Continuing Education Credits

The National Building Museum is a registered provider of continuing education credit for AIA, ASLA and AICP and follows the guidelines of these organizations when issuing credit. Please note that for every program where credit may be earned there is a Continuing Education Table set up where documentation may be obtained. It is the responsibility of the professional to visit this table at the program to receive proper credit. Documentation of earned continuing education credit may be obtained after the program by calling the Public Programs Coordinator at 202.272.2448.

AIA Continuing Education Credit Guidelines
ASLA Continuing Education Credit Guidelines
AICP Continuing Education Credit Guidelines 

   American Institute of Architects

The AIA records continuing education credit in learning unit hours (LU hours). A one-LU hour activity is equal to one contact hour. An LU hour is not a continuing education unit (CEU). One tenth of a CEU (.1) is equal to one contact hour, which is equal to one LU hour. In other words, one CEU is equal to 10 contact hours or 10 LU hours.

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) was created by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) as a measurement of continuing education. While other organizations may use the term CEU, the term belongs to IACET and the conversion given here refers to IACET’s guidelines. All state licensing board credit is measured in the contact hour regardless of what acronym used to describe it. Whether it’s CEC, PDH, CE, CPD or CEU, all state licensing boards consider one contact hour equal to one hour of credit. The CEU is a measurement of real-time or synchronous activities. These are programs where the instructor(s) and learners are engaging in the learning activity at the same time.

The International Learning Unit (ILU) was created by the Learning Resource Network (LERN) as a measurement of continuing education. The ILU term belongs to LERN. The ILU is based upon competencies, not time. Asynchronous activities are ones in which the learner(s) and the instructor(s) are separated by time and are not engaging in the learning activity simultaneously (i.e., learning anytime, anyplace, 24/7). ILU credits are awarded when the participants demonstrate that they have mastered the competencies, regardless of how much time it takes.

 American Society of Landscape Architects 

Continuing professional education consists of learning experiences, which enhance and expand the skills, knowledge and abilities of practicing landscape architects to remain current and render competent professional service to clients, the profession and the public.

Many states require landscape architects to participate in professional development (continuing education programs) as a condition for maintaining licensure. However, most landscape architects need to participate in life long learning as way of staying up-to-date in the profession in order to provide the best service possible to their clients.

The Continuing Professional Education Provider program (CPE) offers landscape architects an expanded range of educational opportunities by independent providers. These organizations may include product manufacturers, service organizations, government agencies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. These organizations apply to ASLA for a review of their qualifications for the CPE designation. The requirements that must be met to become an ASLA CPE provider include:

• Each program has clear and concise learning objectives
• Qualified instructional personnel are involved in planning and conducting each program
• Content and instructional methods are appropriate for the intended learning outcomes

PLEASE NOTE THAT A PROGRAM OFFERED BY A CPE PROVIDER MAY OR MAY NOT COUNT TOWARD MEETING CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE DEPENDING ON STATE REGULATIONS.

   American Institute of Certified Planners

Certification Maintenance

Certified planners have demonstrated their commitment to high standards of professional practice. The example they set daily in their work and in their communities enhances the credibility of the planning profession. AICP's new Certification Maintenance program gives certified planners another means of strengthening that credibility.

Our communities are constantly changing and so, too, is the planning profession. New theories, new laws, new planning tools and techniques — all are available to planners as they define and guide community change. AICP's Certification Maintenance program will help planners gain the knowledge and skills necessary to remain current in the practice of planning and continue to demonstrate professional credibility through continuing education.

Program Details

AICP members must earn a total of 32 CM credits (1 hour = 1 CM credit) within their two-year reporting period. AICP members may report credits for activities that were registered since April 14, 2007 and will have a four month-grace period beyond their reporting period to complete the CM requirement.

A minimum of 1.5 credits must be on the topic of ethics, and another 1.5 credits must be on the topic of current planning law. AICP members can carry over a maximum of 16 credits from one reporting period into the subsequent reporting period; however, ethics and planning law credits cannot be carried over to the next two-year reporting period. AICP members who do not meet CM requirements within four years will lose AICP certification and will be obliged to seek recertification in order to regain the AICP credential.

All professional development activities must be approved and registered to be eligible for CM credit and recorded into your online CM log. The list of registered events is growing every day, so please bookmark the CM website http://www.planning.org/cm/index.htm and check back to see whether an event you attended has been added.

Questions? Contact programs@nbm.org or call 202.272.2448, ext. 3555