Michigan Professional Engineer Renewal
Michigan professional engineers complete 30 continuing-education credit hours during each two-year renewal period, including 2 hours focused on professional ethics related to engineering.
Authority: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | Reviewed: August 3, 2026
Complete 30 qualifying hours during the two years immediately before license expiration, including 2 hours of engineering ethics. Online education is allowed, no carryover is provided, repeated content cannot be counted during the same cycle, and no more than 12 hours may be earned in 24 hours.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Michigan PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | 30 qualifying continuing-education credit hours during the two-year period immediately preceding license expiration. |
| Professional ethics | At least 2 of the 30 hours must focus on professional ethics related to engineering. The ethics activity need not focus specifically on Michigan statutes or rules. |
| Carryover | Michigan provides no carryover. The required hours must be completed during the applicable two-year period. |
| Repeated content | Credit is not granted for an activity with substantially the same content as one already credited during the renewal period. |
| Daily limit | No more than 12 continuing-education hours may be earned during a 24-hour period. |
| Renewal attestation | The renewal application certifies that the licensee completed the requirement before renewing. |
Acceptable Activities
Michigan’s rule lists the acceptable activity types, credit values, cycle limits, and proof required for each. The activity must relate to professional engineering and be supported by the specific documentation required for its category.
A professional-engineering program may receive the hours approved by its sponsor or approving entity when it is approved or offered for CE credit by:
Online Education
Rule 339.16041 applies to qualifying in-person or online continuing education. The rule does not establish a separate numerical cap on online hours, so a PE may potentially complete the full requirement online when every course fits an authorized activity category and is properly documented.
A structured online course should identify its engineering subject, sponsor, title, completion date, awarded hours, and participant. Keep the certificate and enough course information to demonstrate how it meets Michigan’s rule.
Waivers, Renewal, and Relicensure
The CE rule applies to an applicant for renewal who was licensed during the two-year period immediately before expiration. The current rule does not state a general first-renewal reduction or exemption.
A request for a continuing-education waiver must reach the Department at least 30 days before the last regularly scheduled Board meeting preceding license expiration.
Michigan’s Occupational Code does not authorize a retired or emeritus PE status. A PE may renew or allow the license to lapse; returning later requires relicensure.
If the CE requirement is not completed before expiration, the licensee may need to pursue relicensure. A 60-day late-renewal grace period does not extend the deadline for completing the required education.
Documentation and Audit
Michigan licensees must retain documentation supporting compliance for four years after the date the renewal application is filed. The Department may audit a licensee and require the records described for the applicable activity in Rule 339.16041.
Different activity categories require different evidence. A conventional course certificate should show the licensee, hours, sponsor and contact information, program title, and completion date. Academic courses, teaching, publications, committee service, mentoring, journal study, and patents each have their own proof requirements.
Official Sources