Continuing Education Requirements for MI PEs

The Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Professional Licensing regulates the practice of engineering and establishes continuing education standards in Michigan. Michigan professional engineers must earn 30 professional development hours every two years. Ethics courses are accepted but not required. Michigan does not pre-approve course providers or courses. License renewal is October 31st of odd numbered years.

Listed below are the Michigan professional engineer (PE) license renewal requirements.

We prepared a detailed summary and review of the Michigan continuing education requirements (read the article).

Detailed Review of Engineering Continuing Education Requirements for Michigan

As a Michigan engineer getting ready to renew your license, you might be wondering: what are the continuing education requirements?

When it comes to the continuing education requirements for Michigan engineers, you must complete 30 personal development hours (PDH) every 2 years. If you are a newly licensed professional engineer, you are required to complete 15 PDH credits during your first renewal cycle. You are not allowed to carry any continuing education hours forward into the next renewal cycle.

Licenses are renewed on October 31st of odd-numbered years. The courses you take to fulfill your PDH credit requirements have to be in areas that are relevant to your field of engineering. You are expected to earn the required PDH credits regardless if you are actively working in engineering or not—no one is exempt.

Engineering PDH Credits

In the State of Michigan, the engineering profession is regulated by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

You are expected to earn 30 PDH credits during the 2-year period and the license renewal must be done online. LARA does not need to pre-approve the providers who offer continuing education courses, and they don’t require any particular courses. The only thing that is required is that the continuing education hours you obtain must be in topics or activities that are relevant to the engineering profession.

To complete your continuing education requirements for Michigan engineers and renew your license, you don’t need to send proof of your completed courses to the LARA Board. However, it’s advised that you keep your attendance logs and certificates of completion that prove you fulfilled the requirements for 4 years. The Board randomly does audits, and this will ensure that you can prove that you met the requirements.

License Renewal Dates for Michigan PEs

Every professional engineering license must be renewed every 2 years by October 31st of odd-number years. You achieve this process by going online and paying the $80 renewal fee. The payment methods that are accepted include e-checks or credit and debit cards, as long as they have the MasterCard, Visa, or Discover logo.

Engineering Ethics and Professional Conduct

The Board doesn’t require that you take any continuing education courses in professional conduct, ethics, or state laws and rules. However, when it comes to continuing education requirements for Michigan engineers, the Board expects that the courses you take will be relevant to the engineering profession and will improve, maintain, and expand your skills and knowledge in your field of practice. They also expect that these courses will give you what is necessary to better serve and protect the safety and needs of the public.

If you are looking for an online provider that offers courses that meet the Michigan Board’s requirements, PDH-Pro may have what you need to fulfill your PDH credits.

Record Keeping Requirements for Michigan Engineers

You are expected to keep a record of the 30 PDH credits you earn during the 2-year renewal period. Having the following information is necessary:

• Proof of payment, if applicable
• Attendance log
• Certificates of completion
• Courses taken
• Number of PDH credits earned
• Name of course presenter
• Name of course provider

Remember, this information needs to be kept for a minimum of 4 years in case you are randomly chosen by the Board for an audit.

Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the Michigan Board

You have the ability to get all 30 PDH credits from online courses. You can also earn continuing education credits by attending live webinars or participating in self-study courses. It is up to you to determine if the course/activity will be accepted by the Board. Some of the courses and activities that are accepted include the following:

• College and distance learning courses
• Presenting or attending workshops, seminars, or in-house courses
• Making professional or technical presentations at conferences, conventions, or meetings
• Presenting, instructing, or teaching accepted courses or activities
• Publishing papers, books, or peer-reviewed articles in your field of engineering
• Serving as a state professional engineers board member
• Attending state professional engineers board meetings
• Participating in training or seminars sponsored by your company that are designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in your engineering field
• Being a mentor to an engineering student through a school-sponsored program
• Earning a patent for an engineering-related invention

Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Activities

The LARA Board does not approve providers or courses when it comes to continuing education requirements for Michigan engineers. It is up to you to determine if the courses or activities you participate in meet the requirements set forth by the Board.

Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses

If you are looking for free courses to fulfill your continuing education requirements, there are several online resources you can visit. PDH-Pro has a list of continuing education courses available to Michigan engineers. If you are a member of ASME, ASCE, AIA, or NSPE, they may also offer free courses as a benefit.

Michigan Engineering Licensing

To become a professional engineer in Michigan, you have to complete a four-step process. These steps include the following:

Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from a school that is accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET), the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), or the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC).

Step 2: Work under an experienced engineer for 4 or more years and be able to verify their experience.

Step 3: Earn a passing grade on the Fundamentals of Engineering and the Principles and Practices of Engineering exams that are administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Step 4: Have a good moral character.

Engineering Discipline Restrictions

The Board does not restrict you from taking certain courses based on your engineering field. However, the courses must improve, maintain, or expand your skills and knowledge and be relevant to your area of practice.

Continuing Education for Michigan Professional Engineers

The reason that the LARA Board requires all professional engineers to meet the continuing education requirements for Michigan engineers is so that they can protect the needs and safety of the public. By earning 30 PDH credits every 2 years to renew your license, you are fulfilling the goals and standards set forth by the Board.