What Is an AIA Application and Certificate for Payment?
It combines a contractor’s request for progress payment with the architect’s certification of the amount due. The G702 provides the application-and-certificate summary, while the G703 Continuation Sheet supplies the line-item detail behind it.
This guide explains the roles and review sequence. For completion instructions, use the step-by-step G702/G703 guide.
The Short Answer
AIA Document G702 is titled Application and Certificate for Payment. The contractor completes the application portion to request a progress payment. The architect reviews the submission under the contract process and completes the certification portion for the amount determined to be due.
The supporting G703 Continuation Sheet breaks the contract sum into Schedule of Values line items. After the G703 detail is completed, its summary information is transferred to the G702. This relationship is described in the official G702 instructions and G703 instructions.
Application vs. Certificate: Who Does What?
The contractor’s application
The application presents the contractor’s requested payment and the cumulative billing record supporting it.
- Contract sum and approved change orders
- Completed work and eligible stored materials
- Retainage and previous certificates for payment
- Current payment requested and balance to finish
- Supporting G703/SOV detail and required backup
The architect’s certification
The certification follows review of the application under the project’s contract and administrative process.
- Compare the request with supporting information
- Identify discrepancies or required revisions
- Determine the amount considered due
- Certify that amount or return the application for correction
- Maintain a documented approval trail
How G702 and G703 Support the Process
| Document | Primary role | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|
| G702 | Summarizes the payment request and contains the application and certification sections. | What is an AIA G702 form? |
| G703 | Provides the Continuation Sheet and Schedule of Values detail supporting the G702 totals. | What is an AIA G703 Continuation Sheet? |
The detail should reconcile before submission. If the G703 totals do not support the G702 request, the reviewer may ask for corrections before certification.
Typical Application-to-Payment Sequence
- Prepare: update the SOV, current work, stored materials, retainage, approved changes, and prior-period values.
- Reconcile: confirm that the G703 detail supports the G702 summary and attach required backup.
- Submit: send the application through the review path required by the contract and project.
- Review: the reviewer checks the request and may approve it, adjust it, or return it for correction.
- Certify: the architect records the amount determined to be due when certification is part of the project process.
- Pay: payment follows the contract’s timing and downstream process; certification and receipt of funds are separate events.
For broader workflow context, see the construction payment application guide and how general contractors review pay applications.
What Certification Does—and Does Not—Mean
Certification is a documented determination within the contract-administration process. It does not mean the contractor has already received funds, and it should not be treated as a substitute for contract language, payment terms, lien-waiver requirements, or other required approvals.
Requirements differ by project. Confirm the applicable contract, document edition, reviewer instructions, submission deadline, backup requirements, and downstream payment process.
Official AIA Documents vs. AIA-Style Outputs
Official G702 and G703 documents are licensed AIA Contract Documents. Contractors whose contracts require those documents should obtain and use the required forms through the authorized source.
PayAppPro produces AIA-style outputs designed around a familiar summary-and-continuation-sheet workflow. It does not provide official AIA Contract Documents. Confirm what the owner, GC, architect, lender, and contract require before submitting an AIA-style alternative.
If an AIA-style workflow is acceptable, see how AIA billing software can keep SOV detail, retainage, stored materials, approved changes, and prior billing aligned.
Application and Certificate for Payment FAQs
Build a Consistent AIA-Style Payment Application
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