Every architect has different reasons to participate in Continuing Education (CE) activities, from advancing in one’s career to simply keeping your skills current. Even if you don’t like the idea of continuing your education, your state’s licensing board will more than likely require you to acquire a minimum number of continuing education units (CEUs) before renewing your licence.
So, then, what is it you should know about CEUs in architecture to simplify your licence renewal processes? Read on to learn more.
What’s Continuing Education in Architecture?
According to NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards), continuing education is the post-licensing learning that enhances or updates the knowledge and competence of a registered architect in technical and professional subjects related to architecture. The main aim of this education is to safeguard the public’s safety, health, and welfare.
When you take your Architects Continuing Education from a top-rated provider like RocketCert, therefore, you are not only doing it to keep your licence active, but this also allows you to explore new areas of improvement. That way, the services you will offer from that moment will not only be of higher quality but will also be better for the safety and welfare of the public.
Free vs Paid Courses: Which is Better?
With free and paid options to choose from, you are likely going to find this part of continuing your education quite challenging. For many architects, the first instinct is usually to go with the cheaper option, but is it really the best decision? Well, there will be a couple of factors you should consider before making the final decision. They include:
1. Budget
The first and arguably most important factor that will determine the best option for your architecture continuing education journey is your finances. When on a budget, the most appropriate decision is, of course, to go with a free course.
Luckily, there are plenty of amazing free options from reliable organisations like the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). As a bonus, you will love the fact that these courses cover topics that meet the minimum health, safety, and welfare (HSW) requirements.
On the other hand, if you have a larger budget for your continuing education, it’s always a good idea to go with the paid courses due to the wide range of benefits they offer.
2. Course Content
As mentioned before, free courses from reputable organisations will have the content you need to meet the minimum requirements for renewing your licence. That should work for you if all you want to do is keep your licence active. Besides, most of the information in free courses will help you refresh your knowledge of various concepts in architecture.
However, most free courses won’t be enough where there is a need to acquire in-depth skills for use in career advancement. For such situations, it’s a better idea to go with advanced courses, typically the ones that are created by architecture and design professionals who are passionate about the industry.
3. Quality
Another crucial factor to consider when deciding between free and paid courses is the quality that each option offers. Many free courses will offer just okay quality, nothing fancy. This means you are getting the content in the most basic form, without advanced provisions that would make it more interesting to study.
Paid courses, in contrast, will offer advanced features such as narrations, real-life examples, video explanations, and other fantastic additions that make the course enjoyable. Overall, paid courses will almost always offer better quality when compared to the free versions.
Make the Right Choice With Ease
You now know that earning the required continuing education units (CEUs) is crucial for keeping your licence valid as an architect. And when it comes to choosing between free and paid courses, we would advise you to stick with paid but expertly written courses like the ones RocketCert offers.
That way, you will not only meet the requirements for renewing your licence but also gain new knowledge and skills that will prove instrumental to your career advancement.
