Most of the professional architects and engineers I know already participate in continuing education, as part of their daily practice.  Competition with each other, client expectations, changes in the building code, changes in state and local laws, new drafting software, new building products, and the green building movement--all these factors encourage us to stay informed.  Likewise, our professional liability, and the insurance we carry to cover it, are a strong inducement to keep up with the news in our field.  The AIA already has a continuing education program for architects, and there are similar programs in other professional membership groups, such as CSI.  A new governmental program is likely to compete and even contradict these.  And many of us in practice will see a new requirement as another burden.  I urge legislators and regulatory staff to consider the harmful effect such a requirement will have on the professionals, as well as the negligible benefit it will produce for the public health and safety.