Advance Your Career with AIA

When you become a member of AIA, you join the largest, most influential network of architects and design professionals. AIA’s 98,000+ member community and 200+ chapters in the U.S. and abroad share your passion for design, a desire to change the world, and a commitment to the highest standards of practice. Join today.

Joining as a new member?

For a limited time, get up to 3 months (the rest of 2024) for free.
Select your membership level to get started.

Asking for employer support with your dues?

Download this template to ask your employer to sponsor your dues for professional development.

Membership Levels

Architect

Open to individuals with an architectural license from a U.S. licensing authority.

Associate: New Graduate

Free, for up to 18 months after graduation, to first-time AIA members who have recently graduated with a professional degree in architecture.

Associate

Open to people with a professional degree in architecture, those working under an architect or enrolled in AXP, or faculty in a university program in architecture.

Associate: International

Open to architects licensed outside the U.S., regardless of location. Architects licensed by a U.S. authority are not eligible.

Let’s design a better world, together.

Whether you’re a new graduate, working on licensure, or have recently passed the ARE, you can create positive change in the architecture profession. Find your niche and share your voice on urgent issues like sustainability/climate change, equity, occupant health, and more. When you join AIA, you join a community ready to change the world.

Why Join AIA?

AIA is here to help you build your connections and skills—and advocate for you, your community, and the profession. Plus, when you join AIA, you automatically receive membership at the Local Chapter, State, and National level.

Leadership Opportunities

Grow as a leader with AIA. Apply to the AIA Cincinnati VISION leadership program or get involved with a member group, committee, or the chapter board. AIA Ohio hosts practice programs for Associates and the recently licensed, plus invites members to serve as AIA Ohio board representatives. AIA National’s Knowledge Communities and Member Groups are led by volunteers from across the country. AIA National also runs multiple programs to develop future leaders, particularly ethnically diverse architects and women architects.

Continuing Education

AIA continuing education allows you to earn HSW, ADA, GBCI, RIBA, AIA LU credits, certificates, and AXP hours with in-person, virtual, and peer-to-peer education. Check out monthly programs offered through AIA Cincinnati committees and working groups, plus online programs from other local chapters, AIA National, and nearly 300 online courses available through AIAU. We’ll automatically update your AIA member transcript (accepted by nearly all state licensing boards) with your continuing education credit when you take a course through an AIA chapter, AIAU, or an AIA-approved CE provider.

Networking Community

Connect with your peers, likeminded architects, and the next generation of design professionals by getting involved with AIA Cincinnati’s member-led affinity groups, knowledge communities, committees, and events. Popular in-person programming supports residential architects, early professionals, women in architecture, and more. Nationally, there are 21 Knowledge Communities and Member Groups to connect those with common interests, career paths and job speciality areas, including topics on Sustainability, Equity, Occupant Health, Emerging Technologies, and Small Business.

Career Resources

Ready for a new role? Job postings are regularly updated at both the local and national level. For early professionals working toward licensure or recently licensed, AIA Cincinnati offers ARE study groups and other resources. Plus AIA Cincinnati, AIA Ohio, and AIA National offer grants for exam fees and study materials to borrow.

AIA Designation

Enhance your personal brand and professional standing. The AIA designation is recognized by clients, civic leaders, the public, and the AEC industry as a standard of excellence and signals your commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards of architectural practice.

Government Advocacy

From leadership on national policy priorities to influencing local code standards, AIA advocates on behalf of architects and the profession to legislators at the federal, state, and local levels. Join us as we take on urgent issues like climate change and inequities in the built environment through AIA Cincinnati’s Local Advocacy Working Group and programming; AIA Ohio’s annual statehouse day; and AIA National’s lobbying efforts.

AIA Trust

Be prepared for whatever comes with insurance and benefit programs through the AIA Trust. Comprehensive insurance and benefit programs can help architects and firms of any size manage risk and protect their investments. Members also can access exclusive rates on selected products. 

“As a member of AIA, I have been able to build leadership skills through the early professionals and golf committees, which has been beneficial for my professional development.”

– John N. Edwards, AIA, NCARB

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“Joining AIA helped me find good mentors and individuals that I can relate to—not to mention great social outings where it is easy and fun to get to know others in the industry.”

– Shelby Leshnak, Associate AIA

“I joined the Committee on Urban Design because of my passion for Human Mobility and Health, and I’ve connected with the Early Professionals group as I study for the NCARB ARE exams. AIA Cincinnati has truly been a cornerstone in helping me transition and thrive in my architectural career here in the U.S.”

– Manuel Granja, Associate AIA

“Whether I'm attending a building/ neighborhood walking tour, panel discussion on a locally relevant topic, or ARE-focused presentation, I can enjoy the moment with a group of people that are just as passionate about the built-environment, and our impact on it, as I am.”

– Abigail Lovins, Assoc. AIA

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“Participating in VISION as a newly licensed architect has provided me with invaluable training, leadership growth, and networking experiences that I wouldn’t have found elsewhere.”

– Emily Krieger Lubbers, AIA NCIDQ

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 Frequently Asked Questions

  • AIA’s dues calculator can help you find out which membership category best fits your needs, and what dues you may owe. Your dues include membership at the National, State, and Local Chapter level.

  • AIA membership is based on the calendar year. Annual dues are payable on or before January 15. New members who sign up after this date are charged on a prorated basis, with those who join in October, November or December eligible to receive the remainder of the year for free and dues applied to their membership for the following calendar year.

  • For state and federal income tax purposes, payments to AIA and its components are generally deductible as trade or business expenses—except for the percentage spent on lobbying federal or state governments. Consult a tax professional to determine the appropriate tax treatment of your dues.

  • If you are not an architect but are involved as a professional in the architectural community, you can join as an Allied Member of AIA Cincinnati. This membership is designed to help individuals and companies who wish to promote their products and services to architects and other building-industry professionals. AIA Cincinnati’s Allied Membership benefits do not transfer to other AIA chapters (local, state, or national).