Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Charlie Adams
Program Director
1560 Broadway, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-2309
303-894-2310 FAX
Note: The general information shown below is intended for the benefit of AIA members.
For verification of a specific state’s mandatory continuing education (MCE) requirement, please contact the state licensing board directly.
Report Date |
Total Hours Annually |
HSW Hours Annually |
Distance Learning Accepted |
Teaching Credit Accepted |
Committee Credit Accepted |
Self-Study Accepted |
July 30th |
16/2 years |
16/2 years |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
An important component of this program requires that the acceptable CE activity include a documented process or procedure that demonstrates retention. This documentation may be in the form of an examination, quiz or test given at the conclusion of the activity or can be documented on the CE Structured Form.
4.9.3 – Renewal of Licenses.
4.9.3.1 – Architects
o 4.9.3.1.1 – Reserved.
o 4.9.3.1.2 – Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal.
4.9.3.1.2.1 – Statutory Basis. Pursuant to Section 12-25-315.5, C.R.S., the Board shall adopt rules establishing requirements for continuing education (CE) that an architect shall complete in order to renew a license on or after July 1, 2009. The rules shall require the architect to participate in a process or procedure that demonstrates whether the architect retained the material presented in the continuing education activity.
4.9.3.1.2.2 – Basis of Requirements. As established by the Colorado legislature, the regulatory authority of the Board is to safeguard the life, health, property, and public welfare of the public of the people of this state and to protect them against unauthorized, unqualified, and improper practice of architecture. Therefore, only health, safety and welfare subjects, as defined in these rules, shall be acceptable toward the continuing education requirements for license renewal.
4.9.3.1.2.3 – Requirements. Architects shall complete Professional Development Units in Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) subjects and participate in a process or procedure that demonstrates whether the architect retained the material presented in the continuing education activity in order to renew a license to practice architecture in Colorado.
4.9.3.1.2.4 – Professional Development Units (PDU). One PDU shall consist of not less than fifty (50) minutes of actual continuing education instruction, presentation, or activity, spent in structured educational efforts intended to increase the architect’s knowledge and competence in HSW subjects.
4.9.3.1.2.5 – Credit Required for License Renewal. Architects shall have acquired PDUs during the period prior to each license expiration date, July 31, in odd numbered years.
For the renewal period ending July 31, 2009 – 4 PDUs
For the renewal period ending July 31, 2011 and thereafter – 16 PDUs
PDUs need not be acquired within Colorado.
4.9.3.1.2.6 – Credit Gained Previously. If an architect acquires PDU credit between August 1, 2007 and January 1, 2009 that (a) meets the criteria in Rules 4.9.3.1.2.9 and 4.9.3.1.2.10, (b) meets the definition of a HSW subject, and (c) submits documentation in accordance with the requirements in Rule 4.9.3.1.2.14, the licensee may claim this credit toward the PDU credit required for the renewal period ending July 31, 2009.
4.9.3.1.2.7 – Prior Carryover of PDU Credit. If an architect acquires more PDU credit than is required during one renewal period, a limited number of PDUs may be carried forward for credit in the next renewal period, as follows:
August 1, 2009 – 1 PDU may be carried forward
August 1, 2011 and thereafter – 4 PDUs may be carried forward
4.9.3.1.2.8 – Health, Safety and Welfare Subjects. Health, Safety and Welfare subjects are defined as technical and professional subjects, related to the practice of architecture, which the Board deems appropriate to safeguard the public. Such subjects include building design, environmental or land use analysis, life safety, architectural programming, site and soils analyses, accessibility, structural systems considerations, lateral forces, building codes, evaluation and selection of building systems, products or materials, construction methods, contract documentation, construction administration; and, professional ethics.
4.9.3.1.2.9 – Process or Procedure that Demonstrates Whether the Architect Retained the Material Presented in the Activity. A process or procedure that demonstrates retention may be any form of evaluation or assessment, such as:
(a) An examination, quiz, or test given at the conclusion of a presentation, lecture, online course, etc.; or;
(b) A structured report process in a format defined by the Board.
4.9.3.1.2.10 – Continuing Education Activity Criteria. To qualify for PDU credit, continuing education activities must be structured educational efforts meeting the following criteria:
(a) Include technical and practical applications which impact public health safety and welfare;
(b) Maintain, improve, expand or enhance the quality of the architect’s existing technical knowledge; or develop new and relevant professional skills and knowledge;
(c) Have clear purposes and objectives;
(d) Be well-organized and provide evidence of pre-planning;
(e) Include a process or procedure that demonstrates whether the architect retained the material presented.
4.9.3.1.2.11 – Acceptable Continuing Education Activities. The Board deems the following types of activities to be acceptable.
