Continuing Education – Distilled, Practical & Advanced Knowledge


aecKnowledge Continuing Education
Distilled, Relevant and Advanced Courses, independently produced by aecKnowledge
Documents, Specifications & CA

Pitfalls and Minefields of Specification-Writing
AIA/CES (HSW), 1.0 LUs

Risk Control in Construction Contract Administration
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs

Drawing the Line: Monitoring the Contractor’s Work Plan
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs

Practice Management

Navigating the COVID-19 Economy: Insights from Firm Leaders
Insights Only, 0 LUs

Financial Management: Introduction for Design Professionals
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs

Financial Management: Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPFIs)
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs

Financial Management: Annual Budgets, Revenue Forecasting and Profit Planning
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs

Insights from Art Gensler, FAIA
AIA/CES, 1.0 LUs


Related aecKnowledge Resources
DISCOUNTED Course Bundles
- Course Bundle Overview
- Accessibility 2023 (AIA California)
- Accessibility 2021 (AIA California)
- Accessibility 2019 (AIA California)
- Accessibility 2017 (AIA California)
- AIA Seattle 2022 Housing Forum - Transforming Residential Practice
- AIA Seattle 2019 Housing Forum - Density Done Right
- AIA Seattle 2018 Housing Forum - Housing Innovations
- MDC 2022 Keynotes (AIA California)
- MDC 2019 Keynotes (AIA California)
- MDC 2017 Keynotes (AIA California)
- MDC 2017 Emerging Talent (AIA California)
- MDC 2015 Keynotes (AIA California)
- MDC 2013 Keynotes (AIA California)
- MDC 2011 Keynotes (AIA California)
- AIA Seattle 2022 Equity & Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization
- AIA Seattle 2021 Just Transitions - Upstream and Downstream Impacts of Decarbonization
- AIA Los Angeles & AIA|LA COTE 2020 Two Degrees Symposium
- Active Design (AIA New York)
- Sustainable Design (USGBC-NCC)
- Sustainability Practices (AIA New York, AIACC)
- Financial Management for Design Professionals
- Leadership Effectiveness (AIA Dallas)
- Practice Mgmt. (for small and mid-size firms)
- Project Delivery Methods (AIA California)
- Specifications & CA Phase Best Practices
- Risk Management
- Growing a Small Firm (AIA San Francisco)
- Metropolis Think Tank: The Human Factor
DISCOUNTED Group Pricing
Course Providers
Registering for a CE Course
- Step 1Sign in or register with aecKnowledge.com if you have not done so already.
- Step 2Select a course and follow instructions for course registration, registration and course viewing. Courses are available for 90 days following registration.
- Step 3Take the CE Quiz after viewing the entire course. After you have successfully passed the quiz, a Certificate of completion will be automatically downloaded to your computer for you to save. If you are an AIA member, your AIA CES Learning Units will automatically be submitted.
Continuing Education FAQs
Pitfalls and Minefields of Specification-Writing

This course will help design firms produce higher quality specifications that respond to the increasing complexity of building projects and that minimize the adverse consequences of poorly-worded or incomplete specifications.
Course takers will develop a better understanding of and appreciation for specifications – an often-overlooked part of the Contract Documents – and learn how to craft specifications that achieve design objectives, meet code requirements, and avoid added costs, delays, construction coordination problems and disputes. .
The presenter provides specific solutions to overcome common challenges design professionals face when writing design-based, performance-based, propriety or hybrid specifications.
Presenter: | Cornelius (Kin) Dubois, FAIA, LEED AP |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES (HSW) |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Risk Control in Construction Contract Administration

This course will help design professionals better understand and respond to the growing risks entailed in providing construction contract administration (CCA), how better to protect public health, safety and welfare, and compliance with building codes.
The presenter makes a compelling case for why architects and engineers must serve as both a risk manager and a project manager, and provides an easy-to-follow approach to controlling risks in a manner that enhances service effectiveness.
Viewers will gain valuable insights into how best to identify CCA areas of vulnerability, improve their ability to develop risk averse CCA procedures, and expand their skills in persuading owners to share in the numerous risks inherent in CCA.
Presenter: | James B. Atkins, FAIA, FKIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Drawing the Line: Monitoring the Contractor’s Work Plan

