Colorado Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
Colorado's State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors requires each architect to complete a minimum of 12 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) during every calendar year, and all of them must be Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) subjects as defined by Board Rule. Because licenses renew on a two-year cycle, that adds up to 24 HSW CEH per renewal period.
A notable point of confusion: on this combined board, it is professional engineers who are exempt from CE — architects are not. Architects must also participate in a process that demonstrates they retained the material, so passive attendance alone may not be enough.
One CEH equals 50–60 minutes of structured instruction. There is no carryover — hours above the 12-per-year minimum cannot roll into another year or license period. Licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years, but CE is tracked on a calendar-year basis, so plan each January-to-December window separately.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 24 | Every renewal | All continuing education must be in Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) subjects as defined by Board Rule. The requirement is 12 HSW CEH per calendar year, which is 24 HSW CEH over the two-year renewal period. There is no non-HSW allotment. |
How You Can Complete Your CE
Colorado CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Colorado that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Annual minimum — at least 12 hours must be completed each year of the cycle, not just by the renewal deadline.
- Colorado architects DO require continuing education. On this same combined board it is professional engineers who are CE-exempt — architects are not.
- The requirement is 12 HSW CEH per calendar year (January 1 – December 31), i.e., 24 HSW CEH over the two-year renewal period. All hours must be Health, Safety & Welfare subjects.
- Architects must also participate in a process or procedure that demonstrates retention of the material presented (a retention/self-assessment component), and one CEH is 50–60 minutes of structured instruction.
- No carryover: hours above the 12/year requirement cannot roll into another calendar year or license period. Licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years, but CE is tracked on a calendar-year basis.
Tips for Colorado Architects
- Earn 12 HSW hours in every calendar year, not just 24 sometime in the two-year cycle — Colorado tracks the requirement per calendar year and there is no banking across years.
- Confirm each course is HSW as defined by Board Rule. Non-HSW professional-development hours do not count toward renewal.
- Look for courses with a retention component (quiz or assessment). Colorado requires you to participate in a process that demonstrates you retained the material.
- Do not assume the engineer exemption applies to you. On this combined board, engineers are CE-exempt but architects must complete the full requirement.
- Remember there is no carryover and one CEH is 50–60 minutes of structured instruction. Verify current rules with the Colorado AES Board before renewing.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
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