New Mexico Professional Engineer Renewal
New Mexico professional engineers complete 30 professional development hours during each biennial renewal period, including at least 2 hours of ethics or qualifying business-related education.
Authority: New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors | Reviewed: August 3, 2026
Complete 30 PDH every two years, including at least 2 ethics or business-related hours. Up to 15 excess hours previously reported to the Board may carry into the next biennium. New Mexico expressly recognizes qualifying live and self-paced online education, and records must be retained for three years.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | New Mexico PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | Complete 30 professional development hours during each biennial licensing period. |
| Ethics and business content | At least 2 of the 30 hours must be in ethics or qualifying business-related content. |
| Qualifying subjects | An activity must have a clear purpose and objective that maintains, improves, or expands knowledge and skills relevant to the licensee’s field of practice. Regular job duties do not qualify. |
| Carryover | Up to 15 excess PDH may carry into the subsequent biennium in accordance with the hours previously reported to the Board. |
| Renewal deadline | Licenses expire December 31 of the applicable biennial year. Odd-numbered licenses renew in odd-numbered years, and even-numbered licenses renew in even-numbered years. |
| Dual licensees | A person licensed as both a professional engineer and professional surveyor still completes 30 total PDH, with half of the hours in each profession. |
| Final authority | The Board has final authority over course approval, credit acceptance, and the PDH value assigned to an activity. |
Acceptable Activities
Qualifying activities range from structured courses to teaching, publishing, professional service, patents, and educational outreach. Every claimed activity must support continued competence in the licensee’s professional field.
Online and Self-Paced Education
New Mexico accepts qualifying short courses, tutorials, webinars, and distance-education courses offered for self-study, independent study, or group study. Delivery may be synchronous or asynchronous, including live, correspondence, archived, and internet formats.
The rule does not state a separate cap on online or self-paced PDH. A structured online course may therefore be used toward the requirement when its purpose and objectives maintain, improve, or expand skills relevant to the engineer’s field of practice and the completion records support the credit claimed.
Licensees should preserve the course description, learning objectives, instructional duration, completion certificate, and any assessment evidence. The Board retains final authority over acceptance and credit value.
Exemptions and Special Situations
A licensee by examination or comity or endorsement is exempt for the first year immediately following initial licensure. Hours are prorated for any remaining part of the licensing period beyond that first year.
A licensee serving more than 120 consecutive days of temporary active duty in the United States Armed Forces during a calendar year may receive an exemption for that year with supporting documentation.
The Board may approve an exemption for physical disability, illness, or another extenuating circumstance when the licensee provides supporting documentation.
A licensee approved for retired status is exempt. Before returning to active practice, the licensee must earn the professional-development hours required for the preceding biennial cycle.
Documentation and Audit
The licensee is responsible for maintaining documentation supporting every claimed credit. The Board may request copies for audit verification, and the PDH total is submitted concurrently with license renewal.
Required records include a detailed activity log and attendance verification such as completion certificates, paid receipts, or other evidence. Specialized claims—such as technical reviews, society participation, or outreach—require additional information demonstrating the subject, duration, sponsoring organization, and licensee’s involvement.
Official Sources