Why Join the AIA?
The most common question we get from people contemplating joining the AIA is what can the AIA do for me? The AIA operates at three levels: National, State and Local. The AIA benefits its members both directly and indirectly.
No matter where you live, where you practice, or where you are in your career, your AIA membership connects you to top-quality education, critical business and career resources, and a community deeply engaged in promoting the value of architecture.
Membership Overview & Benefits
Download AIA’s Member Benefits Guide, a comprehensive summary of the value that your membership brings (PDF).
The benefits of AIA membership
AIA is where the architecture and design communities come together to share knowledge, gain expertise, get connected, and stay involved. An AIA membership connects you to this global community of 94,000 professionals who share your passion for architecture, design, and the built environment. It also connects you to opportunities to mold the architecture profession, public policy, and practice.
Whether you’re an experienced architect or emerging professional, recent graduate, sole practitioner running your own practice or mentoring new architects or those seeking to become architects, architecture faculty, or those affiliated with architecture, AIA has tools and resources that support you at every stage.
Shape your business strategies with AIA research and market intelligence. Discover the latest practice trends and their impact on business and growth, see where the economy is heading, get compensation data for firm positions, and more.
Access and use of: theAIATrust.com
Where Smart Architects Manage Risk. The AIA Trust is a free risk management resource, offering benefit programs and practice resources for AIA Members. More more information, click here.
Stay current and competitive through AIA educational programs. Satisfy mandatory continuing education requirements for your license renewal, including HSW and ZNCD credits.
Hiring architects or designers at your firm? Access the AIA San Diego’s online job listing service at member discounts. Firms may rapidly post open positions, and choose from highly qualified candidates.
Use collective legal experience to protect your firm’s interests. Members receive a discount of up to 30 percent on AIA Contract Documents whether software or paper documents through the AIA SD.
Emerging Professional? Begin your pathway to a flourishing career today. Take advantage of resources, publications, groups, and events that meet the rapidly evolving needs of members who are recent graduates, transitioning to work at a firm, designing an individual path, working toward licensure, or within the first 10 years of practice.
Free subscriptions to Architect magazine available for Architect and Associate members.
Develop key business contacts with colleagues in the profession, successful participants in related industries (such as developers and institutional clients), and political and policy leaders at national, state, and local programs.
Use the AIA credential and logo to illustrate your membership affiliation. The AIA designation tells your professional story in just a few letters. It immediately shows others what you’ve achieved, how you connect to the profession, and what you’re working toward.
Capitalize on the AIA’s legislative agenda. The chapter advocacy activities center on legislative issues that impact the business and practice of architecture. We support policies that stimulate work for architects, protect the profession, and advance core values.
Increases your profile in the profession. Network with members who embrace similar career goals at AIA SD events annually. Benefit from the business experience of peers. Submit work for AIA SD awards programs and tour opportunities.
Benefit from an organization that channels the collective authority of 85,000+ members to lobby Congress and the White House on vital topics that impact your practice and your world, including tax and business issues, procurement, sustainability, historic preservation, and more.
Tour award winning architecture and projects not typically open to the public to learn more about the design and construction process directly from the designers themselves.
Membership Categories
AIA Member benefits differ slightly based on your specific designation and are explained by category. What remains consistent across all designations is that membership provides you with the opportunity to experience and access the support, knowledge, and resources of your professional association.
ARCHITECT, AIA
Any individual with an architectural license from a U.S licensing authority is eligible for official AIA designation.
Architect AssociatE,
ASSOC. AIA
Individuals with a degree in architecture from a NAAB accredidted school, work under the supervision of an architect, are enrolled in the AXP, or are a faculty member in a university program in architecture.
New graduateS,
ASSOC. AIA
Recent graduates with a masters, doctorate or bachelor’s degree in architecture from an accredited school or individuals enrolled in the AXP program enjoy up to 18 months of FREE membership after graduation.
student Chapter Member
In addition to AIAS, student membership through the local Chapter is offered to all students currently enrolled in a secondary or architectural school.
International Associate Membership
Individuals who have an architecture license or equivalent from a non-US licensing authority are eligible for International Associate membership.
Individual Partners
Membership for individuals whose interest in a specific committee-domain is not mainly driven by current business goals or activities. This would include housing advocates, academics, researchers, non-profits, public sector employees and similar.
Corporate Partners
Open to all fields related to architecture, a corporate partnership allows the opportunity to develop key business contacts by promoting your brand, products, and services to a targeted audience of AEC professionals.
