Idaho Architect CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every Year
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Requirements Overview
The Idaho Board of Architectural Examiners, part of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), requires architects to certify 12 hours of continuing education every year at renewal. Idaho is stricter than many states on subject matter: all 12 hours must be health, safety and welfare (HSW) content approved by the Board — there is no allowance for general practice or elective topics.
The requirement is annual, with hours earned in the calendar year prior to renewal. Idaho does allow limited banking: up to 6 excess hours may be carried over to satisfy the following year's requirement, so a heavy course year can ease the next.
Acceptable courses are those from providers approved by NCARB, NAAB, or AIA; other courses can be submitted to the Board for approval. Keep verification for 5 years — the Board runs annual audits.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 12 | Every renewal | All 12 required hours must be in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) subjects approved by the Board. There is no non-HSW allowance. |
How You Can Complete Your CE
Idaho CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Idaho 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.
- Carry-over — A licensee may carry over a maximum of 6 hours of excess continuing education into the following year's requirement. Because all hours must be HSW, carried-over hours are also HSW.
- All 12 required hours must be in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) subjects; there is no non-HSW allowance.
- The requirement is annual: 12 HSW hours must be earned in the calendar year prior to each renewal.
- Up to 6 excess hours may be carried over to the following year's requirement.
- Approved courses are those offered by providers approved by NCARB, NAAB, or AIA; other courses may be submitted for Board approval. Verification records must be kept 5 years and the Board conducts annual audits.
Tips for Idaho Architects
- Every hour must be HSW — pick courses that carry an HSW designation, because Idaho gives no credit for non-HSW content.
- Stick to NCARB-, NAAB-, or AIA-approved providers, or get advance Board approval for anything else.
- Front-loaded a course year? You can carry up to 6 excess hours into next year, cutting the following year's requirement to as few as 6.
- Earn your hours in the calendar year before renewal, not after; timing matters for an annual cycle.
- Keep your completion records for 5 years — the Board audits annually and will ask for proof.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Idaho Board of Architectural Examiners (DOPL)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
Architect Requirements in Nearby States
Other Professions in Idaho
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