Illinois Professional Engineer Renewal
Illinois professional engineers complete 30 professional development hours during each two-year renewal period, including three distinct core hours required during every cycle.
Authority: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Reviewed: August 3, 2026
Complete 30 PDH per biennium: 1 hour on Illinois PE statutes and rules, 1 hour on professional conduct or ethics, 1 hour of qualifying sexual-harassment-prevention training, and 27 elective hours relevant to professional engineering.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Illinois PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | 30 PDH during the 24 months preceding November 30 of each odd-numbered year. |
| Illinois statutes and rules | At least 1 hour addressing the Illinois statutes and administrative rules regulating Professional Engineers and professional engineering. |
| Professional conduct or ethics | At least 1 hour in professional conduct and/or ethics. |
| Sexual-harassment prevention | At least 1 hour meeting the requirements of 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400. |
| Elective education | The remaining 27 hours may be selected by the licensee but must satisfy the professional-engineering program criteria. |
| Daily limit | No more than 12 PDH may be earned during a single 24-hour period beginning at midnight. |
Qualifying Education
Programs must enhance professional skills or scientific knowledge, foster general or specialized engineering practice and values, be developed and presented by qualified persons, and identify course objectives and content.
Online and Self-Study Education
Illinois expressly recognizes successful completion of online courses and does not state a separate numerical cap for online PDH earned by Professional Engineers. The course must meet the same relevance, instructor, objective, content, and documentation standards as other qualifying education.
A self-study course receives credit only when the licensee completes an examination that is graded by the sponsor. This makes a documented online course with a graded assessment different from unverified personal reading or viewing.
Carryover and Waivers
Up to 15 qualifying PDH earned from June 1 through November 30 of the renewal year and not used for that renewal may be carried into the next cycle. The hours must be recorded on the Department-issued carryover form.
Illinois statutes and rules, professional conduct or ethics, and sexual-harassment-prevention training must each be completed during every prerenewal period and cannot be satisfied with carryover.
A PE is exempt from reporting PDH during the first biennial renewal period in which initial Illinois licensure was obtained. All later renewal periods are subject to the requirement.
Qualifying active military duty may support a waiver. Disability, illness, or another clearly mitigating circumstance may support a documented request for waiver, additional time, or a modified education schedule.
Documentation and Audit
Renewing PEs certify that they have complied with the PDH requirement. IDFPR may select licensees for random audit and require additional evidence. The licensee must retain records or otherwise be able to produce them.
A log by itself is insufficient. Supporting documentation should identify the provider, hours, date, location or delivery method, subject matter, and proof of attendance or completion.
Official Sources