The following LHs must be reported on an annual basis:

Only 10 self-directed LHs can be used to fulfill the yearly LH requirements.  However, there is no limit to the number of core LHs that can be used to complete the mandatory 18 LHs per year. 

Additional LHs requested per category will be tracked for members. However, members must ensure that the minimum requirements in each category are earned and reported, as well as the required number of LHs per year.

Yes. If a member achieves more LHs than required in a year, a maximum of 18 LHs may be carried over to the next calendar year. Conversely, if a member does not achieve the required number or type of LHs required, a maximum of 18 negative LHs will be carried over to the next calendar year.

New, first-time registered architects and licensed interior designers are not required to complete the annual 18 learning hours (LHs) in the year that they become registered. However, they must complete the annual requirements for their first full calendar year of registration. In addition, the Mandatory Course on the Architects Act, General Regulation and Bylaws must also be completed within their first full calendar year of registration.

Records will be kept for new members who want their activities recorded in their initial year of registration. Any credit received in this first year of membership will not apply toward the following year's requirements, unless the member has exceeded the annual LH requirements. In this case, carry over calculations will follow the same rules as for other members.

No, associate, affiliate and retired members are exempt from the mandatory continuing education requirements but are encouraged to participate for their own benefit and that of the profession. Moreover, records will be kept for those who report their activities.

Yes, a member can earn LHs from other provincial or national continuing education programs. Examples of such programs would be attendance at the continuing education sessions held at a RAIC Festival or the OAA annual general conference. Except for unusual circumstances, credit hours and activity categories will be awarded according to the program host’s specifications.

Yes. AAA will accept individual conference, course and workshop attendance forms as documentation for completion of valid continuing education credit. Learning activities rated as Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) or Sustainable Design (SD) will be recorded as Core learning hours. Other learning activities will be recorded as self-directed. These transcripts should be attached to a completed Core Reporting Form (Form CE2-30) and submitted to the AAA for recording.

Yes. AAA will accept IDCEC and NCIDQ learning activities rated as Intermediate and Advanced Level as core activities. Learning activities rated at an introductory level will be recorded as self-directed LHs. These transcripts and conference attendance forms should be attached to a completed Core Competency Reporting Form (Form CE2-30) and submitted to the AAA for recording.

Yes. AAA will accept reading AIA’s pre-selected articles as learning activities. Core competency LHs can be requested for reading these articles if:

Structured self-directed LHs can be requested without an AIA Certificate of Completion by submitting a completed Self-Directed Activity Form CE2-01 listing the article issue date and article title on the form.

Members have two options when claiming LHs for teaching if the program, class or presentation is one hour or longer. The member can claim this teaching as core LHs provided this activity has been approved as a core activity. Alternatively, the member can request self-directed LHs for an event presentation. This option does not apply to members who teach these programs on a full-time basis such as a full-time university professor.

The second option is to request individual self-directed LHs for the research and preparation time for the programs being taught, up to a maximum of 10 LHs per year. The research must be reported as self-directed and regardless of the topic, will not qualify for core credit.

Members must select just one option, either the rating for the course attendees or research time but not both for the same event. LH requests can only be submitted for the course’s first offering. LHs can then only be claimed again for that offering if the presentation has been substantially revised or updated.

No, it is generally not acceptable to take the same course more than once within a two (2) year time period. Exceptions would be where the course outline has substantially changed in content or other extenuating circumstances approved by the Continuing Education committee.

No. The benefits of a continuing education program are not acquired unless a member explores new areas of information in addition to or outside of normal daily business and practice activities. There is always new information, technology and changing regulations available for review and integration into practice.

In-house seminars can qualify for LHs under the self-directed activity category. However, these seminars must be structured so that the credit portion of the program is presented first. In the portion available for LH credit, the presenter must not feature, market or discuss specific company products or services. The seminar should educate the audience only on the methods, applications and processes associated with the product. Facts, features and information should be presented on generic materials, not company-specific products and should present accurate and applicable solutions to construction problems. Answering questions about the specification of a product must be done only after the instructor/demonstrator has clearly indicated to the audience that the credit portion of the program has concluded.

The following core program offerings do not have to be reported to AAA – they are already tracked by AAA’s CEP:

• Attendance at AAA’s AGMs, Banff Sessions, Membership Forums and Seminars
• Registration and fee submission for online CMHC articles
• Registration and fee submission for OAA distance learning courses
• Course provider seminar offerings (if you have signed the AAA’s Attendance Sheet at the registration desk)

For all other core programs, a Core Activity Reporting Form (CE2-30) and the registration form confirming your attendance at the various sessions must be submitted to the AAA within 60 days of the completion of the activity or program.

You must report these activities online once the web Content Manager reporting feature is implemented.

A Self-Directed Activity Reporting Form (CE2-01) must be submitted to the AAA for the learning activity to be recorded on your transcript. All submissions will be considered on an individual basis and subject to review and adjustment of LHs assigned. These forms should be submitted within 60 days of the end of a program or activity. AAA will notify you as soon as possible if the requested LHs have been adjusted or if the activity does not qualify for LH credits for any reason.

You must report these activities online once the Content Manager reporting feature is implemented.

On May 1st, any member who has not completed and reported sufficient continuing education activities to remove the minus LH shortfall carried into the current year from the previous year will be:
       • assessed the Continuing Education Arrears Administrative Fee and
       • immediately referred to the Registrar who, in turn, will serve notice of the

         date on which member registration is to be cancelled.

