Iowa Professional Engineer Renewal
Iowa professional engineers complete 30 professional development hours during each biennial renewal period, including at least 2 PDH in professional ethics.
Authority: Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board | Reviewed: August 3, 2026
Complete 30 PDH per biennium, including at least 2 PDH in professional ethics. Up to 15 excess PDH may carry into the next biennium. Internet courses without real-time interaction are independent study and are limited to 10 PDH per biennium.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Iowa PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | 30 PDH earned during the biennium before renewal. |
| Professional ethics | At least 2 of the 30 PDH must be in professional ethics. |
| Carryover | Up to 15 excess PDH may be carried forward into the next biennium only. |
| Independent study | A maximum of 10 PDH per biennium may come from independent study, including Internet courses without real-time interaction. |
| Dual PE/PLS license | An individual actively licensed in both engineering and land surveying completes 40 PDH—20 in each profession—including at least 4 PDH in professional ethics. |
| Final authority | The Board decides whether a course qualifies and how much credit it receives; it does not issue advance approval of offerings. |
Course Eligibility
A qualifying course or activity needs a clear purpose and objective relevant to the licensee's field of practice. Iowa permits engineering-practice and engineering-management education, subject to the classifications and limits in Chapter 1051.
Online and Independent Study
Iowa expressly accepts online courses, but defines a course without real-time interaction between the provider and licensee as independent study. A licensee may claim no more than 10 PDH of independent study during a biennium.
To be readily acceptable, the provider must use a written evaluation process, issue a certificate of satisfactory completion, and provide an evaluation assessment. The licensee must retain supporting documentation for a possible compliance review.
First Renewal, Exemptions, and Waivers
A new licensee completes one-half of the biennial requirement at the first renewal. Engineers licensed by comity are not treated as new licensees and do not qualify for this reduction.
An inactive licensee is exempt from continuing education. A person active in one profession and inactive in another must meet the requirement for the active profession.
Documented military service, certain qualifying out-of-state residence and licensure, government duty outside the United States, or Board-approved practice and absence abroad may support a proportional reduction.
Upon written request, the Board may grant a waiver for hardship or extenuating circumstances for a period not exceeding one year. Reductions and waivers are not automatic.
Reporting and Compliance Review
At renewal, the licensee reports the PDH achieved during the preceding biennium. Documentation must be retained for two years after the period for which the report was submitted.
The Board may select licensees randomly or review them after receiving information about noncompliance. For each claimed PDH, an audited engineer must furnish proof of attendance, verification of hours, and information about course content.
Official Sources