Professional Engineer License Renewal

As a professional engineer, you’ll have worked long and hard to achieve your engineer license.

After years of study and after passing your fundamentals of engineering exam, you now have the career that you have been striving towards.

But what happens after you have passed your exam?

Once you can call yourself a professional engineer, it will be essential that you understand how to maintain your engineer license.

Here’s everything you need to know about professional engineer license renewal.

Why Do You Need to Renew Your License?

Although you will have studied hard to achieve the levels of knowledge and skills required to work as a professional engineer, you are entering a changing industry.

Every year there is a rapid change in the technology used across the sector. There will be new ways of working, as these changes occur; it will impact your health and safety as well as the ethical considerations of your role.

To ensure that you are keeping ahead of these changes, it may be essential to carry out some additional study. This will ensure that you are up-to-date on any advancements in the industry, as well as any changes in state laws and regulations.

Your Engineer License Will Differ by State

Each state differs in its requirements for maintaining an engineer license. To renew your license, you may be required to take an online engineering continuing education course, attend engineering conferences, or participate in a continuing education webinar.

In addition to courses and conferences, you will be required to complete a certain number of professional development hours (PDHs).

Every state has different requirements in terms of the number of PDHs an engineer will be required to complete before they can renew their professional engineer’s license.

The frequency at which you must renew your professional engineer’s license will also differ state-by-state. Many states will require that you renew your license every year, while others require biennial or even triennial renewal.

Checking the Requirement of Your State

It is essential that you check the requirements of your state. Some states will be more specific in their requirements. For example, when renewing your license in Delaware, you must complete 24 PDH every two years.

Three of these PDHs must be related to professional ethics; however, no more than six PDH can be relating to this subject. Up to nine of your PDHs can be related to business or project management. Licenses are renewed on June 30.

When renewing your license in Florida, you will need to complete 18 hours of continuing education. Your license will be renewed every two years.

Out of these 18 hours, one hour will be related to rules and regulations; one hour will be on professional ethics, and four hours must refer to the area of practice. The remaining 12 can be on any relevant subject.

Before signing up for the courses to make up your personal development hours, check if there are any specifics relating to your state’s licensing requirements.

Professional Development Hours

Depending on your state, you may be required to complete a certain amount of professional development hours (PDH) each year. In general, PEs must earn 15 hours of continuing education credit each year.

License renewal frequency varies by state. Some state boards require engineers to renew their licenses annually while others renew on a biennial basis. Two states, New York and Arizona, renew every three years.

The format that your personal development hours take can vary by state.

Some states don’t specify that you need them to follow a particular subject. However, for best practice, you may want to complete a range that will include ethics, state laws and rules, some that are specific to your engineering discipline, and some that are based on general engineering topics.

Your professional development hours may be taken up in the form of a short course that can be completed online. You could also take part in a web seminar.

Alternatively, you could use materials such as DVDs or attend conferences.

Taking online courses and partaking in web seminars is a time-effective option. This will mean that you can easily fit your personal development hours neatly into your working day, without the need for travel.

Web Seminars (Webinars)

One of the best ways to learn about the changes that are happening elsewhere in the sector is through webinars.

By taking part in a short web seminar, you’ll be able to talk to experienced leaders of industry who are at the cutting edge of progress. Not only will you get to hear what they have to say, but you’ll also be able to ask questions too.

Professional Engineer License Renewal Schedule

Professional engineers must renew their licenses according to state-specific schedules, which vary in frequency and requirements. Some states require annual renewal, while others operate on biennial or even longer cycles, often tied to the completion of continuing education hours. The table below provides a state-by-state breakdown of renewal deadlines to help engineers stay compliant with licensing regulations.

Fit Your Personal Development Hours into Your Schedule

As a professional engineer, you may have a lot on your plate when it comes to working. You may worry about how you might be able to fit your personal development hours around your current commitments.

Firstly, it is essential to understand that you can spread your hours out. That might mean that you complete one or two hours per month.

Due to the nature of the courses and web seminars offered at PDH Pro, it is possible that you can fit your personal development hours around your calendar and daily schedule.

Remember, if you allocate an hour or two every month, you will be able to complete your required personal development hours efficiently. There will be no rush to get them all completed before the license renewal dates.

Keeping Ahead of the Game

Maintaining your regional engineer license is essential if you want to continue working within the sector. However, the process involved in keeping up-to-date on the industry will be crucial.

With the opportunity to develop your skills and get ahead of the game by learning about the newest developments in your sector, the knowledge provided through personal development hours will be invaluable to you.

For more information about the courses, webinars, and other personal development services available at PDH Pro, get in touch today.