Continuing Education Requirements for IA PEs
The Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau regulates the practice of engineering and establishes continuing education standards. Engineers in Iowa must earn 30 professional development hour credits every two years. Ethics courses are accepted but not required. “Independent study” courses, which includes online classes, are capped at a maximum of 10 PDH each renewal period. Iowa does not pre-approve course providers or courses. License renewal is done on December 31st of alternating years based on the registrant’s date of initial licensure.
Listed below are the Iowa professional engineer (PE) license renewal requirements.
| No of PDH hours required | 30 PDH | |
| Renewal period | December 31st of even numbered years | |
| Provider approval | The Board does not pre-approve course providers | |
| Course content approval | The Board defines accepted continuing education activities as “education which is obtained by a professional or occupational licensee in order to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure or to develop new and relevant skills and knowledge.” The board segregates PDH credits into Group 1 and Group 2 activities. Group 1 Activities There are limitations on the number of hours allowed in each type of course area for Group 1 activities, which are intended to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure. Here is a list of Group 1 activities along with the corresponding maximum number of PDHs allowed in each renewal period:
Group 2 Activities |
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| Maximum PDH hours to carry over | 15 PDH | |
| Online courses | Our live webinars can be used to earn all of the mandated PDH credits. However, online self-study courses are considered “independent study” by the Board are capped at a maximum of 10 PDH each renewal period. | |
| State Board Website | https://plb.iowa.gov/board/engineers-land-surveyors |
We prepared a detailed summary and review of the Iowa continuing education requirements (read the article).
