Section outline

  • Ohio Professional Engineer Renewal

    Ohio PE Continuing Education Requirements

    Ohio professional engineers complete 30 continuing professional development hours during each biennial renewal period, including at least 2 hours in professional ethics or rules.

    Authority: Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors  |  Reviewed: August 3, 2026

    Quick answer for Ohio PEs

    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.

    30 hours Required every two years
    2 hours Ethics or professional rules
    15 hours Maximum carryover
    4 years Records beyond certification year

    Core Requirement

    Ohio requires 30 CPD hours per biennial renewal

    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

    Choose education relevant to professional practice

    Ohio law recognizes technical, ethical, and relevant managerial learning through several structured professional activities.

    Common qualifying activities

    • University or college coursework
    • Seminars, workshops, and conferences
    • Technical and professional courses
    • Live webinars with attendance verification
    • Documented online educational courses
    • Teaching qualifying courses or programs
    • Relevant published papers, articles, or books
    • Qualifying patent awards
    • Active professional- or technical-society service

    Statutory credit values

    • One semester credit: 45 CPD hours
    • One quarter credit: 30 CPD hours
    • One continuing education unit: 10 CPD hours
    • Seminar, workshop, or conference: 1 hour per attendance hour when no CEU is awarded
    • Society officer or active committee service: 2 hours per year
    • Relevant publication: 10 hours per work
    • Patent award: 10 hours per patent
    Relevance matters: Select activities that maintain, improve, or expand knowledge and skills related to professional engineering practice. The registrant must be able to explain and document that relationship if audited.

    Online Education

    Keep clear evidence for online courses

    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.

    Practical conclusion: Online-PDH courses may support Ohio renewal when their subject matter is relevant and the registrant can document the activity, completion, and hours claimed. Licensees should obtain Board guidance before depending on a format whose eligibility is uncertain.

    Exemptions and Special Situations

    Limited exemptions apply

    First calendar year

    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.

    Active military duty

    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

    Keep records for four calendar years beyond certification

    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

    Confirm current Ohio requirements before renewal

    Informational notice: This summary provides general educational information and is not legal advice or a guarantee that a particular course will be accepted. The Ohio Board has final authority over compliance and credit determinations.

  • Topic 1

  • Topic 2