Professional development requirements: Architects
Requirements
To maintain your practice, you must complete 24 professional development hours (PDH) within your 2-year license period.
If you earn more than 24 PDH in the 2nd half of your license period, up to 12 of the extra hours can be carried over to the following 2-year license period.
- For example, if you earn 50 PDH in the 2nd half of your 2-year license period, only 12 of them can be carried over to the following 2-year period.
Audits
You may be audited by the board to confirm the professional development hours you've completed. To learn more, see Professional development audits
What's allowed as professional development hours
Because professional development activities aren't pre-approved by the board, you're responsible for seeking out appropriate ones. You may use the Architect Professional Development Worksheet to track your PDH activities and hours.
Below are examples of allowed professional development activities and hours. At least 16 PDH must address public health, safety, and welfare.
| Activity (1 PDH = No less than 50 minutes of activity) |
Maximum PDH per renewal cycle |
|---|---|
1 hour of preparing and presenting a professional development program at:
|
16 PDH |
| Publication or presentation of a technical paper or article you wrote. | 8 PDH |
| Publication or presentation of a book you wrote. | 8 PDH |
Serving as an elected officer or appointed chair of:
|
8 PDH |
| Professional exam grading or writing (serving as an exam grader or on a committee writing exam materials for a professional registration exam) | 8 PDH |
| 1 hour attending meetings or hearings of the board. (This credit doesn't apply to board members, or parties or witnesses in hearings before the board.) | 8 PDH |
| 1 hour of work, outside normal duties of employment, that involves participating in other recognized professional activities. | 4 PDH |
| 1 hour of self-study relevant to the practice of architecture. | 8 PDH |
| 1 hour participating in organized courses relevant to the practice of architecture, including those provided by your employer, trade organizations, technical or professional societies, or the board. | No limit |
| 1 hour attending professional or technical society meetings with an informational program. | 8 PDH |
| Providing pro-bono service that has a clear purpose and objective, and maintains, improves, or expands your professional knowledge or skill. (4 hours of service = 1 PDH) |
8 PDH |
| 1 hour participating in an activity involving substantial and organized peer interaction, excluding time spent during regular employment. | 8 PDH |
Questions? Need help?
- Email us: architects@dol.wa.gov
- Call us: 360.664.1388
