Iowa

Professional Development Hours (PDH) Requirements
Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau for Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Specific CE Requirements


 Iowa - Continuing Educational Requirements:
Hours Required: 30 hours biennially (1 PDH unit = 1 CPC unit = 1 CPD unit)
Date of Renewal:
Dec. 31 (even-numbered / odd-numbered years) depending on the date of initial licensure.
Licenses originally issued in even–numbered years expire in odd–numbered years, and vice-versa.
Board Approved Course Providers?
The Board does not pre-approve providers or specific courses. Each engineer must determine whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements.
Approved Subject Matter:
  • The Board defines accepted continuing education activities as courses which: (1) maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure, or (2) develop new and relevant skills and knowledge.
  • Group 1 Activities - (intended to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure) There are limits on the number of hours allowed for this group of course activities. Group 1 activities with max. number of PDHs allowed per renewal period:
    • Mathematics and Basic Science (10 PDH)
    • Engineering Sciences (10 PDH)
    • Humanities and Social Sciences (5 PDH)
    • Engineering curriculum courses (10 PDH)
  • Group 2 Activities - There are no limitations on the number of hours allowed for group 2 activities, which include postgraduate level engineering science or design, new technology topics, environmental regulation, and courses in engineering management .

Are Online Courses Allowed?
Online, self-directed courses are considered as independent study by the Iowa board, with a maximum of 10 PDH allowed per renewal period. At least 20 of the 30 hours must be from live training.
PDH Carryover:
15 PDH (max) may be carried forward into the next renewal period.
Other Specific Requirements:
  1. Dual Licensees: The continuing education requirement for biennial licensure renewal for an individual who is active in both engineering and land surveying is 20 professional development hours in engineering and 20 professional development hours in land surveying.
  2. Unaccepted Courses: Courses in CAD and fundamental computer applications will generally not be acceptable as either Group 1 or Group 2 activities. Only computer courses which have the solution of engineering or land surveying problems as a purpose will be considered valid.
  3. Recordkeeping for Audit Purposes: PDH completion records must be maintained for a minimum of 4 years for audit purposes. (See our Audit-Assist Guarantee!)

Last updated: April, 2016

Last modified: Thursday, 25 March 2021, 4:46 AM