To apply for membership,and see calculations of all mandatory dues rates, go to the Applications page. Following are the membership categories for the American Institute of Architects, and the qualifications needed for each membership type. Click the link for more details on each category.
*Note: In order to use the 'AIA' title on your business card in California, you must be licensed to practice architecture in California.
+Note: Retired AIA members can apply for Emeritus status if they are elegible.
ARE YOU ELEGIBLE TO JOIN AIA SAN FRANCISCO?
The AIA requires Architect (AIA) and Associate AIA members to join their ‘local’ chapter (defined as where you either live or work) in addition to State and National chapters. The local chapter preference is expressed on the application, in the section called “Preferred Address”. The greater San Francisco Bay Area has several chapters, each different in size, fees, and program offerings. AIA San Francisco’s region only includes San Francisco and Marin counties so you need to live or work in this region and be able to provide a mailing address as proof of residence or employment.
If you are applying to the San Francisco chapter as an AIA or Associate AIA member, and do not live OR work within our region, you need to get permission from your local chapter first, or your application cannot be processed. Many people join the AIA San Francisco for specific business and networking reasons, or because they are taking classes in the city, or they wish to receive special AIA SF members-only discounts on our special events such as Home Tours, Design Awards submissions, Gala parties, and the popular Architecture + the City Festival.
Please use the links below to contact your local chapter and find out more about their events and programs. You can request an 'Out of Chapter' form to obtain their permission to join our chapter. Please send this form to the AIA National office along with your application.
For more information on all the California chapters, please see the AIA California Council, or download a .pdf of all the California chapters. If you live out of state, you can also search for your local chapter (component) at the AIA National website.
· AIA San Francisco http://www.aiasf.org/ (San Francisco and Marin Counties)
· AIA East Bay http://www.aiaeb.org/ (Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa and Solano Counties)
· AIA San Mateo County http://www.aiasmc.org/ (San Mateo County)
· AIA Santa Clara Valley http://www.aiascv.org/ (Santa Clara County)
AIA (ARCHITECT)
Must be a licensed architect in the United States. A copy of the applicant's license must be presented at the time of application. Architect members may use the designation "AIA" after their name and are required to earn 18 learning units per year to maintain their membership. This is in addition to, or in lieu of any requirements for the state(s) in which you are licensed to practice Architecture.
Note regarding firm dues: Sole proprietors, firm partners or principals of a corporation are also responsible for payment of an AIA firm non-member surcharge beginning with the second year of membership. AIA SF Dues are set each year by the Board of Directors. The surcharge rates (called 'Supplemental Dues') are indicated on your renewal invoice for 2008 in Section C 'Liability Calculator'. The National Office Supplemental Dues fees are also listed there. For more information, see the Member Dues page.
ASSOCIATE AIA
These members are not licensed Architects but they are actively practicing Architecture in the U.S. An Associate AIA member and may use the title "Associate AIA" after their name. An Associate member must meet one or more of the following criteria:
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Intern: An individual who has a degree in architecture and working toward licensure.
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Supervised: You work under the supervision of an architect, typically in a technical capacity such as CAD drafting. You may have technical certification, but not a degree from an accredited program.
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Professional Degree: You hold a degree in architecture but are not working towards licensure.
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Faculty: You are a faculty member in a university program in architecture.
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Recent Graduate: Recent college architecture graduates receive 18 months of free membership on the local, state, and national levels (not including the $40 subscription to Architectural Record). Select "Associate - New Graduate" on the application. You must provide a copy of your diploma from an Architecture program accredited by the NAAB. For example, a BA-Arch from UC Berkeley is not sufficient for the free membership offer, but a Masters from UC Berkeley counts because that is the accredited program. Your free membership period begins the month you graduate. For example, if you graduated in June, 2007 you would not owe dues until January, 2009.
ALLIED
Open to individuals working in professions allied to the field of architecture such as construction, engineering, law, interior design, marketing and others. Licensed architects are not eligible for Allied membership. Provides local affiliation only (you will not receive national mailings). To join as an Allied member at the State or National level, contact those offices directly at www.aiacc.org and www.aia.org.
NEW - CORPORATE ALLIED MEMBERSHIP IN 2008
Beginning on January 1st, 2008, our Member application will reflect a new 'Corporate' Allied membership category with a flat annual rate of $1,000. The corporate category is for larger firms who wish to have all of their staff receive all of the benefits at the local (San Francisco) level as listed on our Benefits page.
The individual Allied membership will remain at the 2007 price of $350. The individual membership is meant for sole practitioners or small firms who wish to receive the benefits including the complimentary directory listing.
STUDENT
Our student members are currently enrolled in an architecture or architecture-related program at a local institution. If you are not enrolled in an accredited program, you may not qualify for Associate status when you graduate - please see the requirements listed above. This membership is separate from the "AIA Student" (AIAS) organization.
EMERITUS
Congratulations! You have been a member of the AIA for 15 succesive years, and are either 70 years of age or 60 years of age and fully retired from the profession. Please see the Member Services page for an application to upgrade your membership to Emeritus level. There is no charge to upgrade your membership. The Emeritus membership is complimentary at the local chapter level, though there is a small optional fee if you wish to receive mailings from the National Office and continue your Architectural Record subscription.
COMPONENT AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP- AIA SF CHAPTER BENEFITS FOR NON-LOCAL MEMBERS
After joining your local chapter (component), you can take advantage of the San Francisco programs and members-only discounts by joining our chapter as a “Component Affiliate Member”. Just fill out our application and in Member Type, select “Component Affiliate”. This only applies to AIA or Associate AIA level members, not to Allied members of other chapters. If you are an Allied member of another AIA Chapter, you will owe $350. for Allied membership with the AIA San Francisco.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE AIA MEMBERSHIP
These members are licensed to practice architecture in another country, and not licensed in the United States. Please provide a copy of your architecture license(s) when you apply for this membership category. If you hold a diploma in architecture from a non-US school, you should apply as an Associate AIA member and provide a copy of your diploma.
QUESTIONS?
For more information about AIA membership, write Rebecca Evans, Membership Coordinator, at revans (at) aiasf.org or call (415) 362-1127.
