In this article (and video above), I talk about the essential topic of the PE license renewal process. Join us as we unravel the mystery behind PDH (Professional Development Hours) requirements and explain exactly how many PDH hours you need to renew your PE license.
The number of Professional Development Hours (PDH) required to maintain your PE license varies significantly depending on your state or licensing board. Most state licensing boards require you to get about 30 Professional Development Hours, also called PDH, every two years to maintain your Professional Engineer (PE) license. You will need to check with your individual state board’s website to be sure of this and other license renewal requirements.
Here’s How to Find How Many PDH Your State Requires You To Get to Renew Your PE License:
1. Search “[your state name] engineering board” on Google and your state board’s website should be the first result. Alternatively, you can go to this link, click on your state, and scroll to the bottom. Here’s an example of what the Google search looks like:
Finding your state board’s website through a Google search
And here’s how it looks on the NCEES website:
2. You will need to do some searching on your board’s website to find the PE license renewal information. Look for the word “renewal” which may be near the word “licensing.” I recommend using CTRL+F or CMD+F and searching for the word “renewal” to make it easier. Here’s what it looks like on the website for Utah’s board:
3. After clicking on the link you should find at least one of three things, which will usually contain the information on how many PDH hours you need:
- Renewal information, which not all state board websites have (but most do).
- FAQs about renewal and licensing in general. Usually you can get the information you need from this if you can’t find it elsewhere.
- The actual page you go to when it’s time to renew your license.
Here are some examples of PDH requirements in different states:
- Florida: 18 PDH every two years
- Texas: 15 PDH annually
- New York: 36 PDH every three years
Here are a few important things to remember:
- Some states have specific requirements for the type of PDH that can be used for PE license renewal. For example, some states may require a certain number of hours of ethics training.
- You may be able to carry over unused PDH from one renewal period to the next. However, the number of hours that can be carried over varies by state.
- It is your responsibility to stay up-to-date on the continuing education requirements for your PE license. Failing to meet the requirements could result in your license being suspended or revoked.
Many states will send an email or letter reminding you to renew about 90 days before your license expires. Where I live this comes in the mail and it contains a code that I need to use as part of the PE license renewal process.
A lot of the time, when you’re going to renew, you’ll be reminded of how many PDH you need to have to renew. Some states will require you to record and even report your PDH, so make sure you’re keeping track Save all the applicable paperwork or files to verify your PDH credits.
When you first renew, some states will waive the PDH requirement because you have so recently passed the PE Exam and finished school.
And in many instances, you’ll be able to carry over extra PDH from one renewal period into another. My state, for instance, lets me carry over 15 PDH, which is nice because I had a lot of extra from when I was finishing up my master’s degree!
Just be sure to pay careful attention to the information on your state board’s website. When in doubt, contact them and ask! I’ve done this multiple times and they’re always happy to help.
Once you’ve had your license for a couple of years, you’ll be used to this process, but that doesn’t mean you won’t forget how many PDH you may need, especially if you’re licensed in multiple states like I am!
If you get digital copies of certificates of completion, save those in a folder just for PDF documents in Google Drive or other cloud storage.
And if you’re worried you’ll forget to renew, don’t sweat it. Most states will send that reminder as I mentioned before. Even then it can be easy to forget, though, so set up a recurring reminder for a month before your license expires! Most expirations are at the same time every couple of years anyway.
About Matthew Douglas
Matthew currently serves as a content creator and host of The Engineering Project Management Podcast. A civil engineer by trade, Matthew has developed a passion for construction and stormwater management by way of maintenance and rehabilitation services. Matthew has also had experience working with private consulting firms and public agencies, and has even held a role of an educator. As such, he loves to lead, build, mentor, and help those in need.
Most recently, during his time working for the public sector, he has taken the role of Public Works Operations Manager. He led quite a few public infrastructure rehabilitation projects and implemented new asset management technologies at a very young age. It is here that the passion for “fixing what’s broken” developed.
This Episode Is Brought to You by Burns & McDonnell
At Burns & McDonnell, our engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists, and scientists do more than plan, design, and construct. With a mission unchanged since 1898 — make our clients successful — our more than 13,500 professionals partner with you on the toughest challenges, constantly working to make the world an amazing place. Each professional brings an ownership mentality to projects at our 100% employee-owned firm, which has safety performance among the top 5% of AEC firms. That means we think like owners, working through each challenge until it’s resolved, meeting or exceeding our client’s goals. Find out more about Burns & McDonnell here: burnsmcd.com/careers
I hope you found this article helpful. In upcoming articles, I will solve some more PE exam practice problems and answer other questions from our subscribers. Pass the PE Exam videos will publish weekly, so be sure to click the subscribe button so you don’t miss something that could make a substantial difference in your exam result.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of this video, or on this page and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.
I’ll see you next week… on Pass the PE Exam
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
Kline Engineering & Consulting, LLC. Mr. Kline graduated from UVA with a B.S. in aerospace engineering, and he earned his M.S. in civil/structural engineering from VA Tech in 1989. Early in his career, Mr. Kline worked in a mid-size structural engineering office for Haynes Whaley Associates (now IMEG). He spent 17 years working in a variety of roles at VSL (international leader in post-tensioning and related engineering). During his tenure at VSL, Mr. Kline worked in engineering and business development, and he eventually became VSL’s business lead for the eastern part of the USA.
Oscar Gutierrez is a dedicated structural engineer with a strong academic foundation and extensive experience in the field. He earned his degree in Civil Engineering from Santiago Marino Polytechnic University in Venezuela in 2017, followed by advanced coursework at the Albert Nerken School of Engineering at Cooper Union University in Manhattan, New York City. At Cooper Union, Oscar honed his skills in key areas such as AISC Steel Design, ACI Reinforced Concrete, and industry-standard software like Revit and AutoCAD.