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AIA Learning Objectives + HSW Justification
Learning objectives are the foundation of every AIA continuing education course. Strong objectives clearly communicate what participants will be able to do after completing the program, while also helping determine whether the course qualifies for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credit.
Well-written objectives:
Every AIA-approved course should include measurable, action-oriented learning objectives tied directly to the course content.
Start with the Course Description
Before writing learning objectives, create a detailed description of the course content. Your learning objectives should emerge directly from what the course actually teaches.
Course Title:
Tour: Right Proper Brew Pub
Course Description:
The Right Proper Brewing Company in Shaw is a full-service restaurant featuring two bar areas and a 10 BBL brewery with barrel and grain storage.
During this tour, project architects Adam McGraw and Ryan McEnroe of McGraw Bagnoli Architects will discuss how the two different spaces that make up the restaurant and brewery, a historic storefront and a new contemporary structure, impacted the design of the project. The design team will explain the brewing system, the integration of new and reused brewing equipment, sustainability strategies, and the permitting process.
The session will also explore the use of recycled and repurposed materials within the restaurant and brewery, along with strategies used to unify multiple environments through common architectural elements and material selections.
Identify the Key Educational Takeaways
Review your course description and identify the primary concepts, systems, strategies, or processes participants will learn about.
Ask yourself:
Common focus areas include:
Write Measurable Learning Objectives
Learning objectives should describe what participants will be able to do after completing the course.
A strong learning objective:
Use measurable verbs such as:
Do not use:
These verbs are difficult to measure and often do not meet AIA CES expectations.
Example Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives for HSW Credit
To qualify for HSW credit:
Those aspects of professional practice that improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of occupants, users, and others affected by buildings and sites.
Those aspects of professional practice that protect occupants, users, and others affected by buildings or sites from harm.
Those aspects of professional practice that:
HSW-eligible topics may include:
Additional qualifying topics may also include:
Not all ethics, diversity, or workplace topics qualify for HSW credit.
For ethics or equity-related courses to qualify:
The determining factor is whether the course primarily benefits the public through architecture and the built environment.
In addition to learning objectives, HSW courses should include a brief HSW justification statement explaining why the course qualifies.
A strong HSW justification:
This course qualifies for HSW credit because it addresses how building systems, adaptive reuse strategies, material selection, and code-compliant design decisions impact occupant safety, environmental performance, and user experience. The course explores sustainable design approaches, preservation strategies, and coordination between building systems and architectural design, all of which directly affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Before submitting your course for AIA CES review, confirm that:
A simple framework:
Participants will be able to + action verb + topic + purpose/outcome
The strongest AIA learning objectives are specific, practical, and tied directly to professional application. If attendees can clearly explain what they gained from the course and how it improves their architectural practice in service of the public, you are likely on the right track for both strong educational content and successful HSW qualification.