Supporting Continuing Education for Architects and Designers
No career stands still. Architects and designers, however, have to work harder than many other professionals to keep their skills and knowledge current. According to Building Design and Construction, “With the rapid evolution of available technologies, and the integration of them into the profession, the role of an architect is changing faster than it ever has before.”
New developments take place each year, due to changing client demands as well as evolving regulations, such as LEED certification requirements. Continuing education enables an architect or designer to stay abreast of relevant developments in the profession.
As a manufacturer of commercial interior doors, Masonite Architectural works closely with architects and designers and is invested in their expertise. That is why we offer continuing education opportunities.
Why Continuing Education Matters
Earning a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs) is required for most licensed design professionals and for some professional memberships. Your individual state or jurisdiction will have its own requirements for professional development hours (PDH) or credits.
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Membership
As the self-described voice of the architecture profession, the AIA is always looking ahead at ways to improve the industry, which is why membership requires continuing education. To take advantage of their member benefits, you need to earn and report regular learning. Membership in the AIA requires 18 hours — or learning units (LUs) — of continuing education per year, 12 of which must be in the area of health, safety and welfare.
Some architects earn all of their required credits at once by attending the AIA Conference on Architecture. (Note: This event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.) The AIA also offers its own course online as well as a catalog of approved courses elsewhere.
Professional Benefits of Continuing Education
In addition to meeting requirements for professional licensing or memberships, there are many reasons you may simply want to take part in continuing education. It lets you:
- Stay current, or ahead, on the latest developments in the profession’
- Stay marketable and competitive
- Network with other professionals
- Gain inspiration and rediscover your passion for the profession
- Make the most of available technologies and products
Whatever your motivation for pursuing continuing education, look for opportunities from companies and organizations you can trust.
Why Masonite Architectural Offers Continuing Education
Masonite Architectural is committed to applying the highest standard of ethics to every interaction, whether between employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, or anyone else. As an architect or designer you are part of that community. We want to encourage your creativity and empower you with the latest knowledge. We also want to help you understand and appreciate not just interior doors, but how doors function within a project, and how to have a successful project overall.
Courses for Architects and Designers
To that end, we offer ongoing courses for architects and designers through our website, good for AIA learning units. For example, we provide education about how different interior door features factor into the LEED rating system. Other topics include Positive Pressure Requirements for Wood Doors and Veneer Specifics for Wood Doors.
We also offer courses through Hanley Wood University on topics such as attack resistant door openings and acoustic considerations for door systems, which can provide AIA learning units, PDH hours, or Canada learning credits.
When possible, we will gather industry experts for a panel discussion, such as our Acoustic Design Event, the video of which you can access online. Our goal is that participants will come away with a deeper understanding of an important topic, including how Masonite Architectural interior doors may fit into your design.
For a complete list of available courses, visit the technical resources section of our website or reach out to your Masonite Architectural area rep to schedule a course at no cost.