Help & Getting Started

Most courses on this platform are video-based. Here's how to go from finding a course to earning your credit:

1. 1Browse the Course Library and open a course that interests you.
2. 2Watch the video (or read the article/multimedia content) in full. Progress is tracked automatically.
3. 3When you're ready, click the Quiz button in the upper-right corner of the course page to take the course quiz.
4. 4Answer all multiple-choice questions and submit. A minimum quiz score of 70% is required to receive continuing education credit.
5. 5Once you pass, your credits are automatically recorded in My Credits and your certificate becomes available.

• Where is the Quiz button?

  The Quiz button appears in the upper-right area of the course page, next to the membership/pricing button. Click it to open the quiz.

• Can I retake the quiz if I don't pass?

  Yes. Return to the course page and click the Quiz button again. Review the course content before retrying.

• Do I need to finish the video before taking the quiz?

  You must watch the full video — the quiz questions are based on the course content. Skipping ahead may cause you to miss material covered in the quiz.

• How long do I have to complete a course?

  On-demand courses have no time limit — you can start and return at any time. Your progress is saved automatically.

• What does "In Progress" mean on My Credits?

  "In Progress" means you've started the course but haven't yet passed the quiz. Once you pass, the course moves to the Completed tab and your credits are issued.

Each course awards one or more types of continuing education credit. The credit type is listed on the course page and on your certificate.

• Can a single course award multiple credit types?

  Yes. Many courses award credits in more than one category simultaneously — for example, 1 AIA LU/HSW, 1 GBCI, and 1 ZNCD at the same time. All applicable credits appear on your certificate.

• How do I know what credits a course offers before I take it?

  The credit type and amount are listed in the Learning Objectives siderail on the right side of every course page, along with the accreditation provider logos.

• Are my credits automatically reported to AIA?

  BNP Media serves as the AIA Continuing Education Provider for AIA California's On-Demand CE Center. Continuing education credits are reported directly to AIA National and will typically appear on your AIA transcript within 7-10 days of course completion.

• How do I know if a course is free or paid?

  Free courses show a Part of Membership button on the course page. Paid courses show an Add to Cart button with the price listed.

• How do I purchase a course?

  Click Add to Cart on the course page. You can add multiple courses before checking out. Click the cart icon in the top navigation to review your cart, then click Checkout to enter your payment information via our secure Stripe form.

• What is the member price?

  AIA California members receive a discounted price on paid courses. When you click Add to Cart, a dropdown shows both the regular price and the member price.

• Can I add multiple courses to my cart at once?

  Yes. Browse the library, add as many courses as you like, and check out all at once. Your cart total is shown in the cart dropdown in the top navigation.

• Is my payment information secure?

  Yes. All payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. Your card details are never stored on our servers.

Your credit history and certificates are all in one place — the My Credits dashboard.

• Where do I find my credits?

  Go to My Credits. You'll see a summary of your credits by type for the current year, along with a table of all completed courses.

• How do I filter my credits by type or date range?

  At the top of the My Credits page, click the filter bar to expand it. Filter by Accreditation type, Timeframe, and Course Type, then click Apply Filters.

• How do I download or print my certificate?

  In the Completed tab of My Credits, find the course and click the Certificate button. The certificate opens as a PDF you can download or print. Some courses also have a separate ZNCD Certificate button.

• What is the difference between the Certificate and the ZNCD Certificate?

  The standard Certificate of Completion lists all credits earned and is your general proof of completion. The ZNCD Certificate is a separate, more detailed document specifically required by the California Architects Board for Zero Net Carbon Design mandatory continuing education — keep it for your license renewal records.

• Can I export my credit history?

  Yes. In the Completed tab, use the CSV or Excel buttons above the table to download your full credit history.

• A course I completed isn't showing in My Credits. What should I do?

  First, confirm you passed the test — credits are only issued after a passing score. If you passed and the credit still isn't showing after a few minutes, try refreshing the page. If the issue persists, contact support (see below).

• Can I add credits from courses taken outside this platform?

  Yes. On the My Credits page, click the + button next to any credit type to manually add an external credential. You can upload a PDF, JPG, or PNG file (up to 10MB) as documentation. Adding external courses to your Credit Tracker is for your personal recordkeeping only. To receive AIA continuing education credit, the original AIA Continuing Education Provider must report the course directly to AIA National.

• How do I update my profile information?

  Click your name in the top navigation and go to My Account. You can update your name, company, address, license number, and GBCI number. Click Submit to save.

• How do I change my password?

  On the My Account page, click the Change Password button in the upper right. Enter your current password, then your new password twice, and click Submit.

• What is the GBCI # field on my account?

  This is your Green Building Certification Institute credential number. Adding it ensures your GBCI credits are properly associated with your credential record.

• How many AIA Learning Units (LUs) am I required to complete each year?

  You are required to complete 18 LUs each calendar year. At least 12 of those 18 LUs must be Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credits. The remaining 6 LUs may be HSW or elective learning units.

• How do I satisfy the California Mandatory Continuing Education Requirement?

  As of 2026, California licensed architects must complete 10 hours of mandatory continuing education during each two-year license renewal cycle; license renewals take place in odd-numbered years:
  

  • 5 hours in Disability Access (Accessibility).
    
  • 5 hours in Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD).
    

  All coursework must be completed before your license expiration date for an on-time renewal. If renewing an expired license, the coursework must have been completed within the 24 months preceding renewal.

• I am a newly licensed architect seeking to renew my licensure, am I exempt?

  Newly licensed architects are not exempt—the full 10-hour requirement applies at their first renewal.

• How is my license renewal certified?

  Licensees self-certify completion when renewing their license, but the California Architects Board conducts random audits. New in 2024, the Board requests that licensees retain and provide certificates of completion to help streamline verification in the event of an audit.

  For AIA California courses that satisfy the Accessibility or Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) requirement, your Certificate of Completion includes the information requested by the California Architects Board, including the course title, provider, presenter, completion date, hours earned, and evidence of the instructor's qualifications.

  We recommend retaining your Certificates of Completion for at least two years following your license renewal.