PDH Engineering: Your Guide to License Renewal
PDH Engineering: Your Guide to License Renewal
If you're a licensed engineer in the United States, staying current with continuing education is not just recommended—it’s required. PDH engineering refers to the Professional Development Hours (PDH) that engineers must earn to maintain their licenses and remain in good standing with their state boards.
From civil to electrical to structural disciplines, PDH hours are a standardized way to ensure ongoing professional growth, industry awareness, and ethical responsibility.
Every state engineering board has continuing education requirements. Most commonly, engineers must earn between 15 to 30 PDH hours during each renewal cycle (usually every 1 or 2 years).
Completing your PDH engineering hours helps you:
Stay compliant with your state board
Avoid fines, audits, or license suspension
Demonstrate ongoing competency to clients and employers
Engineering is a constantly evolving field. PDH courses help engineers keep up with:
New technologies
Building and safety codes
Industry best practices
Regulatory changes
There are many types of activities that can count toward pdh engineering credits, including:
Online or in-person PDH courses
Webinars and workshops
Technical presentations and seminars
Authoring or publishing technical papers
Attending professional society meetings
However, it's crucial to ensure the activity is approved by your state board. Not all PDH activities are accepted in every state.
Common pdh engineering course subjects include:
Engineering ethics and state laws
Structural and civil engineering design
Project management and risk assessment
Environmental and sustainable engineering
Electrical safety and NEC code updates
Online PDH platforms offer a hassle-free way to complete your requirements. With self-paced learning and mobile access, you can earn credits anytime, anywhere.
Many pdh engineering course providers offer:
State board–approved courses
Bundle packages to save money
Instant certification upon passing quizzes
Access to downloadable materials for reference
Once you pass the course quiz, you’ll receive a certificate that you can keep for your records or submit to your board. Many providers also keep track of your course history for future audits or renewals.
Before enrolling in a course, check the following:
State approval for your licensing board
Courses specific to your discipline (civil, electrical, etc.)
Clear course objectives and outlines
Options to preview or sample content
Secure platform with easy navigation
Choose providers with strong reputations, excellent customer support, and a broad range of course topics.
Most state boards recommend maintaining records for at least 3–5 years. Be sure to keep:
Certificates of completion
Course outlines and descriptions
Provider contact information
Course duration and date of completion
Using a digital log or platform with automatic tracking can make this process simple.
Completing your PDH course online doesn't have to be stressful. With the right course provider and a proactive mindset, you can meet state requirements, learn valuable new skills, and grow professionally.
Stay compliant, stay current, and stay in control of your engineering license. Explore approved online PDH courses today and make your continuing education work for you.