(1) Beginning January 1, 2015, in addition to all other requirements for renewal, each licensed architect shall obtain at least 12 hours of continuing education (CE) annually to renew the license.

(a) Licensees who have been granted emeritus or other similar honorific status are exempt from the CE requirements.

(b) Continuing education is not required for licensees renewing their licenses for the first time.

(2) Continuing education hours shall be reported as follows:

(a) Licensees shall complete and submit renewal forms certifying that licensees completed 12 hours of continuing education during the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which licensees are renewing. The CE requirement is based on a calendar year, beginning on January 1 and ending December 31 of each year.

(b) Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action.

(3) Qualified CE courses must be designed to increase or update the knowledge and competence of architects in technical and professional subjects related to the practice of architecture that safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare, as follows:

(a) acquired in structured educational activities;

(b) at least 75 percent of any given course's content and instructional time must be devoted to health, safety, and welfare subjects related to the practice of architecture;

(c) provided by qualified individuals or organizations; and

(d) included health, safety, and welfare subjects such as technical and professional subjects necessary for proper evaluation, design, construction, and utilization of buildings and the built environment that are within the following enumerated areas:

(i) Building Systems: structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, communications, security, fire protection;

(ii) Construction Contract Administration: contracts, bidding, contract negotiations;

(iii) Construction Documents: drawings, specifications, delivery methods;

(iv) Design: urban planning, master planning, building design, site design, interiors, safety and security measures;

(v) Environmental: energy efficiency, sustainability, natural resources, natural hazards, hazardous materials, weatherproofing, insulation;

(vi) Legal: laws, codes, zoning, subdivisions, regulations, standards, life safety, accessibility, ethics, insurance to protect owners and public;

(vii) Materials and Methods: construction systems, products, finishes, furnishings, equipment;

(viii) Occupant Comfort: air quality, lighting, acoustics, ergonomics;

(ix) Pre-Design: land use analysis, programming, site selection, site and soils analysis, surveying; and

(x) Preservation: historic, reuse, adaptation.

(4) Continuing education may be acquired at any location, whether direct contact or distance learning through qualified course sponsors. The department will not pre-approve CE courses.

(5) All licensees shall retain course completion certificates for a minimum of six years, for auditing purposes. Course completion certificates must contain all of the following:

(a) date of course;

(b) location of course;

(c) name of instructor(s);

(d) name of licensee;

(e) state-assigned course approval number, if applicable; and

(f) number of completed hours of instruction.

(6) Continuing education hours may not be carried over to a future calendar year.

(7) For quality assurance and evaluation purposes, department or board representatives may audit CE courses for content without cost. Such representatives are not eligible for and may not receive certificates of completion.

(8) Beginning in 2016, the department may conduct an annual random audit of all licensees for CE compliance following the licensee renewal process indicated in (2).

(a) Audited licensees must furnish to the department certificates of completion or other documentation to verify completion of the 12-hour CE requirement.

(b) Failure to provide certificates of completion when audited constitutes unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary proceedings against the licensee.

(c) Licensees shall retain course completion certificates for a minimum of six years for auditing purposes.

(9) All licensees reactivating expired licenses must submit documentary proof of meeting CE requirements required to become active.

(10) If a licensee does not file a timely renewal application and thereafter files a late renewal application, the late renewal application must contain documentary proof the licensee met the CE requirements incorporating the year prior to the renewal application year.