The American Institute of Architects - Illinois Licensing Requirements, MCE Requirements by Location

Illinois Licensing Requirements

Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation
M. David Brim
Design Licensing Manager
320 W. Washington Street, Third Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
217-782-8556 - Technical Assistance
217-782-0458 - Licensure Maintenance
217-782-7645 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
November 30th	24/2 years	16/2 years	Yes	Yes, except for members of faculty	Yes, max 8 hours, not eligible for HSW	Yes, max 8 hours, not eligible for HSW

Section 1150.105
Teaching or instructing an architectural course, seminar, lecture, presentation or workshop shall constitute 3 contact hours for each hour spent in the actual presentation. Teaching credit shall be valid for the initial presentation only. Teaching credit shall not apply to faculty teaching regularly scheduled curriculum courses at a college, university or other educational institution.

Contact hours spent in professional service to the public that draws upon the licensee's professional expertise on boards and commissions, such as: serving on planning commissions, building code advisory boards, urban renewal boards, code study committees or regulatory boards.

Contact hours spent in unstructured self-study tours of architecturally significant projects where there is a clear objective to maintain and strengthen competency in a design or technical field.

Proof of Compliance
The Department may require evidence demonstrating compliance with the continuing education requirements. It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of such compliance. The
evidence shall be retained for at least 4 years following the renewal period for which the continuing education was taken. Such evidence may include, but not be limited to the following:

Certificate of attendance;
Signed attendance receipts;
Sponsor’s list of attendees (signed by a person in responsible charge of the activity);
Records showing activity claimed, sponsoring organization, location, duration, etc.;
A log of learning that may consist of diaries, summary of activities, photographs, public or organization records, receipts, etc.; or
Transcripts or records of continuing education credits maintained by an acceptable provider of continuing education as defined by subsection (f).
The Department may conduct random audits to verify compliance with continuing education requirements.
If the Department disallows any continuing education hours, unless the Department finds, following notice and hearing, that the licensee willfully disregarded these requirements, then the licensee shall have six months
from notice of such disallowance to make up the deficiency by acquiring the required number of contact hours. Such contact hours shall not be used again for the next renewal.
Where it is determined by the Department that the licensee has willfully disregarded these requirements, the licensee may be subject to discipline as set forth in Section 22 of the Act.

Non-Compliance Penalties
The Department may conduct random audits to verify compliance with continuing education requirements.

If the Department disallows any continuing education hours, unless the Department finds, following notice and hearing, that the licensee willfully disregarded these requirements, then the licensee shall have six months
from notice of such disallowance to make up the deficiency by acquiring the required number of contact hours. Such contact hours shall not be used again for the next renewal.
Where it is determined by the Department that the licensee has willfully disregarded these requirements, the licensee may be subject to discipline as set forth in Section 22 of the Act.
For Restoration or late renewal, proof of CE is required, pursuant to Section 1150.105 of the Rules for the Administration of the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989.

Exceptions and Exemptions
Please contact dbrim@ildpr.com for information.