Georgia Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

The Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers measures continuing education in professional development units (PDUs) rather than "hours," though one PDU equals one contact hour. Every registered architect must earn 24 PDUs during the two-year period before each biennial renewal.

At least 16 of those 24 units must be in Public Protection subjects — Georgia's term for health, safety and welfare — and they must be earned through Structured Education Activities. The remaining 8 units are more flexible: they can be Related Practice subjects taken in structured settings, or additional Public Protection subjects earned through Individually Planned Educational Activities. Registrations expire June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Newly registered architects get a break at their first renewal: 0 PDUs if registered less than a year before the first expiration, or 12 PDUs (8 in Public Protection) if registered one to two years.

Mandatory Topics

Exemptions

• ✓
  First Renewal — Registered Less Than 1 Year — An architect registered less than one year before the first registration expiration date is not required to complete any professional development units prior to that first expiration.
• ✓
  First Renewal — Registered 1 To 2 Years (Prorated) — An architect registered between one and two years before the first expiration must complete 12 PDUs, at least 8 of which must be Public Protection Subjects acquired in Structured Education Activities.

How You Can Complete Your CE

Georgia CE Rules & Limits

Details specific to Georgia that generic CE guides tend to miss:

• Georgia counts continuing education in professional development units (PDUs), where 1 PDU equals one contact hour of acceptable activity.
• Of the 24 PDUs, at least 16 must be Public Protection (HSW) subjects earned through Structured Education Activities; the remaining 8 may be Related Practice subjects or Public Protection subjects earned through Individually Planned Educational Activities.
• Registrations renew biennially, expiring June 30 of odd-numbered years; PDUs must be earned in the two-year period preceding renewal.
• First-renewal obligation is prorated: 0 PDUs if registered under 1 year, 12 PDUs (8 Public Protection) if registered 1–2 years before the first expiration.

Tips for Georgia Architects

• Track your progress in PDUs, not hours — Georgia's paperwork uses that term, though the two are equivalent one-to-one.
• Prioritize the 16 Public Protection (HSW) units first, and make sure they come from Structured Education Activities; self-directed study will not satisfy that block.
• Use the flexible 8 units for Related Practice topics or for extra Public Protection subjects done as Individually Planned Educational Activities.
• Renew by June 30 of the odd year, and earn all 24 units within the preceding two-year window.
• If this is your first renewal, check how long you have been registered — you may owe only 12 PDUs, or none at all. Verify the exact date with the Board.

Sources

Architect Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Georgia

All Architect CE Requirements by State

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