Important Breakdown Information for California Mandatory Continuing Education

California Mandatory Continuing Education
Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) on Disabled Access Requirements

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill (SB) 1608 (Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008) on September 29, 2008, requiring all California architects to complete mandatory continuing education courses on disabled access requirements as a condition of license renewal. The bill also requires licensees to provide documentation from the course provider to the California Architects Board (Board). The bill was sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, trial lawyers association, and most disabled access groups. Below are details on how the requirement will be implemented.

What are the basic requirements?
SB 1608 requires that architects, as part of the license renewal requirements:

1. Certify on the license renewal application that s/he has completed the required coursework.
2. Provide the Board with documentation from the course provider indicating the course title, subjects covered, name of provider and trainer or educator, date of completion, number of hours completed, and a statement about the trainer or educator's knowledge and experience background.

Upon completion of an AIA San Joaquin continuing education program, you will receive required paperwork to submit with your renewal application to ease reporting. Contact Julie Jaurique-Chipps at juliej@dardenarchitects.com if you have not received your paperwork.
Licensees are encouraged to complete these requirements timely in order to avoid a delay in processing their license renewal. Licensees who fail to complete the required coursework cannot renew their license and cannot practice architecture until they have fulfilled these requirements.

How many hours of coursework are required?

The amount of coursework hours required to renew a license will be phased in, eventually requiring five hours every renewal cycle (two years) for all licensees. Three factors are used to determine how much coursework is required:

1. License expiration date
2. Submittal date of completed renewal application and payment to the Board
3. Actual effective date of the license renewal

Below is a breakdown of the coursework hour(s) required applying the applicable factors (NOTE: If you’ve been delinquent with your license renewal before, your expiration date may have changed -- so contact the CAB for more information.):

Birth month (License expiration) /# of hours needed
January-May 2009 -0 hours
June-November 2009 -1 hour
December 2009 -2.5 hours
2011 and beyond -5 hours

Upcoming ADA Seminars;
o AIASJ will host one more 1 hour ADA course on May 19th
o AIASJ will be hosting two, 2-hour courses in August and September for those who have to complete 2.5 hours before the end of the year. Please keep checking the AIASJ calendar for dates and times.