Puerto Rico Professional Engineer Renewal
Puerto Rico Professional Engineers must complete 50 contact hours of accredited continuing education during the applicable five-year renewal cycle.
Board Resolution RC-2025-002 retained the requirement of 50 contact hours during a five-year renewal cycle and eliminated the previously scheduled increase to 75 hours. Older summaries describing an increase in 2028 should no longer be used.
Core Requirements
| Requirement | Puerto Rico rule |
|---|---|
| Total hours | Complete at least 50 contact hours of qualifying continuing education during the applicable five-year renewal cycle. |
| Technical content | At least 65% of the continuing education must consist of technical courses applicable to engineering or the professional’s authorized area of practice. |
| General content | Up to 35% of the continuing education may consist of qualifying general professional-development subjects. |
| Ethics requirement | Professional ethics may qualify as general professional education. The current regulation does not identify a separate minimum number of ethics contact hours for Professional Engineers. |
| Renewal cycle | A resident Professional Engineer license may be issued for a term of up to five years. Different administrative terms may apply to nonresident licensees. |
| Carryover | The regulation does not establish a general right to carry excess contact hours into a subsequent renewal cycle. |
| Renewal evidence | The renewal application must include evidence that the continuing education requirement has been satisfied and properly certified. |
Course Standards
Activities and Credit
| Activity | Puerto Rico credit rule |
|---|---|
| Contact hour | One contact hour consists of approximately 50 to 60 minutes of participation in a qualifying continuing education activity. |
| Technical courses | Technical education should directly develop engineering competence or knowledge related to the professional’s area of authorized practice. |
| General courses | Qualifying general education may address broader professional subjects but is limited by the required technical-to-general course allocation. |
| Online education | Online and distance education may qualify when provided through an appropriately certified provider and when the specific course satisfies the accreditation requirements. |
| Courses outside Puerto Rico | A course offered in another United States jurisdiction or another country may be considered when it meets the Board’s requirements and receives the necessary accreditation or validation. |
| Specialized professional activity | Certain specialized professional-development activities may be considered for credit at the Board’s discretion, subject to applicable limitations and documentation. |
Online-PDH courses may be submitted for Puerto Rico credit when their provider and course accreditation status satisfies the Board’s requirements. Engineers should not assume automatic acceptance based solely on acceptance in another jurisdiction. Confirm accreditation or obtain the required validation before relying on a course for Puerto Rico renewal.
Records and Verification
The Professional Engineer must submit evidence showing completion of the applicable continuing education requirement. Renewal instructions call for education completed during the applicable cycle to be certified through the Professional Development and Continuing Education Department of the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico.
Licensees should retain the underlying certificates, course records, accreditation information, and technical or general course classifications supporting the certification.
Special Circumstances
A professional who does not complete renewal within the established cycle may be required to complete an additional 15% in contact hours. These additional hours are treated as a penalty and cannot be applied to a later cycle.
A request for late compliance must generally be filed within 60 days after the applicable deadline. The Board evaluates the evidence, stated reasons, and requested relief.
Qualifying members of the armed forces, reserves, or Puerto Rico State Guard may receive an exemption or prorated requirement for periods of qualifying active service.
Puerto Rico’s renewal portal states that nonresident licenses may have a shorter administrative term. Nonresident engineers should confirm their specific expiration date and applicable continuing education cycle directly with the Board.
Official Sources