Springs campus of the Air Force Academy, including its acclaimed tetrahedron-based chapel, and produced the design concept for Chicago's innovative stainless steel and glass Inland Steel Building.
Netsch lives in an art-filled cubic townhouse on Chicago's North Side that he built in 1974 according to his Field Theory principals. The geometrically rigorous, if spatially confused, methodology produced little-loved buildings for many Midwestern campuses, including Northwestern, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Chicago.
Although Netsch has no plans to practice architecture again, he has again filed suit to recover the professional status he held for almost six decades.
Posted by Will Shoken | July 17, 2007 4:43 PM
Posted on July 17, 2007 16:43
Mr. Netsch is an Emeritus AIA member. As such he is not required to complete the AIA's continuing education requirement. This is strictly a State licensing issue where they want all practicing architects within their state to remain current of new materials, methods and technology.
Posted by Thom Lowther | July 18, 2007 7:50 AM
Posted on July 18, 2007 07:50
Is the AIA supporting or aiding Mr. Netsch in his appeal? I believe it should. Furthermore I believe the AIA should lobby the states to waive the CEU requirements for architects over the age of 70. I believe it is ridiculous that no consideration has been made for elderly and/or infirmed professionals.
Posted by Will Shoken | July 19, 2007 8:29 AM
Posted on July 19, 2007 08:29
It seems to me that the AIA is good at initiating a continuing education system for membership and then lobbying the states to enact them as requirements for registration which results in more money to the AIA. But when these requirements become ridiculous as is the case of Mr. Netsch, you pass the buck and say it's strictly a state licensing issue. You created the CES system of credits and you should have the decency to change it when it becomes onerous to your members.
Posted by Will Shoken | July 25, 2007 9:56 AM
Posted on July 25, 2007 09:56
Thank you for your feedback Mr. Shoken. Just for clarity, Mr. Netsch would not need to earn continuing education for the AIA CES. Also, I've heard about this case from a couple people including yourself who I would suspect are not just contacting the AIA CES blog, but also agencies within the State of Illinois. If I hear anything more I will post it here.
Posted by Maria Sigillito | July 25, 2007 10:35 AM
Posted on July 25, 2007 10:35
I am aware that the AIA does not require Mr. Netsch to accrue additional credits.
I do not reside or work in Illinois, my voice has no sway there. However I believe this whole continuing education system is a creation of the AIA and therefore it bears some of the resonsibility for Mr. Netsch's problems. The AIA claims to be an advocate for architects; it should take a stand as an organization in helping Mr. Netsch with his appeal.
Posted by Will Shoken | July 25, 2007 2:36 PM
Posted on July 25, 2007 14:36
Well it appears that justice has prevailed for Mr. Netsch. No mention of the AIA in the article. I would hope that someone takes note of this and makes it AIA policy to come to the aid of its members.
chicagotribune.com
Architect Walter Netsch can keep his license, judge rules
State department erred on continuing education requirement, she says
By Michael Higgins
Tribune reporter
6:31 PM CDT, May 8, 2008
Walter Netsch Jr. has been a prominent architect in Chicago for decades, known in particular for his work on the campuses of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University. But last year, in a move Netsch's supporters described as bureaucracy run amok, state regulators tried to strip Netsch's license because he failed to attend continuing education classes. But a Cook County judge has ruled that Netsch, who is retired and in failing health at 88, can keep his license.
Netsch, who had parts of both legs amputated and suffered complications from cancer, argued he qualified for a medical waiver from the education requirement.
"In terms of Walter's feeling about [the license], it was extremely important," said his wife, Dawn Clark Netsch, a former Illinois state comptroller. "His feeling is: 'This was my home state. I did the Circle campus [at UIC]. I did all kinds of buildings around here. This is my base.' "
Circuit Judge Kathleen Pantle ruled last month that the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation had misinterpreted the medical waiver as available only to architects who had suffered a temporary health setback and would soon improve. "The plain meaning of the rules contains no such limitation," Pantle said in a seven-page opinion. The department's decision "completely missed the point." The department did not appeal the ruling, spokeswoman Susan Hofer said. But it's unclear whether it might take action against Netsch when his license is up for renewal again in November.
"We certainly hope Mr. Netsch will be able to complete the continuing education," Hofer said. "But since he has not yet applied for renewal, there's nothing we can talk about." Hofer has said that continuing education courses are available online. But Netsch's attorney, Matthew Iverson, said he's not aware of online courses that would allow Netsch to retain his license. Netsch was in the hospital this week and unavailable for comment, said his wife, who made an unsuccessful run for governor in 1994.
This is the second time Walter Netsch has won this battle. He applied for a medical waiver in 2004, citing the rule that says architects need not meet the requirement if it would present "an undue hardship by reason of disability, illness or other clearly mitigating circumstances." State officials denied the request initially but reversed course after Netsch sued in 2005. Netsch requested another medical waiver in 2006. But in March 2007, state officials denied that request and gave him 35 days to surrender his license. Netsch needs close medical supervision, but "he is still very mentally acute," Iverson said. "It's very important to Walter to know that he continues to be a licensed architect. That's been his life."
mjhiggins@tribune.com
Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune
Posted by Will Shoken | May 21, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 10:05