(a) Academic Coursework. One semester credit hour may be counted for a maximum of fifteen (15) PDUs. One quarter credit hour may be counted for a maximum of ten (10) PDUs. One semester credit hour for audited classes may be counted for a maximum of eight (8) PDUs; one quarter credit hour for audited classes may be counted for a maximum of five (5) PDUs. Academic coursework shall be completed at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university
(b) Certificate Programs
(c) In-house programs. These may be activities developed internally or externally, e.g. by employers or vendors.
(d) Lecture, Seminar, Workshop. HSW subjects for architects are offered by organizations such as NCARB, AIA, CSI,
Research. PDUs are available for conducting professionally relevant research that is documented by publication of a journal article or writing of a technical or summary report. Credit for this activity cannot also be obtained for publishing.
(f) Teaching, presentations. PDUs shall be awarded for the initial class or presentation only. Credit is available for either teaching/presentation OR preparation.
(g) Publishing a relevant technical article, chapter, or book. These require placement in a journal, periodical, or book with a peer review process that is technically-oriented, not marketing-oriented.
(h) Self-Study - Structured. These may be printed or online materials, CDs or DVDs containing continuing education activities the architect completes individually.
(i) Mentoring programs require a formal contract between mentor and mentee with specific learning objectives, timeline, milestones, and reported outcomes. Formal mentoring programs are also available through associations, e.g. AIA, NCARB, NCEES, ACEC, CSI, and the USGBC.
4.9.3.1.2.12 – Unacceptable Continuing Education Activities. The Board deems the following types of activities to be unacceptable: |
(a) Computer-aided drafting classes;
(b) Serving on federal, state, or municipal boards or commissions;
(c) Rendering pro bono services;
(d) Faculty at college, university, or other educational institution shall not receive teaching credit for teaching their regularly-assigned courses beyond the initial class;
(e) Participation on a public, professional, or technical society board;
(f) Attendance at licensing or registration board meetings or any other professionally relevant board or committee meeting;
(g) Participating in or attending exhibit poster sessions;
(h) Residency or fellowship training programs;
(i) Any activity that does not include a structured educational effort with a process or procedure to demonstrate whether the architect retained the material presented.
4.9.3.1.2.13 – No Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Activities. The Board will not pre-approve individual activities, courses, or programs. It is within the discretion of the Board to deny credit for any activity that does not meet the continuing education criteria in Rule 4.9.3.1.2.10 or the definition of a HSW subject in Rule 4.9.3.1.2.8.
4.9.3.1.2.14 – Record keeping. PDUs shall be documented. The documentation shall be retained by the architect and contain no less than the following information:
(a) Architect name;
(b) Activity type;
(c) Activity location and date(s) ;
(d) Activity title and description of content and objectives;
(e) Sponsor/Continuing Education Provider (e.g. organization, institution, association, employer, vendor, publication) name and contact information;
(f) Instructor/speaker name, as applicable;
(g) Monitor/Facilitator/Mentor name and contact information, as applicable;
(h) Demonstration of whether the architect retained the material presented;
(i) Number of PDUs; and
(j) A declaration that the PDUs are considered health, safety and welfare.
4.9.3.1.2.15 – Exemptions. An architect shall not be subject to the requirement for PDUs in order to renew a license, if during the current renewal period:
(a) The licensee holds an inactive license pursuant to Rule 4.9.2; or,
(b) The licensee was initially issued their Colorado license by examination within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the license expiration date.
Such licensees shall be required to meet all other licensure requirements, including compliance with the Architecture Practice Act and Board rules, and the payment of renewal fees.
4.9.3.1.2.16 – Hardship Exceptions. The Board may make exceptions to the requirements set out in Rules 4.9.3.1.2.3 and 4.9.3.1.2.5 for reasons of individual hardship including, but not limited to, health, military service, or other good cause. It is within the sole discretion of the Board to decide in particular cases whether good cause has been shown in order to grant exceptions.
4.9.3.1.2.17 – Audits. Documentation of PDUs may be audited by the Board for verification of compliance with these requirements at any time.
If the Board disallows any PDUs then the licensee shall have one hundred twenty (120) days from notice of such disallowance to:
(a) Provide further evidence that the disallowed PDUs meet the criteria established by these rules; or,
(b) Provide documentation of having acquired additional PDUs during the required time frame; or,
(c) Cure the disallowance by acquiring the required number of PDUs.
4.9.3.1.2.18 – Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements.
(a) Licensees shall cooperate with the Board to determine compliance with the continuing education requirements.
(b) Licensees shall provide all documents requested for audit within thirty (30) days.
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