How we Assign a PDH count to a Course
Course quality and credit assignment
How Online-PDH Assigns Professional Development Hours
Online-PDH assigns Professional Development Hours by evaluating the instructional time reasonably required to complete each course. Eligible instructional word count provides the starting measurement. The course's technical difficulty, calculations, standards, figures, worked examples, and required analysis are then reviewed before the final PDH value is approved.
Methodology version 1.0 | Effective July 2026
Methodology summary
The instructional-time standard
One PDH represents approximately one hour of purposeful professional study. For internal course development and review, Online-PDH uses a target of 60 minutes of estimated instructional time for each PDH. This conservative target recognizes that some licensing authorities measure a PDH as 60 minutes, while the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying Model Rules define a contact hour as a minimum of 50 minutes.
Instructional time is the time reasonably required for a qualified learner to read, interpret, and engage with the required educational material. The time allowed for enrollment, navigation, downloading files, taking the final assessment, reviewing answers, and obtaining a certificate is not used to increase the PDH assignment.
The word-count framework
Word count is used instead of page count because page length changes with typography, spacing, margins, photographs, and document format. A word-based measurement produces a more consistent starting point across PDF documents, online lessons, and other delivery formats.
| Course classification | Starting threshold | Typical characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced or technically dense | 2,500 words per PDH | Equations, design procedures, codes, standards, technical tables, drawings, or closely reasoned analysis requiring slower study. |
| Intermediate technical | 3,000 words per PDH | A balanced combination of explanatory text, technical concepts, examples, and professional application. |
| Foundational or primarily narrative | 3,500 words per PDH | Material that is comparatively direct, familiar, lightly mathematical, or easier to read continuously. |
Dense engineering material requires more time per word. Learners may need to interpret equations, examine drawings, follow calculations, compare standards, or pause to evaluate a technical example. The lower word threshold accounts for this additional instructional effort; it does not reduce the expected learning time.
What is included in the instructional word count
Included content
The eligible count includes required explanatory text, technical discussions, worked-example narratives, required case studies, substantive table text, figure explanations, and other written material that directly advances the stated learning objectives.
Excluded content
The count excludes cover pages, tables of contents, repeated headers and footers, copyright notices, navigation text, administrative instructions, promotional material, bibliographies, final-assessment questions and answers, and certificate instructions.
Equations, diagrams, drawings, photographs, and data tables are not assigned artificial word equivalents. Their effect on learning time is considered during the technical-difficulty review.
How the preliminary PDH value is calculated
The calculated value is a screening result rather than an automatic award. Fractional results are not rounded upward to create additional credit. The reviewer confirms that the proposed PDH assignment remains consistent with the 60-minute instructional-time target and reduces the award when the supporting instructional time is insufficient.
Worked example
Intermediate technical course
A course contains 16,200 eligible instructional words and is classified as intermediate technical material. Dividing 16,200 by the 3,000-word threshold produces a preliminary value of 5.4 PDH. Because credit is not rounded upward, the maximum initial assignment is 5 PDH. The reviewer must then confirm that the content reasonably represents at least 300 minutes of professional study before approving the 5-PDH designation.
Required course review and documentation
Before release, each course receives an instructional-time review. The review documents the eligible word count, selected complexity classification, preliminary calculation, final PDH assignment, learning objectives, assessment method, author or reviewer qualifications, and course version. The reviewer also considers the density of the concepts, the amount of calculation and interpretation required, the use of codes and standards, the significance of figures and tables, and the level of professional judgment expected from the learner.
Each course includes an assessment aligned with its learning objectives. Successful completion requires the learner to satisfy the published course-completion requirements and achieve the required passing score. Assessment time is treated as verification of learning and is not added to the instructional word count.
Learner activity and completion records
Online-PDH maintains records sufficient to document course participation, assessment, and completion. Depending on the course format, the retained record may include the learner's account identity, enrollment information, course title and identification number, course version, access and activity events, completion status, assessment attempts and scores, completion date, PDH awarded, and certificate record.
Course-development records and learner-completion records are retained for at least six years from the date of completion. Records are maintained so that course completion and the basis for the PDH assignment can be reviewed when reasonably required by a licensing authority or the learner.
Relationship to professional standards
This methodology is informed by nationally recognized continuing professional competency principles and by state requirements governing instructional time, assessment, and record retention. The NCEES Model Rules define one PDH as one nominal contact hour and define a contact hour as at least 50 minutes. New York guidance generally assigns one PDH for 60 minutes of instruction and requires approved sponsors to maintain specified course and participation records for at least six years. Online-PDH's 60-minute internal review target and six-year minimum retention period provide a conservative foundation for assigning and documenting credit.
Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, and the licensing board has final authority over the acceptance and classification of continuing education. Learners should verify any jurisdiction-specific subject, format, timing, or provider requirements that apply to their licenses.