PTN is a Registered Provider of Educational Programs with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES)

Benefits of the AIA/CES Program
As an AIA/CES Provider, PTN’s programs are recorded, approved, and monitored by AIA/CES, and therefore they carry the organization’s stamp of approval with regard to quality and appropriateness. The approved programs also qualify for credit towards states’ requirements for maintaining a license to practice architecture. 

Architects are not the only ones to benefit from the legitimizing status conferred by AIA/CES endorsement. Colleges and Universities that offer degrees in architecture, preservation, and related fields, often agree to give college credit for programs endorsed by AIA/CES. Teachers, who are encouraged or required to participate in continuing education, may also benefit from this endorsement. And lastly, employers may be more inclined to approve their staff’s attendance at AIA/CES endorsed programs.  

The endorsement of PTN’s educational programs by AIA/CES broadens the reach of trades education by giving it equal status with academic programs, especially in the eyes of the design professions. This is one of many ways in which PTN fulfills it’s mission to advance the cause of trades education. 

Eligibility:
Because PTN is a registered provider, all educational programs organized or sponsored by PTN, and/or taught by PTN members, may offer AIA/CES credit. However, each program must be reported to and accepted by AIA/CES before it takes place.

How The AIA/CES Program Works:
The AIA records continuing education credit in learning unit hours (LU hours). A one-LU hour activity is equal to one contact hour (actual time spent participating in an educational activity – breaks, lunches and social gatherings excluded). All state licensing board credit (for architects) is also measured in contact hours. All state licensing boards consider one contact hour equal to one hour of credit.

Signing Up For The Program:
PTN communicates with AIA/CES through a designated PTN representative (PTN/rep). Therefore if a PTN member or group wants to offer AIA/CES credit and/or PTN certificates for an event, they should first contact the AIA/CES Coordinator. The AIA/CES Coordinator will explain the process and assist them in following the requirements. The event organizer is responsible for providing information about the program to the AIA/CES Coordinator at least 4 weeks before the event is to take place.

Required information:
Short description of the program – the subject, the teaching objective, the method (e.g. historic wood window repair; students will learn how to carry out in situ window sill and frame repairs and reconstruction of window sash; students will observe a demonstration and then carry out repairs under the direction of the workshop leader) Schedule – starting and ending dates, how many hours each day and total (excluding breaks, lunches etc) Instructor – Name and qualifications of the instructor/s (e.g. years of experience doing this work etc.) Location and Contacts – Address where event will take place, and contact for the location and for the instructor and event organizer. Transmittal of forms: AIA/CES forms needed are provided electronically. The AIA/CES Coordinator will transmit them to the Event Organizer. They should be filled out by the Event Organizer and transmitted by e-mail to the AIA/CES Coordinator (If that’s not possible, more time needs to be allowed). After reviewing them, the AIA/CES Coordinator forwards them on to AIA/CES. Taking Attendance: The program Organizer is responsible for making sure that attendance at the event is properly recorded using AIA/CES forms prepared specifically for the program. These forms are then to be sent to the AIA/CES Coordinator.

Reporting Attendance:
The PTN AIA/CES Coordinator reviews the attendance forms, and makes copies. Originals are sent to AIA/CES, one set is sent to the PTN Office, and one set is kept by the AIA/CES Coordinator. Note that AIA/CES keeps records only for AIA members. Therefore only AIA member forms are forwarded to AIA/CES. However PTN is responsible for keeping a full set of records for each event. PTN Certificates: The AIA/CES Coordinator sends a summary of the attendance records to the PTN Office, along with a copy of the forms. The PTN Office creates Certificates, based on the summary and on the forms, and mails the Certificates to each attendee who requested AIA/CES credits. Credit is awarded according to the system established by AIA/CES: one Learning Unit (LU) for every hour of a program actually devoted to learning. For more information please contact the PTN Office.