| Suppose in a few months you will be renewing your | | | | requirements. |
| Professional Engineering license. Going through the | | | | Licensed engineers, on a voluntary or mandated |
| checklist, you notice that you need a few more | | | | basis, attend continuing education courses not only |
| engineering continuing education credits. Oh no, there | | | | for licensure renewal but also to ensure competency. |
| is not enough time left to register for a college class | | | | These engineers earn Professional Development |
| or find a convention or seminar in your local area. | | | | Hours (PDH) for attending these courses. A |
| What are you going to do? What about online? Are | | | | Professional Development Hour is considered one |
| there any websites offering engineering continuing | | | | contact hour of course work of either instruction or |
| education courses? Yes there are. You have found | | | | presentation. The licensee is responsible for |
| several websites, but will your State Licensure Board | | | | maintaining records to be used to support credits |
| accept the courses? And what is the difference | | | | claimed. Currently, 30 of the 50 states mandate |
| between a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and | | | | ongoing education to maintain competency for |
| Professional Development Hour (PDH)? | | | | licensed engineers. |
| Many engineers with a Professional Engineer license | | | | 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) = 10 Professional |
| obtain their technical and managerial skills by mostly | | | | Development Hours (PDH) |
| attending professional monthly meetings, which | | | | Examples: |
| generally accumulate 0.5 PDH per meeting, and either | | | | 1 hour luncheon with presentation 0.05 CEUs = 0.5 |
| attending conferences or seminars, where 1 or more | | | | PDHs |
| PDHs are offered for each presentation. At least 30 | | | | 1 day seminar granting 0.7 CEUs = 7 PDHs |
| states require continuing education units with the | | | | 1.5 day seminar granting 1 CEU = 10 PDHs |
| minimum requirement usually 15 PDHs per year or 30 | | | | 2 day seminar granting 1.3 CEUs = 13 PDHs |
| PDHs every two years. The courses have to be | | | | 3 day seminar granting 2 CEUs = 20 PDHs |
| related to engineering and can be on topics that are | | | | In this article we have discussed what a professional |
| technical, ethical, or managerial. According to the | | | | development hour is for engineers. Many states are |
| National Society of Professional Engineers, one | | | | requiring that engineers attend these courses to stay |
| acceptable activity to earn PDHs is attending | | | | current in their area of expertise. For the most part |
| continuing education courses. Online courses are | | | | engineers are required to qualify and document the |
| usually acceptable in all states, but a few states do | | | | course they have completed each renewal period. In |
| limit the number of online courses. Five states (New | | | | our rapidly changing industry completing the |
| York, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Oklahoma) | | | | appropriate course can be the difference between an |
| require the State Licensure Board to pre-approval of | | | | employed and an unemployed engineer. |
| PDH sponsors. Licensees should look into their state's | | | | |