Last verified from official sources: 2026-06-26. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice — always confirm the current rules with your licensing board.
How many PDH does a California Architect need?
10 hrs (5 ADA access + 5 zero-net-carbon design) per 2-yr biennial cycle. Here is the breakdown California licensees should know:
- Hours required: 10 hrs (5 ADA access + 5 zero-net-carbon design)
- Renewal cycle: 2-yr biennial
- Ethics: No ethics category
- Carryover: None; no waiver/extension
- Approved sponsors / pre-approval: No (provider not board-approved)
- Accepted pathways: Self-selected per CCR Title 16 165/166; AIA-LACES qualifies if content matches
- Subject / category notes: ONLY the two mandated subjects count
Who this applies to
Licensed Architects renewing in California. If you are newly licensed, the first renewal is often prorated or exempt — check your specific renewal notice.
How PDH Options helps
PDH Options is built mobile-first for busy professionals: take board-aligned courses on your phone, finish the required end-of-course assessment, and download a completion certificate to keep for your records. One plan — $99 for one full year of unlimited access — covers your California hours and the other states you’re licensed in.
What you get
- Courses aligned to the NCEES Model Rules / CPC standard.
- A graded assessment at the end of every course (what makes the credit defensible).
- Completion certificates and records you can retain for ~6 years.
- An ethics course to satisfy the common ethics requirement.
Start learning — $99 — one full year of unlimited PDH →
Source: California board / rule (checked 2026-06-26). Requirements change — verify the current rules with your California licensing board before relying on this summary. PDH Options provides education, not legal advice.
Other California licenses: PE · Land Surveyor