Utah Professional Engineer Renewal
Utah Professional Engineers must complete at least 30 hours of qualified continuing professional education during each two-year period ending March 31 of every odd-numbered year.
Utah permits unlimited Internet and home-study education when the course verifies registration and participation and includes a test demonstrating that the participant learned the material. Untested informal reading should not be treated as equivalent to a qualifying tested course.
Core Requirements
| Requirement | Utah rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | Complete at least 30 hours during each two-year licensing period ending March 31 of every odd-numbered year. |
| Course content | Education must be directly related to ethics, business, or technical content intended to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee's professional practice. |
| Ethics | Professional ethics is expressly recognized as qualifying content, but Utah does not specify a separate mandatory ethics-hour minimum for Professional Engineers. |
| New licensees | The 30-hour requirement is reduced proportionately according to the portion of the two-year period occurring before the individual first became licensed. |
| Carryover | Up to 15 hours completed beyond the required 30 hours may be carried into the succeeding two-year period. |
| Course approval | The licensee is responsible for maintaining information demonstrating that an activity satisfies Utah's educational standards. The engineering rule does not establish general preapproval of continuing-education providers. |
| Records | Maintain supporting continuing-education records for four years after the close of the two-year period to which the education applies. |
Educational Standards
Utah evaluates more than a course title or claimed duration. A qualifying program should satisfy the educational standards established in Rule R156-22-304.
Activities and Credit Limits
| Activity | Utah credit rule |
|---|---|
| Classroom course, seminar, or conference | Unlimited credit may be earned through completed professional education presented in instructional periods of at least 50 minutes. |
| Internet or home-study course | Unlimited credit may be earned when the course verifies registration and participation and includes a test demonstrating that the participant learned the material. |
| Teaching | A maximum of 15 hours may be claimed for qualifying college, university, or professional instruction when the material has not been taught by the licensee during the preceding 12 months. |
| Published material | A maximum of 5 hours may be claimed for preparing papers, articles, or books directly related to professional practice and submitted for publication. |
| Committee or leadership service | A maximum of 10 hours may be claimed for qualifying service that develops or improves the profession, with no more than 5 hours obtained through one organization. |
A relevant Online-PDH course with identified objectives, organized study material, learner registration, a recorded examination, and a provider-issued completion certificate is structured to address Utah's requirements for tested Internet and home-study education.
Documentation
The licensee is responsible for retaining sufficient information to demonstrate that each activity met Utah's content, presentation, participation, and completion standards.
Records must be retained for four years after the close of the two-year period to which they apply. Licensees should retain their own copies rather than depend solely on a provider's continued availability.
Deficiencies and Reinstatement
A licensee who does not complete the required education on time must complete twice the number of hours missed to become eligible for renewal or reinstatement.
Example: A shortage of 6 hours can create an obligation to complete 12 hours rather than only the missing 6 hours.
An applicant who was not compliant when the license expired must complete 30 hours of continuing education during the two years immediately preceding the application for reinstatement.
The Division may waive continuing education under the limited circumstances and procedures established in Utah Rule R156-1-308d. A waiver should be requested from and granted by the Division rather than assumed by the licensee.
Rule R156-22-304 applies to Utah Professional Engineers, Professional Structural Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors. A person holding more than one credential should confirm how the Division expects claimed activities to support each area of professional practice.
Official Sources