Montana Architect CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every Year
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Requirements Overview
The Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, part of the Department of Labor & Industry, sets architect continuing education in ARM 24.114.2105. Every licensed architect must complete 12 hours of HSW continuing education each calendar year (January 1 to December 31).
Montana ties the hours tightly to health, safety, and welfare: no more than 25% of any single course may be devoted to non-HSW subjects related to architecture, so in practice the full 12-hour requirement is HSW. Renewal runs each year from May 2 to June 30, but the CE obligation is accounted on a calendar-year basis.
Two groups are exempt: architects renewing for the first time, and those granted emeritus status. Licensees keep their own records to document the hours if the Board asks.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 12 | Every renewal | All 12 continuing education hours each calendar year must be HSW related to the practice of architecture. No more than 25% of any single course may be devoted to subjects other than health, safety, and welfare, so effectively every qualifying hour is HSW. |
Exemptions
- First-Time Renewal — Continuing education is not required for an architect renewing the license for the first time.
- Emeritus Status — Architects granted emeritus status are exempt from the continuing education requirement.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Montana CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Montana 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.
- Montana requires 12 HSW continuing education hours each calendar year (January 1 - December 31); all hours must be health-, safety-, and welfare-related to the practice of architecture (ARM 24.114.2105).
- No more than 25% of any single course may cover non-HSW subjects, so effectively the entire 12-hour requirement is HSW.
- License renewal runs May 2 - June 30 each year; CE is nonetheless accounted on a calendar-year basis.
- Continuing education is not required for a first-time renewal or for emeritus licensees. Licensees retain records to document their CE.
Tips for Montana Architects
- Earn 12 HSW hours every calendar year. Because the requirement is annual, you can't defer a light year onto the next — each January the clock resets.
- Watch the 25% rule per course. Any single course must be at least 75% HSW content to count toward the requirement, so verify a course's HSW share before relying on it.
- Don't confuse the renewal window with the CE period. Renewal runs May 2-June 30, but your 12 hours are measured over the calendar year.
- First-time renewers are exempt — if you're renewing your Montana license for the very first time, you don't owe CE yet. Confirm your first required year with the Board.
- Keep your completion certificates. Montana licensees self-document CE and should be able to produce records on request.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
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