This course will help design professionals understand a contractor’s exclusive responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing the construction work, and will describe the indicators that are evident when a contractor’s work plan is executed effectively.
Course takers will develop a better understanding of the need for dialogue, and the tools to initiate and improve communication, amongst all team members, pertaining to contractor work coordination activities.
With a wry sense of humor, the presenter discusses how to review and respond to construction coordination drawings, clarifications sketches, submittals and mock-ups, and provides valuable insights that will help guide pre-installation conferences and enforce contract requirements.
Presenter: | James B. Atkins, FAIA, FKIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Navigating the COVID-19 Economy: Insights from Firm Leaders

This course is provided FREE courtesy of Strogoff Consulting and does not qualify for AIA Learning Units.
On April 22, 2020, 10 leaders from some of our nation's most respected firms shared their insights about how to effectively respond to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. This 75-minute panel discussion provides specific recommendations for your firm to put into motion.
Among the topics:
• What is the biggest challenge your firm is now facing?
• What has your firm learned about working remotely and how are clients responding?
• How do you maintain a collaborative culture and approach to projects?
• How are you keeping employees engaged?
• How are clients responding to your firm working remotely?
• If billable work declines, what staff initiatives might keep staff busy?
• How do we avoid losing another generation of architects
• How do you think this new normal might change how we operate as a profession?
Presenter: | Facilitated by Michael Strogoff, FAIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | Insights Only |
Learning Units: | 0 hours |
Financial Management: Introduction for Design Professionals

This distilled 60-minute course provides an overview of financial management for anyone involved in managing or leading an architecture, engineering or design firm. Course takers will learn basic accounting and financial management terminology and the difference between cash and accrual reporting, be able to dispel myths that keep firms from becoming more profitable, understand a Chart of Accounts and basic financial management reports, gain an overview of the financial management cycle, and set financial performance goals.
The presenters, Rena Klein, FAIA, and Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, consult with design professionals nationwide about financial management, and are skilled in distilling financial knowledge and concepts into bite-size pieces that position firm leaders to make strategic operational decisions.
This course dispels myths that have haunted design professionals since the days of Michelangelo.
Presenter: | Steve L. Wintner, AIA Emeritus, and Rena M. Klein, FAIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Financial Management: Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPFIs)

The second course of this series takes a deeper dive into Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPFIs), which will enable anyone involved in managing or leading an architecture, engineering or design firm to track and act on key metrics. Course takers will learn how to calculate seven KPFIs and apply them to calculate net billing multipliers and hourly billing rates and quickly analyze how their firm is performing. Viewers will also learn how to develop project fee budgets and avoid common pitfalls.
The presenters, Rena Klein, FAIA, and Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, consult with design professionals nationwide about financial management, and are skilled in distilling financial knowledge and concepts into bite-size pieces that position firm leaders to make strategic operational decisions.
If you ever had any doubts about your firm’s Net Effective Multiplier, this course is a MUST SEE!.
Presenter: | Steve L. Wintner, AIA Emeritus, and Rena M. Klein, FAIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Financial Management: Annual Budgets, Revenue Forecasting and Profit Planning

The final course of this 3-part financial thriller shows how to develop annual budgets, revenue forecasts and profit plans, and leads viewers through scenario planning using financial trends and Key Financial Performance Indicators. Course takers will be ready to apply key financial concepts as they make short- and longer-term strategic, financial and operational decisions.
The presenters, Rena Klein, FAIA, and Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, consult with design professionals nationwide about financial management, and are skilled in distilling financial knowledge and concepts into bite-size pieces that position firm leaders to make strategic operational decisions.
Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, and Rena M. Klein, FAIA, ignite the screen as cash flow meets profit planning!
Presenter: | Steve L. Wintner, AIA Emeritus, and Rena M. Klein, FAIA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |
Insights from Art Gensler, FAIA

This course is provided FREE courtesy of Strogoff Consulting
M. Arthur Gensler, Jr., (Art Gensler) was widely seen as one the world's foremost experts at helping clients see the value of good design while operating a consistently successful global firm. In this remarkably candid address to emerging professionals, Art Gensler shares Art Gensler shares his insights into:
• Starting, growing and operating a design firm
• Developing a highly collaborative culture within a multi-disciplinary firm
• Understanding a client’s business model and mission
• Running a multi-disciplinary design firm as a well-tuned business
This course is a must-see for design professionals who share Art Gensler’s passion for strong business practices and collaboration. Get decades of wisdom in 60 engaging minutes!
Presenter: | M. Arthur Gensler Jr., FAIA, FIIDA, RIBA |
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Provider: | aecKnowledge |
Certification: | AIA/CES |
Learning Units: | 1.0 hours |