Practice Management Member Conversations

Does anyone else find it difficult to keep track of your continuing ed requirements across multiple states.  I realize that meeting the annual AIA requirements will basically fulfill the requirements of any state if everyone was on the same calendar, but my issue is that in real time, with different states having different renewal dates, you sometimes are not fully compliant in the middle of the year.  I've been keeping a crazy spreadsheet, just seems quite tedious and hopefully unnecessary.

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Larry Goldberg AIA
lg+a architects, pc
Morganville NJ
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I agree and I don't have that many states to track.  In Florida, for example, my registration runs through the end of February however the continuing ed requirements are two year requirements as compared with the AIA's yearly requirement.  And when I renew I'm attesting that I've met the requirements over the past 2-years....so as long as I'm good with AIA then I'm good with Florida.  I was audited once (by Florida) and it seemed they were fairly loose and had a grace period of sorts however I doubt those are published. 

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Daniel Piper AIA
Davidson & Associates
Bethesda, MD
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I agree that keeping track has a hassle factor.  However, you can get the CES requirements for each state and Canadian provinces from AIA online.  This information has given me the opportunity to determine worst case scenarios regarding number of credits of each type that are required.  As well, you need to determine what states have unique added requirements, such as CA, TX, FL.  If you focus on what is worst case and complete those requirements, it minimizes your effort in tracking.  It's not a great solution, but it helps.

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Patrick Blees AIA
CMA, P.A.
Minneapolis MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-24-2010 07:40
From: Daniel Piper
Subject: Keeping Track of CES across states

I agree and I don't have that many states to track.  In Florida, for example, my registration runs through the end of February however the continuing ed requirements are two year requirements as compared with the AIA's yearly requirement.  And when I renew I'm attesting that I've met the requirements over the past 2-years....so as long as I'm good with AIA then I'm good with Florida.  I was audited once (by Florida) and it seemed they were fairly loose and had a grace period of sorts however I doubt those are published. 

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Daniel Piper AIA
Davidson & Associates
Bethesda, MD
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Michael Clark AIA
Director Of Design
H&H Design-Build
New Albany IN
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Larry:
With over 30 licenses, I have 2 spreadsheets and a secretary.
One spreadsheet lists the states and the dates for renewals.
The other lists my CEU's and the dates when they were obtained.  I keep a file folder with all of the annual CEU Certificates with the CEU spreadsheet as a cover. 

As each state renewal date approaches, my secretary gleans the information from my files and sends it in.  I have at least 1 to 2 audits a year and all of my information is easily put together.

I have gotten accustomed to obtaining about 24 CEU credits annually and spacing them out throughout the year because of the issues you are describing.  In some states, meeting your "home" state requirements is acceptable.  I got tired of playing that card, so now I just meet each states requirements.  I look at it as the price you pay to work in mutltiple juristrictions.

I also enjoy learning, so this has not been too difficult a transition.

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Gary Nelson AIA
Assistant Vice President
Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
Phoenix AZ
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In additon to an administrator maintaining a spreadsheet of the various state requirements, our company has a database that sends a 60 day reminder that your license is scheduled to expire. In additon, at the beginning of the year I set 90 day reminders in outlook for all of the states that I have a license. This helps me look for Continuing Education opportunities well in advance of license expirations.

I can relate to your concerns.  Being registered in 37 states I also keep a spreadsheet of requirements and as a warning, meeting the AIA requirements does not necessarily cover you.  Texas for example, requires at least one hour of barrier-free design and Nevada requires two units specifically related to building code research.  I find myself going to the AIA Convention with spreadsheet in hand just looking for courses to cover some of these requirements as opposed to courses I really would like to take.