CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION SHEET

REQUIREMENTS

Biennial requirements: 24 hours total.

Twenty-Four (24) hours must be in topics related to health, safety and welfare (HSW) of the public.

Reporting period is from July 1 through June 30.

DEFINITIONS

CEH - Continuing Education Hour. One CEH is equal to 50 minutes contact (clock) time. Twenty-Four CEHs all in HSW are required biennially.

• Structured activities. Structured course study shall consist of participation in education activities presented by individuals or groups qualified by professional, practical, or academic experience to conduct courses of study.
• Relevant topics - Technical and professional subjects which directly safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Examples of relevant studies include, but are not limited to, building design, environmental or land use analyses, life safety, architectural programming, site and soils analyses, accessibility, structural systems considerations, lateral forces, building codes, evaluation and selection of building systems, products or materials, construction methods, contract documentations, construction administration. (Minimum 24 hours biennially)

ACCEPTABLE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Credit will be allowed only for participation in continuing education activities where independent verification is provided. "Independent verification" means documentation of attendance by a sponsor or the sponsor's designee. Activities must be in topics related to health, safety and welfare (HSW) of the public.
Acceptable continuing education activities include the following:

• Attending professional or technical seminars, lectures, presentations, courses, or workshops offered by a professional or technical organization (e.g., NCARB, AIA, National Fire Protection Association, Concrete Standards Institute, etc.);
• Successfully completing tutorials, short courses, correspondence courses, televised courses or video-taped courses which test the architect's performance;
• Successfully completing monographs or other self-study courses such as those sponsored by NCARB or a similar organization which test the architect's performance;
• Successfully completing a college or university sponsored course relevant to architecture.

NUMBER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS EARNED FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

Continuing education credits shall be measured in Continuing Education Hours (CEH) and shall be computed as follows:

• Attending seminars, lectures, presentation, workshops, or courses shall constitute one CEH for each contact hour of attendance
• Successfully completing tutorials, short courses, correspondence courses, televised or videotaped courses, monographs and other self-study courses shall constitute the CEH recommended by the program sponsor.
• Successfully completing (with a minimum grade of "C") a college or university course (whether semester or quarter hours) related to the profession of architecture shall satisfy the continuing education hours for the year in which the course was completed.

CARRY-OVER

No carry-over of continuing education hours into the next biennial licensure period is permitted. However, carry-over within the licensing period is allowed.

REPORTING

Each registrant shall submit an affidavit (which may include a list of activities such as the AIA/CES Transcript) attesting to the fulfillment of continuing education requirements during the preceding period of two fiscal years (July 1 through June 30).

RECORD-KEEPING AND AUDITING

The registrant is responsible for retaining proof of participation in continuing education activities. Supporting documents may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Registrants shall retain proof of fulfillment of requirements for a period of two years after submission in the event the affidavit is selected for audit.

• A log showing activity claimed, sponsoring organizations, location, and duration (Such as the AIA/CES Transcript of CE Activities);
• Attendance certificates;
• Sponsor's list of attendees (signed by a person in responsible charge of the activity).

The Board will biennially select a number of renewal applications randomly for audit for verification of compliance with these requirements. Upon request by the Board, documentation shall be submitted to substantiate compliance.
The board has final authority with respect to accepting or rejecting continuing education activities for credit.
If the Board disallows claimed credit for continuing education hours, the registrant shall have forty-five (45) calendar days after notification of disallowance of credit to substantiate the original claim or earn other continuing education credit which fulfills minimum requirements.

EXEMPTIONS

• A first-time new registrant by examination or reciprocity.
• Registrants who serve on active military duty are exempt from continuing education requirements while serving.
• Hardship cases are considered on an individual basis. Registrants experiencing physical disability or illness should submit a statement of explanation, a statement from a currently licensed physician, or medical records as evidence that the disability or illness prevented participation in a course in which he/she had enrolled, or prevented participation in a CE program for at least ninety consecutive days in a year. The hardship request must be submitted to the Board of Architectural Examiners prior to the May board meeting to be considered by the June 30 renewal deadline.
• Emeritus Architects are exempt from CE requirements.

NON-COMPLIANCE

• Failure to fulfill the continuing education requirements shall be considered a violation of the Architectural Registration Law.
• Failure to fulfill the continuing education requirements shall result in non-renewal of a registrant's certificate of registration and loss of the right to practice architecture in South Carolina.
• If the Board finds that the registrant willfully misrepresented his CE, the Board may subject the registrant to all of the disciplinary actions allowed by law, including license revocation.