Continuing Education Requirements for OH PEs

The Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors regulates the practice of engineering and establishes continuing education standards. Engineers in Ohio must earn 30 professional development hour credits every two years. Two hours in the area of ethics or laws and rules must be completed during each renewal period. Courses must be tracked to ensure the 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 professional engineer (PE) license renewal requirements.

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 your engineering license in Ohio, you probably have some questions. The top one on the list might be: what are the continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers?

The answer is that you are required to complete 30 professional development hours (PDH) every 2 years to have your license renewed. It is expected that 2 PDH will focus on professional ethics or the rules that apply to the practice of engineering or surveying. If you earn more than the required hours, you have the ability to transfer 15 PDH into the next renewal period. All engineering licenses are renewed on December 31st of odd-numbered years.

Ohio Engineering PDH Credits

When it comes to engineering licensing in Ohio, this is administered by the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (PEPS). All engineering licenses have to be renewed online. Continuing education requirements are sometimes referred to as continuing professional development in Ohio.

The PEPS mandates that all professionals in the State of Ohio have to complete 30 PDH continuing education credits every 2 years. The PEPS allows for 3 PDH credits to be earned through correspondence courses, while 2 PDH credits have to focus on professional ethics or rules related to the engineering practice or surveying. The courses and/or providers do not need to be pre-approved by 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 their 30 PDH continuing education courses and hold onto certificates of completion and/or proof that they had attended the course.

You are required to keep track of your attendance logs and certificates of completion for courses and activities for 4 years.

Engineering Ethics and Professional Conduct

When it comes to continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers, you are mandated to earn 2 PDH credits in courses or activities where the content focuses on ethical, managerial, or technical subjects and are relevant to your field of engineering or surveying. The courses have to be offered by providers that are reputable and include up-to-date, accurate information on professional ethics or the rules and practices that are relevant to engineering or surveying. You may be required to provide proof that the material that was covered in managerial skills courses or activities is relevant to surveying and engineering practices.

Record Keeping Requirements for Ohio Engineers

You are required to keep attendance and completion documentation for the 30 PDH credits you earned on file for 4 years. The records must include the following:

• Length of the course or activity
• When and where the course/activity was held
• Names of the presenter and provider
• How many PDH credits were earned

The PEPS may conduct a random audit, and if you are selected, you will have to prove that you completed the courses or activities that you claimed for license renewal.

Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the PEPS

When it comes to earning the required PDH credits for engineering license renewal, the PEPS accepts the following:

• Courses taken online
• Successful completion or audit of courses relevant to the engineering practice or surveying
• Successfully completing courses offered by universities, colleges, or professional or trade organizations that are relevant to the practice of engineering or surveying
• Attendance at conventions, conferences, workshops, or seminars that are relevant to engineering and surveying
• Successfully completing LEED coursework where attending class created hour-for-hour credit, as long as the course meets the requirements of Ohio law
• Publishing articles, papers, or books
• Instructing courses, workshops, or seminars in relevant engineering topics
• Being 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 your profession or business
• Successfully completing spreadsheet courses that incorporate and document engineering or surveying applications
• Obtaining a patent
• Live webinars, as long as attendance and participation can be verified and confirmed
• Courses on financial management

Non-Qualifying Courses and Activities

There are some courses and activities that will not be accepted for continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers, and these include the following:

• Entry-level or elementary training that you are expected to complete before you register
• Your regular, full-time employment
• Computer courses that focus on word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, or web design software
• Courses in real estate, financial planning, or foreign languages
• Attending or having a display at a trade show
• Courses that aren’t relevant to engineering practices or surveying
• Self-improvement courses/activities
• Job-required business or general meetings
• Patents that were registered before the current renewal period
• Papers, books, or articles that were published before the current renewal period
• Courses on speed reading
• State-specific courses that focus on practices, laws, policies, or rules of another state
• Exams
• Being a peer-reviewer of books, manuscripts, articles, or professional papers

Timed and Monitored Courses for Ohio Engineers

When it comes to the continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers, every online course must meet the conditions set forth in Ohio R.C. section 4733.151. The course provider is required to track hours and certify completion of the course. The course sponsor is required to provide a certificate of completion or other documentation that proves you attended the course.

When it comes to online providers that meet the requirements of the PEPS, PDH-Pro has a special delivery format referred to as Timed & Monitored. This method is in place to ensure that the time you spend learning the materials coincides with the number of credits you earn. You will also receive a certificate of completion after you have finished the course and pass the exam.

Pre-Approval of Ohio Continuing Education Activities

The courses, activities, and providers of continuing educations courses in Ohio do not have to be pre-approved by the PEPS. However, you are required to know which courses/activities meet the continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers.

Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses for Ohio PEs

If you have the opportunity to take free continuing education courses to fulfill your license renewal requirements, the PEPS will accept them. Many free courses are offered if you are a member of a professional society, including the ASME, NSPE, or the ASCE.

Ohio Engineering Licensing

If you want to become a licensed professional engineer in Ohio, you have to complete a four-step process, which includes:

Step 1: Earn a 4-year engineering degree from an ABET-accredited surveying or engineering program.

Step 2: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam that is administered by the NCEES.

Step 3: Work under the supervision of a professional engineer for a minimum of 4 years.

Step 4: Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam administered by the NCEES.

Once you have completed all four of these steps, you can then apply online to become a licensed, professional engineer or surveyor in the State of Ohio.

Engineering Discipline Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the courses you can take in different disciplines to fulfill the continuing education requirements for Ohio engineers. Although, it’s important to keep in mind that any ethical, technical, or managerial course you take has to be up to date and relevant to engineering or surveying.

The PEPS hopes that by taking continuing educations courses for license renewal, you will be able to enhance your knowledge base and have the ethical and professional skills necessary to serve the needs and protect the wellbeing and health of the public.