In exceptional circumstances, a member may be granted an exemption from CEP requirements or an extension to time available to complete annual CEP requirements.

The possible, allowable exceptions to the Continuing Education annual requirements are:
       • Severe medical difficulties for at least the last three months of the calendar

          year (as determined by doctor’s note),
       • Severe financial hardship or
       • Other extreme circumstances.

A written letter requesting an exemption or extension to CEP requirements must be submitted by the member to the CEP along with other pertinent information documenting exceptional circumstances. Confidentiality will be respected when this information is presented to the Continuing Education Committee for review.

The Continuing Education committee will review the request and advise the member of its decision. A member who is dissatisfied with the committee’s decision may, by letter addressed to Council, request that Council review the committee’s decision. The decision of Council is final.

in addition, the association has a Leave Policy for members who are not currently practicing. This policy and its documentation requirements can be found at www.aaa.ab.ca, Membership, Becoming a Member, Application Package.

Consideration for member reinstatement must include evidence that the continuing education requirement shortfall has been eliminated and any outstanding fees have been paid prior to applying for re-registration, in accordance with section 27.2 of the Act.

Former AAA members who were in good standing with the continuing education requirements when they were last active and are reapplying for membership will be required to complete a total of 18 LHs (with a minimum of 8 LHs in core activities) the year in which they reinstate. For out-of-province members, a copy of their home jurisdiction’s official documentation stating that they have successfully completed their previous reporting cycle requirements and a signed Continuing Education “Out of Province Residence” Declaration Form (CE2-50).

Former AAA members who were not in good standing with the continuing education requirements when they were last active must complete or demonstrate that they have already completed 9 LHs within the last 12 months prior to reapplying for renewed membership. These members will also be required to complete an additional 18 LHs, with a minimum of 8 LHs in core programs, the year in which they reinstate – thus, totaling 27 LHs in the year in which they reapply for membership.

For purposes of CEP reporting, the AAA will consider a member’s home jurisdiction to be the province or state where the member pays personal income taxes. For example, the ‘home’ jurisdiction would be the OAA if a member pays Ontario provincial income taxes and is currently registered with the OAA.

A member’s “home” jurisdiction would be Alberta if he/she pays Ontario income taxes, is an AAA member, but does not belong to the OAA.

Yes, you will be required to complete AAA’s continuing education requirements if Alberta is your “home” jurisdiction. There are still many opportunities to satisfy these requirements.

The AAA recognizes and will credit other provincial and national association-directed continuing education offerings. Several traditional distance education courses are available from other national and provincial associations. New eclassroom Internet courses are available from AIA and other private providers specifically for architects and licensed interior designers. Architectural Record has special pre-selected articles in 8 or more issues per year that offer LH opportunities.

There are many registered AIA providers in Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Spain that provide registered courses. In addition, there may be educational opportunities for studying historical architecture, building codes and architecturally related language and customs in your host country.

Members who do not have Alberta as their “home” jurisdiction must:
     (a) supply official “home jurisdiction” documentation indicating successful

           completion of their previous reporting cycle requirements
     (b) signed submission of Continuing Education “Out of Province”

           Declaration Form CE2-50.
     (c) Completed AAA mandatory courses according to the timelines and

           requirements of the CEP.

Quality control is based on audit reviews of member and course provider reports, as well as annual reviews of core course offerings and categories by the Continuing Education committee. During these reviews, program content will be matched to learning objectives. Handout materials and instructor qualifications will also be reviewed. As well, content will be compared to specified criteria that contribute to effective adult educational activities. At times, subject matter experts may be called upon to confirm program content.

LH activities will be audited on a random basis throughout the year to ensure accuracy and quality. In addition, the CEP will randomly select up to 3% of member transcript records by a computer program to review at the end of the calendar year.

AAA staff will review each selected transcript to identify any reporting anomalies or inconsistencies with the parameters of the CEP. A request for supporting documentation will then be sent to the member if it is determined that there are inconsistencies in the transcript.

A list of document requirements is listed here. This supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure consistency with entries listed on the member’s record and compliance with the program’s core and self-directed categories of learning.

AAA staff will forward transcripts and supporting documentation to the Continuing Education committee or to subject matter experts appointed by Council if any inconsistencies between the transcripts and supporting documentation are identified. Further action could be recommended by the Continuing Education Committee to Council for discussion and approval.

Self-directed activities will draw special attention from the reviewers and almost any activity will be audited that reports unusually large amounts of LHs. Reported activities that could be interpreted as someone’s daily job and not new knowledge will usually draw additional attention by the reviewers. Reviews will be conducted by the Continuing Education committee and by subject matter experts appointed by the committees. It is important to keep records of all of your continuing education activities for at least a two-year period – these materials will be useful if there is an audit review.

Yes. This member must complete and submit an Individual Core Review Request Form CE2-60 to the CEP to initiate this review. Upon review, the Continuing Education committee will recommend to Council any learning activity that it considers should be awarded a core rating.

If this member is dissatisfied with the committee’s decision, a written request to Council for further review can be made. The decision of Council is final.

Yes. All LEED courses are rated individually as they become available to members, to a maximum of 6 core LHs per course. An additional 2 core LHs can be requested for achieving the corresponding accreditation.