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Continuing Education

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The OAA Continuing Education (ConEd) Program reflects the OAA’s dedication to promoting and increasing the knowledge, skill and proficiency of its members, and administering the Architects Act, to serve and protect public interest.in order that the public interest may be served and protected.    

The OAA ConEd Program is a mandatory requirement for Ontario Architects, Non-Practising Architects, Licensed Technologists OAA, and Technologists OAAAS. The Program is based on a 2-year Cycle beginning January 1 of even numbered years.

The ConEd Program consists of two Components:

  • CORE learning provides a fundamental level of knowledge relevant to the practice of architecture and addresses current and emerging needs that are essential to maintain the confidence of clients, the government and the public in CORE learning activities must meet the OAA CORE criteria;
  • Self-Directed learning are all activities related to the professional practice of architecture, best suited to the OAA members’ needs.

Program Requirements

Qualification
Core
Self Directed
Architect
15 hours
55 hours
Non-Practising Architect
0 hours
35 hours
Licensed Technologist OAA
7 hours
28 hours
Technologist OAAAS
4 hours
11 hours
4

CORE Learning

CORE learning are courses/activities that members choose on their own that are related to their professional practice, and meet the following requirements:

  1. Offered by Pre-approved ProvidersAND address one of theCORE topics OR
  2. Listed on the CORE Opportunities page.

If the activity does not meet the criteria outlined above, members have the option to seek recognition or equivalency for learning activities completed during the ConEd Cycle. In order to have a course assessed for CORE hours eligibility, a member should submit a formal request to the OAA for consideration.

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Self-Directed Learning

Self-Directed learning is courses/activities that members choose on their own that are related to their professional practice, and which may address any of the following:

  • Development of special areas of expertise
  • Topics that will help architects to serve particular client groups
  • Expanding services to reach new clients
  • Improvement of business skills
  • Areas in which the individual feels he/she needs improvement or updating
  • Areas in which the individual has a professional interest

Self-Directed learning allows architects to develop areas of special expertise, and to learn more about subjects of professional interest.  OAA approval is not required for Self-Directed Learning. The responsibilities are limited to describing categories of learning and setting the maximum number of allowable hours per cycle for each category of learning. The OAA does not undertake to accredit or pre-approve programs offered by public groups or organizations as Self-Directed learning, and does not permit the use the OAA name or logo.

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ConEd FAQ

1. What are my ConEd requirements as an OAA member? The OAA Continuing Education (ConEd) Program is operated on a two-year Cycle basis. The reporting period runs from January 1 to December 31 biennially. The requirements chart located on the overview page outlines the number of learning hours OAA member have to collect during the two year ConEd Cycle.

2. What is CORE learning?

CORE learning provides a fundamental level of knowledge relevant to the practice of architecture and addresses current and emerging needs that are essential to maintain the confidence of clients, the government and to serve and protect the public interest. CORE learning is courses/activities that members choose on their own that are related to their professional practice, and meet the following requirements:

1) Offered by Pre-Approved Providers 

AND addresses one of the CORE topics 

OR

2) Listed on the CORE opportunites page of the OAA website.

If the activity does not meet the criteria outlined above, members have the option to seek recognition or equivalency for learning activities completed during the ConEd Cycle. In order to have a course assessed for CORE eligibility, a member must submit the Member Request for Equivalency Form to the OAA for consideration.  

3. What is Self-Directed learning? 

Self-Directed learning is courses/activities that members choose on their own that are related to their professional practice which allow architects to develop areas of special expertise, and to learn more about subjects of professional interest. OAA approval of Self-Directed learning is not available. The OAA does not undertake to accredit or pre-approve programs offered by public groups or organizations as Self-Directed learning, and does not permit the use the OAA name or logo. It is the responsibility of the individual OAA member to determine the appropriateness of a program and its applicability as Self-Directed learning. 

4. What types of educational activities can be reported as CORE learning?  The following categories of educational activities are eligible for CORE learning hours under the OAA Continuing Education Program in Cycle Five:

  • Conferences/Trade Shows – 15 hours maximum per cycle

  • Courses/Workshops – 15 hours maximum per cycle

  • Distance Education modules – 15 hours maximum per cycle

  • Practical Research – 10 hours maximum per cycle

  • Presentations & Teaching – 10 hours maximum per cycle

  • Professional Writing – 10 hours maximum per cycle

  • Scholarly Research – 15 hours maximum per cycle

The content of the activities listed above must address one of the CORE topics approved by Council for Cycle Five. For individual activity descriptions, please visit CORE Activities Allocation Chart.

 

5. What types of educational activities can be reported as Self-Directed learning? 

The following categories of educational activities are eligible for Self-Directed learning hours under the OAA Continuing Education Program in Cycle Five:

  • Committee Meetings – 25 hours maximum per cycle

  • Conferences/Trade Shows – 55 hours maximum per cycle

  • Courses/Workshops – 55 hours maximum per cycle

  • Discussion Groups – 25 hours maximum per cycle

  • OAA Council – 30 hours maximum per cycle

  • OAA Standing Committees – 30 hours maximum per cycle

  • Mentoring – 30 hours maximum per cycle

  • Practical Research – 25 hours maximum per cycle

  • Presentations & Teaching – 30 hours maximum per cycle

  • Professional Tour – 15 hours maximum per cycle

  • Professional Writing – 30 hours maximum per cycle

  • Reading – 15 hours maximum per cycle

  • Scholarly Research – 55 hours maximum per cycle

For individual activity descriptions, please visit Self-Directed Activities Allocation Chart. 

