Ohio Professional Engineer Renewal
Ohio professional engineers complete 30 continuing professional development hours during each biennial renewal period, including at least 2 hours in professional ethics or rules.
Complete 30 CPD hours every two years, including 2 hours in professional ethics or rules. Up to 15 excess hours may carry forward to the next biennium.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Ohio PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | Complete at least 30 hours during the two-year period immediately preceding the biennial expiration date. |
| Ethics and rules | At least 2 of the 30 hours must address professional ethics or rules relevant to engineering or surveying practice. |
| Relevant subjects | Coursework and activities may address technical, ethical, or managerial topics relevant to the practice of engineering. |
| Carryover | Up to 15 excess hours may carry into the next biennium, including up to 2 excess ethics-or-rules hours within that total. |
| Renewal | Registrations expire biennially on December 31 following initial registration or renewal. |
| Course responsibility | The registrant is responsible for selecting relevant activities and maintaining evidence supporting the hours claimed. |
| Dual registrants | A person registered as both a PE and PS must complete at least 10 engineering-related hours and at least 10 surveying-related hours within the 30-hour total. |
Acceptable Activities
Ohio law recognizes technical, ethical, and relevant managerial learning through several structured professional activities.
Online Education
Ohio Revised Code section 4733.151 does not establish a separate numerical limit for online education or expressly define every acceptable self-paced delivery method. It instead identifies qualifying professional-development activities and requires registrants to maintain supporting records.
An online course should cover technical, ethical, or managerial material relevant to engineering practice and produce reliable evidence of the learner’s participation, completion date, subject, and claimed hours.
Because not every possible online or independent-study format is described in the statute, an Ohio PE should confirm an uncertain delivery method with the Board before relying on it for renewal.
Exemptions and Special Situations
A registrant is exempt during the first calendar year of registration. A person registered during the first calendar year of a biennium must complete 15 hours before that renewal cycle ends.
Upon request, the Board may waive renewal fees, CPD requirements, or both during qualifying active duty in the United States armed forces or a reserve component.
Documentation and Audit
Ohio requires the registrant to retain CPD records for four calendar years beyond the year in which completion is certified. The Board may audit these records at any time.
If an audit identifies a deficiency, the Board must notify the registrant and allow six months to correct it and submit satisfactory evidence. Failure to correct the deficiency may result in disciplinary proceedings.
Official Sources