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When you join AIA, you’re joining a community with global reach—and so much more.
AIA is where architects, design professionals, and the AEC community come together to network, celebrate, collaborate, socialize, grow, and shape the future. We’re a community of passionate individuals bound by shared values, standards, and ethics. Most importantly, we’re a community united by a shared drive to design a better world, together.
Joining the American Institute of Architects offers you Leadership Opportunities; Practice Management tools and resources; Professional Development; Advocacy; Community; Career Resources; AIA Trust; AIA benefits and discounts; and use of the AIA designation by the largest association (over 96,000 members) that serves the architectural profession. Our local chapter, AIA Potomac Valley, serves roughly 700 members in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Washington and Allegany Counties across Maryland.
Joining AIA provides you opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals through local chapters, awards programs, and volunteer opportunities to get inspired by experts and creatives in your field. Level up with educational tools to grow your career and achieve your professional goals. Take advantage of resources to steadily scale your practice and streamline your work. Advocate for yourself, your community, and the world on a whole new platform.
AIA membership is an essential investment in your own future at every stage of your career. It’s more than a membership. It’s a calling.
Join AIA Potomac Valley (AIAPV) to receive membership benefits including access to high-quality CES events on topics of most importance to architects each year, with member discounts on registration. Members are eligible to enter their projects in the annual AIA Potomac Valley Excellence in Design Awards. We offer valuable networking opportunities to architects at every stage of their careers, as well as programming specifically for Emerging Professionals. Additionally, our chapter operates the Potomac Valley Architecture Foundation for the support of architecture student scholarships and the maintenance of LEAFHouse as a public showcase for sustainable design.
Explore AIAPV membership benefits
Explore the Benefits of AIA Membership
Download the AIA Member Benefits Guide
Architect and Associate members join AIA at the local, state and national levels simultaneously through a single application to AIA National.
Looking for ways to reach architects? Allied Membership and Annual Partner sponsorship are great ways to support the profession and network with our members. See our Sponsorship page for more information.
Want to transfer your AIA membership? If you are a member of another AIA component and wish to relocate your membership to AIA Potomac Valley, please submit this Transfer Request Form to AIA Member Services, using the contact information at the bottom of the form.
2026 Dues Schedule
The AIA Potomac Valley Board of Directors unanimously approved maintaining the Chapter’s dues rates for 2026 at the same level as 2025. Total AIA annual dues for 2026 will be $811.33 for Architect Members; $297.69 for Associate Members; and $393.69 for International Associate Members. Click here for a breakdown of local, state and national dues.
AIA Potomac Valley and AIA Maryland participate in AIA National’s complimentary membership program for new architecture graduates, waiving dues for the first 18 months after graduation.
MEMBERSHIP DUES AUTORENEWAL PROGRAM
The auto-renewal program was introduced in October 2023 and offers members a streamlined renewal process. AIA Automatic Membership Renewal Program enables eligible individual members to renew their membership annually by authorizing AIA to charge a saved credit card.
Eligibility: You must be a current and active member of AIA to participate in the Automatic Membership Renewal Program or auto-renewal. The program is optional, and you reserve the right to opt out at any time.
Renewal date: Your auto-renewal will process on November 30 for the upcoming renewal year. If November 30 falls on a weekend or holiday, your auto-renew will process on the next business day.
Contact information: For questions regarding membership, special offers, or eligibility, please contact AIA Member Support at (800) 242-3837, Option 2.
MEMBERSHIP DUES PAYMENT PLAN
The Payment Plan is back this year and open for enrollment through April 30, 2026 for new, renewing, and rejoining members. Members will be presented with the payment plan option at checkout for their 2026 renewal and once selected, can pay via six monthly installments using the electronic check option. To make the transition smooth, the service fee is being waived for the first year. Full program details
MEMBER DUES PRORATION FOR NEW AND REINSTATING MEMBERS
The membership renewal cycle is based on a calendar year: January 1 through December 31. National, state, and local dues are prorated on a quarterly basis for new and reinstating members only, based on the following schedule:
- Quarter 1: 100% full payment due
- Quarter 2: 25% reduction in dues
- Quarter 3: 50% reduction in dues
- Quarter 4: 100% full payment due as part of the 15 for 12 promotion, through which members can join and get 15 months of membership for the cost of 12
New or previous members can use the AIA Dues Estimator to calculate the cost of their estimated membership dues. The calculator shows the lowest price for members based on current promotions, including dues proration.
Membership Categories
Architect (AIA): Individuals with an architectural license from a U.S. licensing authority are eligible. Learn More | Join online
Emerita/Emeritus Membership is a special AIA membership for retired members of the Institute—architects and associates. It offers free annual membership fees for those who have completed their architectural careers and are no longer working in the field. To qualify, one must certify they meet certain requirements:
· You no longer sign or seal architectural drawings
Additionally, you need to be at least 70 years old and have either 15 consecutive years of good standing AIA membership immediately prior to application or a total of 25 years of membership (successive or non-successive) being in good standing for at least three successive years immediately preceding application. The Institute Secretary can, in special cases and for adequate cause, waive some or all the membership time required for Emerita/Emeritus status, or the age requirement for that status.
To elevate from Architect to Emerita-Emeritus status, complete this form.
Associate (Assoc. AIA): Individuals who meet one of the following criteria are eligible: (1) professional degree in architecture; (2) working under the supervision of an architect; (3) enrolled in the Intern Development Program (IDP) and working toward licensure; (4) faculty member in a university program in architecture. Learn More | Join online
To elevate from Associate to Architect status, complete this form.
Associate - New Graduate (Assoc. AIA): Free to all architecture school graduates for the first 18 months after graduation. Membership is available to both NAAB Accredited Degree Holders and Non-accredited degree holders, or individuals enrolled in an AXP (formerly IDP) program working under an architect's supervision. Learn More | Join online
Not yet graduated? You can pre-join AIA here.
International Associate (Int’l. Assoc. AIA): Individuals who have an architecture license or equivalent from a non-U.S. licensing authority are eligible. Learn More | Join Online
Architecture Firm Partnership Architecture Firm membership is open to firms in AIA Potomac Valley with legal status as an architecture practice that employs one or more registered architects. In order to qualify, at least one owner or managing partner must be a current AIA Potomac Valley member. Firms located outside AIA Potomac Valley's 7-county territory may also join if one owner or managing partner is a current AIA Potomac Valley member.
Allied Professional Non-architects who work with the built environment, including engineers, landscape architects, design consultants, general contractors, subcontractors, materials suppliers as well as members of the public interested in the field of architecture and related fields. Visit our Allied Membership page for more information and complete the Allied Membership Application Form.
Sponsor Annual Partner sponsorship is open to businesses with an interest to support good, sustainable design while gaining access and visibility to AIA Potomac Valley's 700 members. As the most visible supporters of the Chapter’s mission, our sponsors enjoy a multi-faceted relationship with AIA Potomac Valley members.
Since 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has represented the professional interests of its members and those in the design and construction industry. AIA’s 100,000+ member community shares your passion for design, a desire to change the world, and a commitment to the highest standards of practice.
