From now forward think LEU’s, LU’s, CEU’s, CE’s, etc. One LEU = 0.5 CEU, and one lunch and learn = 0.25 CE’s. Now also think; I better attend that lunch and learn about such and so to add to my CEU’s, but is it approved by the State?

The AIA claims (in comment 1344) that the State is responsible for “changing behavior” of the A/E professionals by way of CE. Does this changed behavior improve the health, safety and welfare of the public? Or does the changed behavior simply change my attitude to understand that I must now accept CEU management and a yearly payment of around $1-2,000 for CE, plus travel expense, plus time off work, and plus another $1,000 a year for someone to sort out this needlessly complicated CE system. I challenge the AIA, State, or any entity out there, to offer any objective study that indicates the benefits of forced education out weighs the cost, or CE offers a legitimate improvement to the health, safety and welfare of the public. It’s interesting, after all these comments, there is no objective study cited indicating CE’s benefits. I wonder why. After all is said and done, I guess the AIA has found yet another way to take my money, by way of costly courses, overpriced web-based courses and increased vendor revenues for conventions.

I wouldn’t hire, work with, or work for another A/E professional who is not up to speed with current standards, means and methods. That’s clearly obvious and a characteristic of the individual professionalism, not a reflection of their CEU’s. I challenge anyone out there to tell me the difference between A/E’s licensed in states with CE and those licensed in states without CE. Yes, we have our share of under-qualified professionals, with and without CE’s. The market workplace weeds them out. Forced education doesn’t help. There are much better ways to encourage improved professionalism, like say, enforcing current laws against negligent actions.

Apparently, CE is a knee-jerk reaction of Hurricane Katrina and failed levies in New Orleans. For the record, the levies failed because of the lack of State leadership and funding for infrastructure improvements, not lack of engineering expertise. (See excellent comment 1342) And, does someone out there really believe CE’s will improve A/E’s earning ability to parallel a doctor or lawyer as suggest above? They make the big bucks because they have lobbies encouraging the State to enact legislation that favors them financially. Besides, the State mandates the 6% cap, limiting professional fee earnings for state funded projects. Frankly, A/E’s will be worse off financially as a result of CE. The A/E CE legislation only favors the forced education provides. And who do you think lobbied for this legislation? Is that not obvious?

Please continue to voice opinion against this CE concept. It’s not yet law and is still subject for continued development, delays or discard. At the very least, they drop this pointless “State approval” concept.

No matter how it’s watered down, forced education does not achieve the States desired goal for A/E improvements, what ever they are, and is simply wrong.