Continuing Education Requirements for OH PEs
Table of Contents
The Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors regulates the practice of engineering and establishes Ohio PE continuing education requirements. To satisfy these requirements, engineers must earn 30 professional development hours (PDH) credits every two years. Two of those hours must focus on ethics or laws and rules applicable to the profession. Courses must be tracked to ensure that awarded hours are consistent with the time spent learning the material. Ohio does not pre-approve course providers or courses. All engineering licenses are renewed on December 31st of odd-numbered years.
Listed below are the Ohio PE renewal requirements.
| No of PDH hours required | 30 PDH | |
| Renewal period | Biennially by December 31st of odd years. | |
| Provider approval | The Board does not pre-approve course providers | |
| Course content approval | Two of the 30 required PDH must be in the area of engineering ethics or laws and rules related to the profession of engineering. Courses must meet the requirements specified in Ohio R.C. section 4733.151 which requires tracking hours, certifying completion, and providing a certificate of completion or other proof of attendance. PDH-Pro offers Timed and Monitored courses to meet the Ohio board requirements. | |
| Maximum PDH hours to carry over | 15 PDH | |
| Online courses | Online courses are accepted but within very limited parameters as outlined above. | |
| State Board Website | https://www.peps.ohio.gov/ |
We prepared a detailed summary and review of the Ohio continuing education requirements (read the article).
Engineering Continuing Education Requirements for Ohio
When it comes time to renew an engineering license in Ohio, most PEs have questions about what is required. The most common: what are the Ohio professional engineer continuing education requirements?
The answer is that 30 professional development hours (PDH) must be completed every two years to renew a license. Two of those PDH must focus on professional ethics or the rules that apply to the practice of engineering or surveying. Engineers who earn more than the required hours may carry over up to 15 PDH into the next renewal period. All engineering licenses are renewed on December 31st of odd-numbered years.
Ohio PE PDH Requirements
Engineering licensing in Ohio is administered by the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (PEPS). All engineering licenses must be renewed online. Continuing education requirements are sometimes referred to as continuing professional development in Ohio.
Understanding Ohio PE PDH requirements is essential for maintaining an active license. The PEPS mandates that all licensed professionals in the state complete 30 PDH continuing education credits every two years. The PEPS allows up to 3 PDH credits to be earned through correspondence courses, while 2 PDH credits must focus on professional ethics or rules related to engineering practice or surveying. Courses and providers do not need to be pre-approved by the PEPS.
Ohio PE License Renewal Dates
All professional engineering licenses are renewed on December 31st of odd-numbered years. Every engineer and surveyor is expected to complete 30 PDH of continuing education courses and retain certificates of completion and proof of attendance.
Attendance logs and certificates of completion for courses and activities must be kept for four years.
Engineering Ethics and Professional Conduct
When fulfilling continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers, engineers must earn 2 PDH credits in courses or activities where the content focuses on ethical, managerial, or technical subjects relevant to their field of engineering or surveying. Courses must be offered by reputable providers and include up-to-date, accurate information on professional ethics or the rules and practices applicable to engineering or surveying. Proof may be required that the content covered in managerial skills courses is relevant to engineering or surveying practices.
Record Keeping Requirements for Ohio Engineers
Attendance and completion documentation for all 30 PDH credits must be kept on file for four years. Records must include the following:
- Length of the course or activity
- When and where the course or activity was held
- Names of the presenter and provider
- Number of PDH credits earned
The PEPS may conduct a random audit. Engineers who are selected must be able to verify that they completed the courses or activities claimed for license renewal.
Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the PEPS
The PEPS accepts the following types of activities toward the required PDH credits for engineering license renewal:
- Courses taken online
- Successful completion or audit of courses relevant to engineering practice or surveying
- Successfully completing courses offered by universities, colleges, or professional or trade organizations that are relevant to engineering or surveying practice
- Attendance at conventions, conferences, workshops, or seminars relevant to engineering and surveying
- Successfully completing LEED coursework, where class attendance creates hour-for-hour credit, provided the course meets the requirements of Ohio law
- Publishing articles, papers, or books
- Instructing courses, workshops, or seminars in relevant engineering topics
- Serving as an active officer or committee member of an engineering or surveying society
- Taking satellite video courses where the material is relevant to engineering or surveying
- Successfully completing courses in advanced computer software to improve professional or business practice
- Successfully completing spreadsheet courses that incorporate and document engineering or surveying applications
- Obtaining a patent
- Live webinars, provided that attendance and participation can be verified and confirmed
- Courses on financial management
Non-Qualifying Courses and Activities
The following courses and activities are not accepted toward Ohio PE continuing education:
- Entry-level or elementary training expected to be completed before registration
- Regular full-time employment
- Computer courses focused on word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, or web design software
- Courses in real estate, financial planning, or foreign languages
- Attending or displaying at a trade show
- Courses not relevant to engineering or surveying practice
- Self-improvement courses and activities
- Job-required business or general meetings
- Patents registered before the current renewal period
- Papers, books, or articles published before the current renewal period
- Speed reading courses
- State-specific courses focused on the practices, laws, policies, or rules of another state
- Exams
- Peer review of books, manuscripts, articles, or professional papers
Timed and Monitored Courses for Ohio Engineers
Every online course submitted toward Ohio continuing education requirements must meet the conditions set forth in Ohio R.C. section 4733.151. The course provider is required to track hours and certify completion. The course sponsor must provide a certificate of completion or other documentation confirming attendance.
PDH-Pro has developed a special delivery format called Timed & Monitored to meet the requirements of the PEPS. This format ensures that the time spent learning the material is consistent with the number of credits earned. A certificate of completion is issued after finishing the course and passing the exam.
Pre-Approval of Ohio Continuing Education Activities
Courses, activities, and continuing education providers in Ohio do not need to be pre-approved by the PEPS. However, engineers are responsible for confirming that the courses and activities they complete satisfy the Ohio PE continuing education requirements set by the Board.
Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses for Ohio PEs
The PEPS will accept free continuing education courses taken to fulfill license renewal requirements. Many free courses are available through membership in professional societies, including the ASME, NSPE, and ASCE.
Ohio Engineering Licensing
To become a licensed professional engineer in Ohio, candidates must complete a four-step process:
Step 1: Earn a four-year engineering degree from an ABET-accredited engineering or surveying program.
Step 2: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam administered by the NCEES.
Step 3: Work under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer for a minimum of four years.
Step 4: Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam administered by the NCEES.
After completing all four steps, candidates may apply online to become a licensed professional engineer or surveyor in the State of Ohio.
Engineering Discipline Restrictions
There are no restrictions on which disciplines an engineer may draw from to fulfill Ohio PE continuing education requirements. Any ethical, technical, or managerial course taken must be current and relevant to engineering or surveying practice.
The PEPS aims to ensure that by completing continuing education courses for license renewal, engineers are able to enhance their knowledge base and maintain the ethical and professional skills necessary to serve and protect the health and well-being of the public.
