CEU Requirements for Michigan Professional Engineers
Are you a Michigan PE renewing your license? If so, you’re probably wondering – What are the continuing education requirement for Michigan professional engineers?
Professional engineers in Michigan must complete 30 hours of personal development continuing education every two years. Newly licensed PEs must complete 15 PDH credits during their first renewal cycle. All continuing education courses must be in areas that are relevant to engineering. Professional engineers must fulfill this obligation whether or not they are actively work in the engineering field. No one is exempt. No continuing education hours can be carried forward to the next renewal cycle. The renewal date is October 31 of odd numbered years.
PDH-Pro offers PDH courses for Michigan engineers that are guaranteed to meet the Michigan board requirements.
For a complete list of all license renewal requirements check out our Michigan PE renewal page.
Michigan PDH Credits
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) regulates the profession of engineering in the State of Michigan.
LARA requires Professional Engineers complete 30 continuing education hours biennially. Course providers needn’t be pre-approved by the board and there are no required courses. However, all continuing education hours must be in topics and activities relevant to the engineering profession.
PEs renewing their licenses don’t have to send proof they have completed their 30 PDH of continuing education to the LARA board. However, they must keep all attendance logs and completion certificates proving they have completed their continuing education hours for 4 years after the license renewal period to which they apply as proof should the board randomly audit them. License renewal must be done online.
Michigan License Renewal Dates
Professional engineering licenses must be renewed biennially by October 31st of odd numbered years. The process is handled online including paying the $80 renewal fee. Acceptable payment methods include e-check or credit and debit cards with the Visa, MasterCard or Discover logo. Documentation proving the PDH was met must be held for 4 years after the renewal period towards which it was applied.
Engineering Ethics and Professional Conduct
The LARA board doesn’t specify PEs are required to take continuing education courses in professional conduct, professional ethics or state rules and laws. However, the clear purpose and objective of all continuing educational courses for PEs in Michigan is they must be relevant to the engineering profession and improve, maintain or expand the knowledge and skills relevant to the PE’s area of practice so they can better serve and protect the needs and safety of the public.
PDH-Pro offers several engineering ethics courses that meet the Michigan board requirements. Check here for a complete list of courses.
Records Keeping Requirements for Engineers
Engineers in Michigan must keep records of all the 30 PDH they earned through continuing education courses and activities biennially. Those records should include proof of payment, if applicable, attendance logs, completion certificates, courses taken, the number of PDH earned, name of course presenter and course provider. That information must be kept for 4 years and be shown to the board upon request during a random audit or to prove the PDH requirement has been met.
Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the Board
Online courses may be used to earn all 30 continuing education PDH for professional engineers in Michigan. Although the board does not pre-approve continuing education courses, it is the engineer’s responsibility to know what type of courses and activities will be acceptable to the board for PDH. Some acceptable courses and activities include:
- Successfully completing college and distance learning courses
- Successfully completing continuing education courses
- Attending or presenting in-house courses, seminars and workshops
- Making technical or professional presentations at meetings, conventions, or conferences
- Instructing, presenting or teaching acceptable activities or courses listed above in sections a – d
- Publishing peer-reviewed articles, books or papers in the PE’s area of professional practice
- Serving as a state professional engineers board member or attending state professional engineers board meetings
- Participating in seminars or training sponsored by your company and designed to enhance the engineer’s skills and knowledge in their field
- Mentoring an engineering student through school-sponsored programs
- Obtaining engineering-related patents
Unlimited hours of online courses, live webinars and self-directed or self-study courses are acceptable as long as they meet the criteria outline above.
Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Activities
Pre-approval of providers or courses is not mandated by the LARA board. However, it is incumbent on professional engineers to determine whether the courses or activities they choose for PDH continuing education credit meets the requirements of the board.
Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses
There are several online sources professional engineers in Michigan can visit if they want the opportunity to get free continuing education courses to fulfill their 30 PDH for renewing their licenses biennially.
PDH-Pro offers a summary of free continuing education courses for Michigan engineers.
Many professional organizations and engineering societies provide free courses for engineers as a benefit of membership. Examples includes ASME, NSPE, ASCE, and AIA.
Michigan Engineering Licensing
In Michigan, becoming a professional engineer is a four step process. First, the candidate must earn a bachelor’s or master’s in engineering from a school program accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology(ABET), the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) or the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).
Next, the candidate must verifiably work under an experienced engineer for 4 years or more. Finally, the engineer must get a passing grade on the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) administered Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and the Principles and Practices of Engineering(PE) exams. The person must also have a good moral character.
All-In-One Engineering Packages for Michigan
PDH-Pro developed Michigan Engineering Packages to provide professional engineers with a convenient way to complete all required continuing education courses. These packages meet the LARA license renewal requirements and are guaranteed to be accepted.
These all inclusive packages are suitable for Michigan chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, geotechnical, mechanical, and structural engineers.
Engineering Discipline Restrictions
The state of Michigan engineering board does not restrict professional engineers from taking certain continuing education courses based on their engineering discipline. The only specification is the courses must have as their clear purpose and objective, the improvement, maintenance or expansion of the PE’s skills and knowledge and be relevant to the professional engineer’s area of practice.
Continuing Education for Michigan Professional Engineers
To ensure the needs and safety of the public is protected, the Michigan LARA board requires all Professional Engineers in the state continue to update, enhance and improve their knowledge of and skill at the practice of engineering through 30 hours of continuing education courses and activities biennially before their license can be renewed.