Why Continuing Education Matters
After earning your PE license, the journey does not end. Most states require licensed Professional Engineers to complete continuing education as a condition of license renewal. These requirements ensure that PEs stay current with evolving engineering standards, technologies, and best practices throughout their careers.
Professional Development Hours (PDHs)
Most states measure continuing education in Professional Development Hours (PDHs), also called Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) in some states. One PDH typically equals one hour of instructional time. CEUs are sometimes used at a rate of 1 CEU = 10 PDHs.
Typical state requirements range from 15 to 30 PDHs per renewal cycle, with renewal cycles of 1 to 2 years. For example, a state requiring 30 PDHs every 2 years means you need to complete an average of 15 PDHs per year. Check your specific state board's requirements, as they vary considerably.
Qualifying Activities
States generally accept a variety of activities for continuing education credit:
Formal Courses and Seminars
Attending engineering courses, seminars, webinars, and conferences is the most straightforward way to earn PDHs. These may be offered by universities, professional societies, employers, or commercial providers. One hour of attendance typically earns 1 PDH.
Professional Society Activities
Active participation in engineering professional societies (ASCE, ASME, IEEE, AIChE, etc.) may qualify for PDH credit. This includes serving on technical committees, organizing conferences, and contributing to technical publications.
Teaching
Teaching engineering courses at an accredited institution or presenting at professional conferences may earn PDH credit, often at a higher rate than attending (for example, 2 PDHs per hour of teaching for first-time course preparation). Most states cap the number of PDHs that can be earned through teaching.
Publishing
Publishing technical papers in peer-reviewed journals or presenting papers at professional conferences may qualify for PDH credit. The credit amount varies by state and the nature of the publication.
Self-Study
Some states allow PDH credit for self-directed study, such as reading technical journals, studying engineering codes and standards, or completing online learning modules. Self-study credits are often capped at a percentage of total required PDHs.
Patents
Obtaining an engineering-related patent may qualify for PDH credit in some states, reflecting the technical innovation and problem-solving involved.
Activities That Typically Do NOT Qualify
- Regular work activities (doing your day job does not count as continuing education)
- Non-technical business or management training (unless it directly relates to engineering practice)
- Attending the same course twice (you usually cannot earn credit for repeating a course)
- Activities without documentation or verification
Record-Keeping
Maintain detailed records of all continuing education activities, including certificates of completion, course descriptions, dates, and the number of PDHs earned. Most state boards require you to certify your compliance with CE requirements at renewal time, and some conduct random audits of CE records. Keep records for at least 5 years (or longer if your state board requires it).
Organize your records digitally for easy access. Many professional societies and CE providers offer online tracking tools that can simplify record-keeping.
Multi-State Licensure
If you hold PE licenses in multiple states, you may need to meet different CE requirements for each state. Some states have higher PDH requirements, different qualifying activities, or specific topic requirements (such as mandatory ethics hours). Track each state's requirements separately and plan your CE activities to satisfy all states simultaneously when possible.
Efficient Strategies for Meeting CE Requirements
- Attend annual conferences: A multi-day professional conference can provide 15 to 20+ PDHs in a concentrated timeframe
- Use employer-provided training: Many engineering firms provide in-house training that qualifies for PDH credit
- Take online courses: Flexible online courses allow you to earn PDHs on your own schedule
- Combine CE with career development: Choose CE activities that align with skills you want to develop professionally
- Spread activities throughout the cycle: Do not wait until the renewal deadline to earn all your PDHs
The Bigger Picture
Continuing education is not just a regulatory requirement. It is an investment in your professional competence and career growth. Engineering standards, codes, and technologies evolve continuously. Staying current through ongoing learning ensures that the engineering judgment you apply throughout your career remains sound and up to date.