ConEd Program FAQ

What learning activities qualify as Structured learning?

All the following requirements must be met for a learning activity to qualify as Structured Learning hours:

a) The topic must be relevant to the practice or business of architecture.
b) The activity falls under one of the following categories:
• In-Person learning;
• Distance Education; and
• Teaching.
c) The activity is at least one hour in length.
d) A certificate or proof of attendance is uploaded to your OAA Transcript.
e) The learning activities must be completed and reported within the given cycle dates—currently, January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

What learning activities qualify as Unstructured Learning?

All of the following requirements must be met for a learning activity to qualify as Unstructured Learning hours:

a) The topic is relevant to the practice or business of architecture.
b) The activity falls under one of the unstructured learning categories:
• Committee Meetings;
• Council Meetings;
• Discussion Groups;
• Distance Education;
• In-Person Learning;
• Mentoring;
• Teaching;
• Professional Writing;
• Reading;
• Scholarly Research; and
• Tours.
c) The activity is at least one hour in length.
d) The learning activities must be completed and reported within the given cycle dates—currently, January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022.

What is the difference between Structured and Unstructured learning?

The difference between Structured and Unstructured learning is proof of attendance. Structured learning requires a certificate or a letter confirming attendance, whereas unstructured learning does not.

All learning activities that do not provide proof of attendance or completion should be reported as unstructured learning.

What type of learning does not qualify as structured or unstructured learning?

The following activities do not qualify as Continuing Education learning hours:
• participating in social media;
• browsing a tradeshow.

What are my Continuing Education requirements?

Architect
70 hours of learning (minimum of 25 hours of Structured Learning)

Non-Practising Architect
35 hours of learning (no Structured Learning minimum required)

Licensed Technologist OAA
35 hours of learning (minimum of 12 hours of Structured Learning)

How many hours can I carryover to the next cycle?

An individual who has accumulated a surplus of learning hours is permitted to carry over a limited number of hours to the next reporting cycle as set below:

Architect
10 Structured and 20 Unstructured Learning hours

Non-Practising Architect
Five Structured and 10 Unstructured Learning hours

Licensed Technologist OAA
Five Structured and 10 Unstructured Learning hours

What are the maximums for each learning category?

Except for In-Person learning and Distance Education, each learning category for both Structured and Unstructured Learning has a maximum. This was implemented to encourage a diverse learning experience.

Hours reported in a category over the limit will not carry over to the next cycle.

Are learning activities from other provinces/countries eligible for OAA learning hours? 

Learning activities that relate to architecture and are at least one hour are eligible. Certificates must be uploaded to the OAA Transcript for structured learning hours.
 

Is the AIA Transcript accepted as proof of attendance?

Transcripts from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) can be used as proof of attendance, only if the learning activity was logged by an AIA provider. However, self-reported AIA activities only qualify as Unstructured Learning.

What are OAA Events? 
OAA events are learning sessions administered by the OAA, including the Conference, Continuing Education lectures, and the now Lecture. If you have a question about whether an event falls under this category, please contact OAA ConEd.

Do not self-report Continuing Education hours obtained at OAA-administered events. Your attendance will be uploaded to your transcript. Duplicate hours could result in errors on your transcript.

Who/what is a provider?
A provider is the host of a learning session. If you require a certificate for a lecture/course/workshop you attended, please contact the provider. 
 
Are breaks and meal times within an educational session eligible for learning hours?
Breaks and meal times are excluded from the total learning hours that should be reported.
 
What information should appear on the certificate?
Certificates must consist of the following:
a) name of OAA member;
b) title of lecture/course, total hour(s) attended, final date of lecture/course; and
c) provider’s name, logo, and email/phone number.

If you do not have the certificate, please request it from the session provider. The OAA does not accept receipts and registration confirmation as proof of attendance.

Will the OAA report hours for Pro-Demnity lectures?
Pro-Demnity lectures are to be self-reported to your OAA Transcript, and a certificate must be uploaded for structured learning hours.

