Engineering License Renewal

Every state has an engineering board that regulates the practice of engineering. The requirements to become licensed as an engineer are consistent from state to state. Engineers must complete a four-year engineering degree, train under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, pass two competency exams, and apply for a license from their state’s engineering board. Once a license has been issued, the PE must keep it current through periodic license renewal.

Professional Engineer License Renewal Requirements for All 50 States

To find out how to renew a professional engineering license in a specific state, click on the interactive state map below.

Contributor: Jordan Ellis, PE
Written: Dec 19, 2019 | Updated: Nov 2, 2025

PE License Renewal: A Professional Engineer’s Guide

As a practicing professional engineer, I’ve come to see the PE license renewal notice as a fundamental part of our career’s rhythm. It’s not just another piece of mail or an automated email reminder; it’s the critical checkpoint for the hard-earned professional license that defines our careers. Forgetting about it, or worse, scrambling at the last minute, is a risk none of us can afford.

The process of handling your license renewal is more than just paying a fee. It’s a legal and ethical attestation that we are still competent to practice engineering and protect the public. I’ve managed this process across multiple states for years, and the one constant is that it’s a game of details. This guide is a peer-to-peer breakdown of the PE license renewal process, designed to help you navigate it without the stress and ensure your license remains in good standing.

Why Your PE License Renewal is More Than Just Paperwork

Your PE license is, without a doubt, your most valuable professional asset. It’s the end result of a specialized degree, a grueling exam, and years of dedicated mentorship. But that license isn’t a one-time achievement; it’s a living contract with the public. Your biennial or triennial PE license renewal is the mechanism by which you affirm that contract.

When you complete your renewal application for your license, you are legally stating that you have maintained your competence, stayed current with your field’s technology and rules, and upheld the ethical standards of the engineering profession. The state board isn’t just cashing your check for the renewal; they are accepting your professional word.

This is why the onus is entirely on us, the professional engineer. Boards send out renewal notices, but it is your responsibility to know your expiration date and get your renewal filed on time. A lapsed license isn’t a minor administrative hiccup; it means you are legally barred from practicing engineering. You can’t stamp drawings, you can’t call yourself a professional engineer in a work context, and you certainly can’t be in responsible charge. The stakes of this license renewal are our entire livelihoods.

The Core Components of Your Renewal Application

While the specifics vary by state, the renewal for your license almost always consists of three core components. I treat this as a simple, non-negotiable checklist for every single license renewal I complete.

The Application Form (and Attestation) This is the formal application to renew your license. These days, it’s almost always an online portal. You will be asked to verify your personal information (make sure your address is current) and your employment. But the most critical part is the attestation. This is a checkbox or a signature line where you swear that you have completed the other requirements for your renewal, specifically your continuing education. This is not the time to “fudge” it and plan to finish your hours later. That is a fraudulent application for your license renewal.
The Renewal Fee This is the most straightforward part of the renewal: the fee. This fee can range from under a hundred dollars to several hundred, depending on the state. It’s simply a cost of doing business as a professional. Most employers will cover this renewal fee, but it’s your job to submit the payment on time. A late payment almost always results in a late fee or, worse, a lapsed license. Don’t let your license expire over a simple payment.
Proof of Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) This is the heart of the PE license renewal. You must have the required number of Professional Development Hours (PDH) to be eligible to renew your license. You attest to this on the application, and if you are audited, you must provide the proof. This is, without question, the area where most engineers get into trouble during their license renewal.

Navigating Continuing Professional Competency (CPC)

I’ve seen more professional peers stress over this part of the license renewal than any other. It’s not “continuing education” in the abstract; it’s Continuing Professional Competency. The distinction is important. This is about proving you are still competent to practice engineering.

State-by-State Variations

This is the biggest pitfall for any engineer with a license in more than one state. The rules are not standardized.

Hours Required: Most states require 24-30 PDH over a biennial renewal period, but some are different.
Specific Requirements: This is where they get you. Does your state require a certain number of hours in ethics? A course on state-specific rules and laws?
Carryover: Can you carry over extra hours to your next renewal? Some states allow it; many do not.
Audits: Every state reserves the right to audit your renewal and demand proof of every hour you claim.

Your first step for any license renewal should be to read the current rules for that specific state board. This is a non-negotiable professional task.

Record-Keeping is Non-Negotiable

As a professional engineer, you must be your own auditor. From the moment you renew your license, you should be planning for your next renewal.

I keep a simple logbook. For every course, webinar, or seminar I attend, I log:

The date
The provider
The topic
The number of hours
A digital copy of the certificate of completion

When my renewal time comes, I don’t have to hunt for anything. I’ve been audited, and I can tell you that having this file ready to go turns a high-stress event into a simple 10-minute task of attaching a PDF. This is what continuing professional development looks like in practice.

What to Do if You Need to Renew an Expired License

This is the “red alert” scenario. Life happens, emails get missed, and suddenly you’re past your expiration date. What you do next is critical for your license and your career.

The Grace Period

Most states have a grace period (e.g., 30, 60, or 90 days) after the expiration date. If you are in this window, stop what you are doing and handle it. You will almost certainly have to pay a late fee on top of the standard renewal fee, but your license is not yet terminally expired. You can still renew it, though the process might involve a paper form. This is your last chance for a simple renewal.

Lapsed License and Reinstatement

If you are past the grace period, your license is officially “Expired” or “Lapsed.” You cannot practice engineering. You cannot renew your license online. You must now apply for reinstatement.

Reinstatement is not a renewal. It is a much more painful and expensive process.

You will be petitioning the board. It is at their discretion.
You will pay a significant penalty. This is often the reinstatement fee plus all the back renewal fees you missed.
You will likely have to prove all back-PDH. If you missed a renewal period (or two), you may have to show all the hours you would have needed for those cycles.
You may have to retake the PE Exam. This is the ultimate penalty. Many states have a rule that if your license is expired for a set period (e.g., 5 years), your only path back is to retake and pass the PE exam.

If you find yourself needing to renew a license that is expired, contact the board immediately. Be humble, be prepared to pay, and have your records ready. The reinstatement process is designed to be difficult because it’s the last line of defense for the profession.

A Professional’s Final Checklist for a Smooth Renewal

Your PE license renewal should be a simple, predictable part of your professional life, not a crisis. Here is the simple checklist I follow for every single license I hold.

Immediately After Renewal: Set a calendar reminder for two years (or your renewal period) from now, but set it for 3-4 months before the expiration date. That’s your new “start” date.
12 Months Out: Check your PDH progress. Are you on track to get your hours? Have you scheduled any courses?
3 Months Out: Check the state board website for any changes to the rules or education requirements. Look for the official renewal notices in your email or physical mailbox. Check your license status online to confirm all info is correct.
1 Month Out: Consolidate all your PDH certificates into a single folder. Make sure you meet the ethics or state-specific hours.
Renewal Day: Log in to the portal.
1. Complete the application.
2. Attest to your PDH hours.
3. Make the payment for your renewal fee.
4. Save a digital PDF of the completed application and the payment receipt.
Post-Renewal: File your receipt and your PDH logbook together. You’re done.

This entire process, from preparation to payment, is the mark of a true professional. It shows you take your license and your public duty seriously. Don’t leave your renewal to chance; it’s the key to the entire engineering profession.

Professional Engineer PE License Renewal