Alaska Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS) requires each architect to obtain 24 professional development hours (PDH) during the 24 months immediately preceding each biennial registration period (12 AAC 36.510). Registrations renew on a two-year cycle, expiring December 31 of odd-numbered years.
Alaska describes acceptable education differently from most states: courses must be technical and professional subjects related to the registrant's scope of practice that address public health, safety and welfare, but the rule does not set a distinct number of HSW hours. In other words, there is no separate HSW sub-quota — some course vendors overstate this.
Courses are not pre-approved by the board. Up to 12 excess PDH may be carried forward to the next biennial period. Keep a detailed activity log and a board-approved structured report for at least four years, because the board can request them to verify hours.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Alaska CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Alaska that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — Up to a maximum of 12 excess professional development hours earned in one biennial registration period may be carried forward to satisfy the continuing education requirement for the subsequent biennial period.
- Alaska measures continuing education in professional development hours (PDH): 24 PDH per two-year registration period (12 AAC 36.510).
- Unlike most architect boards, Alaska does NOT carve out a distinct number of Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) hours. The rule requires PDH in technical/professional subjects that address the public health, safety and welfare, but does not set a separate HSW quota — vendors claiming 'all 24 must be HSW' overstate the rule.
- Up to 12 excess PDH may be carried forward from one biennial period to the next.
- Courses are not pre-approved by the board; they must be technical/professional subjects within the registrant's scope of practice. Keep records (activity log plus a board-approved structured report) for at least four years (12 AAC 36.540).
Tips for Alaska Architects
- Track the 24-month window before your registration expires (December 31 of odd years) rather than a calendar year — Alaska measures PDH over the two years immediately preceding renewal.
- Do not assume you need a fixed block of HSW hours. Alaska requires technical/professional PDH within your scope of practice, not a separate HSW count like many other states.
- If you earn more than 24 PDH in a period, up to 12 excess hours can carry forward into the next biennial period — useful after a heavy conference year.
- Because the board does not pre-approve courses, keep your own documentation: an activity log plus the board's structured continuing education report, retained for at least four years.
- Verify the current rule with AELS before renewing; the board also licenses engineers and land surveyors, so make sure you are reading the architect requirement.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors (AELS)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
Other Professions in Alaska
All Architect CE Requirements by State
Open any other state's Architect CE requirements, or see the full Architect CE hub to compare every state in one table.