AIA Membership
Connect with over 98,000 professionals with a mutual love for the built environment.
Membership benefits
- Access a range of expertise through a peer network of nearly 1,700 colleagues in the San Mateo area.
- Attend local networking and continuing education events hosted by AIA San Mateo.
- Join our Knowledge Communities to gain leadership skills and help raise the visibility of the profession in your community.
- Gain recognition and media exposure for your work by submitting to the biennial Design Awards.
- Subscribe to our membership e-newsletter and our monthly continuing education e-newsletter.
- Explore this free practice resource available to AIA Members. Find the right coverage for yourself & your firms. Explore the AIA Trust
- Access a range of expertise through a peer network of over 90,000 colleagues.
- Signify that as an AIA architect you adhere to a professional code of ethics and share a common goal to build a better world for all people.
- Public policies through a government advocacy legislative agenda to help create a more favorable environment in which to pursue your practice and career goals.
- AIA Contract Documents™, the most widely accepted standard form documents in the industry, prepared by the AIA in collaboration with owners, contractors, attorneys, architects, and engineers; available to members at a discount.
- Continuing education with hundreds of approved education providers, plus course tracking and on-demand access to your transcript.
- AIA KnowledgeNet gives you access to collective knowledge of thousands of members; a space to conduct discussions, find best practices and get to know other design professionals.
- Market research, salary surveys, economic analysis and business insights.
- Subscriptions to AIA Architect e-newsletter covering news, tips and trends; and ARCHITECT magazine.
- AIA Trust protection through professional liability, term life, and other insurance coverage.
- AIA Career Center, the premier electronic recruitment resource to post opportunities at a discount or find opportunities for free.
- Architect Finder, an online directory where you can create a detailed profile for your firm, and potential clients can connect with you directly.
- AIA Advantage discounts on products and services such as shipping, credit cards, technology and more.
- Business Tools, such as best practices, to help you manage your business more effectively.
- Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct
Membership Types
Membership is tri-level, with local applicants also being required to join at the national and state levels. Join now as a registered architect, associate, or student.
Architect membership
Open to individuals with an architectural license from a U.S. licensing authority.
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Associate membership
Open to individuals with a professional degree in architecture, those working under an architect’s supervision or enrolled in the Intern Development Program and on a path to a license. This category is also open to faculty members working in university architect programs.
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Allied Professional Membership
Professional Allied members may include contractors, engineers, planners, landscape architects, sculptors, muralists, artists, those in government, education, journalism, manufacturing, industry and/or other fields affiliate to architecture.
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AIA San Mateo Partners
Strategic partnerships open to businesses that share an interest in the built environment.
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Upgrade Membership to Emeritus Status
If you have been an AIA (Architect or Associate) member for 15 successive years and you are 70 years old or incapacitated, you may be eligible to upgrade your membership to an Emeritus Subscriber Membership. This will result in much lower dues.
Please contact your chapter Executive Director for assistance. [email protected]
AIA College of Fellows
AIA College of Fellows The AIA College of Fellows seeks to stimulate a sharing of interests among Fellows, promote the purposes of the Institute, advance the profession of architecture, and be of ever-increasing service to society.
The College of Fellows, founded in 1952, is composed of members of the Institute who are elected to Fellowship by a jury of their peers. Fellowship is one of the highest honors the AIA can bestow upon a member. Elevation to Fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of the architect as an individual but also elevates before the public and the profession those architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and to society.
If you are searching for information about becoming a Fellow, see the Fellowship Web page.
More Membership Benefits
Continuing Education
Shape your future with top-quality education from leaders in the field. You can earn AIA learning units (LUs) plus HSW, GBCI, and RIBA credits. You can also earn supplemental experience hours for NCARB’s Intern Development Program.
Advocacy
The AIA is your voice in policy and legislation at all levels of government. Our efforts, combined with the power of 85,000+ member advocates, help architects and design professionals protect their livelihood and make a difference.
Industry Research
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.
Business & Career Resources
Establish a standout presence and take your career to the next level with AIA’s business and career resources. They’ll help you promote your work, make it easier to do business, and streamline the hiring and job search process.
New to the Profession
Over 21,000 of our members are young professionals, and more are joining every day. The AIA makes you a priority with resources to help you create your path and build your leadership skills.
AIA Convention
It’s one of the largest and most exciting annual gatherings of architects and design professionals in the U.S. The people, the ideas, the environment, and the setting all come together for an experience that will supercharge your year.
Recognition
Design excellence is revealed in many ways. The AIA’s 30+ award programs acknowledge and celebrate the diverse professional accomplishments and outstanding achievements at every career stage.
Membership Discounts
Get exclusive discounts on the products and services you use most. You’ll save on Contract Documents, continuing education, master specifications, insurance, and more. Here’s an overview of the discounts you’ll enjoy as a member.
Publications
Stay on top of the field and what’s new at the AIA with free subscriptions to these publications. You may also subscribe to members-only publications through your state and local chapters. Please contact your chapter for more information.