6. How do I report CORE learning activities? 

1. Go to www.oaa.on.ca.

2. Go to “Professional Resources” tab.

3. Go to “Continuing Education".   
       

4. Click on "Transcripts”.  (3rd link on the left navigation bar)

5. Enter your username and password. For information on how to recover your username or change your password, see Web News.  

6. Go to "Add Entry"

7. Enter the following information: title, type, provider, hours, date (mm/dd/yyyy) 

8. Save 

All activities, both CORE and Self-Directed, including OAA Conference Sessions, should be uploaded by OAA members to their web-based transcript. The OAA no longer records hours on OAA members’ transcripts. 

7. How do I report Self-Directed learning activities? 

1. Go to www.oaa.on.ca.

2. Go to “Professional Resources” tab.

3. Go to “Continuing Education".                
 
4. Click on "Transcripts” (3rd link on the left navigation bar)    

5. Enter your username and password. For information on how to recover your username or change your password, see Web News.       

6. Scroll down to the Self-Directed portion of your transcript

7. Go to "Add Entry"

8. Enter the following information: title, type, provider, hours, date (mm/dd/yyyy) 

9. Save 

All activities, both CORE and Self-Directed, including OAA Conference Sessions, should be uploaded by OAA members to their web-based transcript. The OAA will no longer records hours on OAA members’ transcripts. 

8. Reporting points retroactively 

In accordance with the OAA’s Continuing Education policy, newly licensed members who are subject to the Continuing Education Program for the first time may report retroactively up to 12 months of learning activities on their individual transcript for the current Cycle. 

 

9. Reporting AIA learning credits under the OAA ConEd program 

Continuing Education programs approved by American Institute of Architects under the categories of Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) and Sustainable Design (SD) can be reported as CORE learning under the OAA ConEd Program. If the course is approved by AIA but not designated as HSW or SD, please report it as Self-Directed learning. 

 

10. How many learning hours can be carried over to the next Cycle? 

The following chart outlines the number of learning hours OAA members can carry over to the next reporting ConEd Cycle.

Qualification
Core
Self Directed
Architect
8 hours
8 hours
Non-Practising Architect
8 hours
8 hours
Licensed Technologist OAA
4 hours
7 hours
Technologist OAAAS
NONE
NONE

11. How many learning hours can be transferred from CORE learning to Self-Directed learning?

Unlimited number of CORE learning hours can be transferred to the Self-Directed portion of your transcript. If you are deficient in the Self-Directed category, you can report CORE activities as Self-Directed learning. 

12. How many learning hours can be transferred from Self-Directed learning to CORE learning? 

None. Self-Directed learning hours cannot be transferred to the CORE portion of your transcript. Self-Directed learning activities cannot be reported as CORE learning. 

 

13. How do I collect CORE learning hours if I reside outside Ontario? 

You may report the following as CORE learning:

  • Learning activities approved as CORE by other Provincial Architectural Associations

  • Learning activities approved as CORE by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)

  • AIA learning credits which fall under the Health, Safety and Welfare category (HSW) and Sustainable Design (SD) category.

CORE learning can be gained complete via distance education modules, and therefore there is no requirement for a member to travel to attend a CORE learning session.

Please note as well that OAA members have the option to seek recognition or equivalency for learning activities completed during the ConEd Cycle. In order to have a course assessed for CORE hours eligibility, a member must submit a Member Request for Equivalency form to the OAA for consideration.

 

14. What if I do not complete the requirements for the ConEd Cycle?

Please refer to the OAA Complaints and Discipline Process arising out of Non-Compliance with the OAA's Continuing Education Program. 

 

15. What if I complete the requirements for the ConEd Cycle after the Cycle deadline?

If an OAA member completes his/her ConEd requirements late (after the December 31 deadline) they will be considered non-compliant with the requirements of the Continuing Education Program. Please refer to the Compliance and Discipline process. If there are some exceptional circumstances which have prevented OAA member from completing the ConEd requirements those circumstances should be made known to the Continuing Education Coordinator immediately. 

 

16. What if I am unable to fulfil my ConEd requirements due to illness or exceptional circumstances? 

If there are some exceptional circumstances which have prevented OAA member from completing the ConEd requirements, those circumstances should be made known to the Continuing Education Coordinator immediately. OAA members can avail themselves to the OAA Leave Policy which may allow relief of some portion of their ConEd.

 

17. What is Transcript Audit? 

In order to ensure accuracy of reporting Continuing Education activities as well as relevance of reported activities, OAA Council has implemented a Transcript Audit. It will be in effect at the close of Cycle Five (December 31, 2009). For more information, please refer to the Transcript Audit Process. 

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