To request a certificate, please contact:
Kelly Burns at kelly@jfendleyconsulting.com or call (905) 337-7362
Janice Fendley at jfendley1@cogeco.ca or call (905) 337-7362.

If a certificate is not available, the session should be reported as Unstructured Learning.

Will the OAA report hours for the Buildings Show (Construct Canada, IDS Contract et al)?
No, these lectures are to be self-reported to your OAA Transcript, and a certificate/proof of attendance must be uploaded for Structured Learning hours.

To request a certificate, please contact customerservice@microspec.com. If a certificate is not available, the lecture should be reported as unstructured learning.

Will the OAA report hours for RAIC lectures?
No, these lectures are to be self-reported to your OAA Transcript, and the certificate/proof of attendance must be uploaded for Structured Learning hours. To request a certificate, please contact Camille Rivard at crivard@raic.org.

If a certificate is not available, the lecture should be reported as unstructured learning.

Will the OAA report hours for WoodWORKS lectures/webinars?
No, these lectures are to be self-reported to your OAA Transcript, and a certificate/proof of attendance must be uploaded for structured learning hours.

If a certificate is not available, the lecture should be reported as unstructured learning.

Are Revit courses eligible for learning hours?
If a certificate is uploaded to your OAA Transcript, the courses qualify for structured learning hours. To request a certificate, please contact the provider.

If a certificate is not available, the lecture should be reported as unstructured leaning.

Are tradeshows eligible for learning hours?
Only lectures or lunch and learns within tradeshows are eligible for Continuing Education learning hours.

The topic must be related to architecture and the activity must be at least one hour in length; proof of attendance must be provided for Structured Learning hours. Please contact the provider for the certificate/proof of attendance.

Guided tours and reading materials are eligible for Unstructured Learning and proof is not required.

Are third-party conferences eligible for learning hours?
Only lectures or lunch and learns within a conference are eligible for Continuing Education learning hours.

The topic must be related to architecture and the activity must be at least one hour in length; proof of attendance must be provided for Structured Learning hours. Please contact the provider for the certificate/proof of attendance.

Guided tours and reading materials are eligible for Unstructured Learning and proof is not required.

Are Design Charrettes/Workshops eligible for learning hours?
If a certificate or proof of attendance is uploaded to your OAA Transcript, and meets the learning eligibility criteria, the courses can qualify for structured learning hours. To request a certificate, please contact the provider.

If a certificate is not available, the lecture should be reported as unstructured leaning.

How do I access my OAA Transcript?

Scroll to the bottom of the OAA homepage, click “Transcripts”. You can also login through this link.

How do I change/reset my password?

1) Go to your transcript
2) Click “Forgot my Password” (below the “Sign In” button)
3) Type in your username
4) A link will be emailed to you. Click on the link and you will be directed to a webpage where the password can be changed.

Where can I report hours after end of cycle? 

If you are submitting your Continuing Education after the deadline, please complete the attached form and send tooaaconed@oaa.on.ca for review and processing. Do not report outstanding hours to the next cycle.

Are my Continuing Education requirements complete?

Refer to the “Status” field on your OAA Transcript. If it states “Completed” then your Continuing Education requirements have been met.

Can I report learning activities that occurred before or after an OAA Continuing Education Cycle?

OAA members are not permitted to backlog learning activities that took place outside of the given Continuing Education Cycle July 1st  to June 30th biannually.

Newly licensed architects are permitted to report eligible learning activities that took place within 12 months prior to the date of licensure. These hours are to be self-reported on the current OAA Transcript, proof of attendance is required for structured learning activities.

Will the OAA report hours on my behalf? 

The OAA will upload all Continuing Education hours for OAA-administered events. If you have a question about whether an event falls under this category, please contact OAA ConEd. OAA members will still be responsible for reporting Continuing Education hours received from third party providers.