What Is an AIA Application and Certificate for Payment?
In plain English: it’s the standard way to show what’s been built, what you’re billing this period, and what’s left on the contract — using AIA-style G702 and G703 pay applications.
Create an AIA-Style Pay AppThe AIA Application and Certificate for Payment is a standardized process used across the U.S. construction industry for requesting progress payments. Developed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), it gives owners, architects, and contractors a consistent way to communicate about how much work has been completed and how much money is due.
In practice, you’ll usually see this process built around two key forms — G702 and G703. Together, they document:
- Original contract value and approved change orders
- Work completed to date and this period
- Stored materials and retainage
- Current payment due and balance to finish
Many contracts don’t just ask for an “invoice” — they specifically require an AIA pay application or AIA-style billing package that follows this structure.
Purpose of the AIA Application and Certificate for Payment
The AIA pay application process is designed to keep everyone on the same page. Contractors submit applications (usually monthly) to show progress by line item. The architect or project manager reviews and “certifies” the payment, authorizing the owner or lender to release funds.
Key goals:
- Provide a clear, auditable record of billing progress.
- Keep contract totals and change orders aligned with reality.
- Calculate retainage and balance to finish accurately.
- Standardize approvals between contractors, architects, owners, and lenders.
How G702 and G703 Work Together
Think of the AIA Application and Certificate for Payment as a two-part package:
Form G702 – Application & Certificate for Payment
The G702 is the summary sheet. It rolls up:
- Original contract sum plus approved change orders
- Total completed and stored to date
- Retainage held
- Previous payments and current amount due
- Balance to finish, including retainage
It functions like the “cover page” for your pay app and is where the architect/owner signs to certify payment.
Form G703 – Continuation Sheet
The G703 is the detailed backup. It lists your Schedule of Values (SOV) line by line:
- Description and scheduled value for each line item
- Work completed from previous applications
- Work completed this period
- Materials presently stored (not yet installed)
- Total completed and stored to date
- Retainage and balance to finish
Totals from the G703 flow directly into the G702, so if the continuation sheet is wrong, the summary page will be wrong too.
Together, they create a complete picture of project progress and payment status. Even when a project doesn’t use official AIA forms, many owners still require “AIA-style” pay applications that mirror this structure.
Why Most Contractors Use AIA-Style Software
You can manage G702 and G703 in Excel, but it doesn’t take many projects before broken formulas, incorrect retainage, and version-control issues start slowing payments down.
That’s why many contractors and subs move to AIA-style pay application software instead of trying to maintain their own templates.
Auto-Calculated Math
Let the system handle period and cumulative totals, retainage, and balance-to-finish math so your numbers always tie out across billing periods.
Structured SOV & Change Orders
Keep your Schedule of Values, approved change orders, and stored materials tightly linked to each pay app instead of scattered across multiple files.
Clean, Familiar Exports
Generate submission-ready PDF pay apps that match what reviewers expect to see — without relying on fragile spreadsheets or licensed form files.
Common Questions
Start Your AIA-Style Pay Application Today
Build a clean G702/G703-style package online, track progress by SOV line item, and keep your payment applications consistent from month to month.
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