Why Be a Member of AIA?

I am often asked what benefits will I receive for being a member of AIA? An investment in an AIA membership is an investment in yourself. When you’re an AIA Utah member, it’s easier than ever to connect with fellow professionals and enhance your skill set.

Belonging to your professional association, AIA gives you access to networking and mentoring opportunities. You also get access to timely, cutting-edge educational opportunities, certifications, and seminars to broaden your knowledge. All of these are important for growth in your professional career as you perfect your craft.

If you’re a member of AIA Utah but didn’t attend any of the 2022 events or make any new connections, it’s time to make a change. Commit now to engage in 2023 and take advantage of some of the benefits and opportunities AIA Utah offers its members. Everyone in the Utah architectural community is busy with work as well as the usual busyness of life. Still, if you follow these tips, you can leverage your career and discover new opportunities in 2023:

1. AIA Designation helps you to stand out in the competitive architectural profession; having AIA behind your name lets clients know about your commitment to the profession. The AIA designation brings additional professional credibility to clients. Clients will see you as a professional who is serious about professional development and perfecting your craft.
2. Professional Development through various channels and on multiple topics to meet your specific continuing education needs. AIA and AIA Utah offer various opportunities to become a better architect by attending in-person seminars, conferences, and training. There is also a multitude of virtual training provided by the association and industry vendor partners.
3. Practice Management Tools and Resources provide reliable, up-to-date, and consistent information related to architectural best practices and research, business practice and ownership, contract documents, and policy and practice aids to help manage risk.
4. Career resources to help you build your dream career. Membership offers opportunities to participate in NCARB’s Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and earn experience hours, peer networks with study opportunities and support preparing for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE) with study guides, test prep, and scholarships. Job seekers have access to resume evaluation through the AIA career center as well as access to local, regional, and national jobs.
5. Advocacy for Architecture. AIA is the voice of architecture to policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels. As an AIA member, you can use your voice to advocate for the architectural profession. You can engage your legislators and use AIA tools and resources to develop your advocacy skills. If you are passionate about building communities, sustainability, equality, and the economy, now is the time to get involved.
6. Leadership opportunities to build leadership skills, understand how the institute works, and interact with leaders in the architecture profession, AIA, and universities. Training and summits like the annual Grassroots Leadership and Advocacy Event, the Women’s Leadership Summit, and the AIA Leadership Academy are designed to empower architects with the capacity to lead. Additional local leadership opportunities exist within AIA Utah committees and task forces, as well as opportunities with national committees and knowledge communities.
7. AIA Benefits and discounts are available for certain products and services through your membership. Discount codes can only be acquired while logged in at www.aia.org as a member.
8. The AIA Community helps you connect with over 95,000 architects and design professionals on a local and national level. You can associate with other professionals who share a common interest through AIA’s 21 Knowledge Communities, The Center for Communities by Design, Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team Program, and the Sustainable Design Assessment Team Program. Each of these communities or programs provides value to the architecture profession and demonstrates our commitment to community-led quality design.

Discover what you are passionate about.
Getting involved with AIA will introduce you to people who are different from you but share the same passion for architecture. You’ll be able to network with others who can introduce you to a wider circle of professionals. It’s like a stone thrown into water – the ripples continue to spread! Make a goal now for 2023 to plug into AIA and AIA Utah to maximize your membership benefits.