Florida Professional Engineer Renewal
Florida professional engineers complete 18 continuing-education hours every two years, divided among Florida laws and rules, professional ethics, area of practice, and other engineering-related topics.
Complete 18 CE hours per biennium: 1 hour of Florida laws and rules from an FBPE-approved provider, 1 hour of professional ethics, 4 hours related to your area of practice, and 12 hours on topics pertinent to engineering practice. Report all 18 hours through NCEES CPC Tracking.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Florida PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | 18 continuing-education hours during each biennial license-renewal period. |
| Florida laws and rules | 1 hour relating to Chapter 471, Florida Statutes, and FBPE rules. This course must be approved by FBPE and offered through a Board-approved provider. |
| Professional ethics | 1 hour from a professional-ethics course approved for credit in any U.S. jurisdiction. |
| Area of practice | 4 hours relating to the licensee’s engineering area or areas of practice. |
| Engineering-related topics | The remaining 12 hours may relate to any topic pertinent to the practice of engineering. |
| Carryover | Not allowed. All claimed hours must be earned within the biennium for which they are reported. |
Qualifying Education
Florida permits presenting or attending seminars, in-house or nonclassroom courses, workshops, webinars, conferences, and professional or technical presentations. The activity must fit the category in which the licensee claims it.
Online and Special Coursework
Florida law permits nonclassroom education and webinars, and the Board does not publish a general limit on the number of acceptable hours earned online. A course must still satisfy the subject, provider, participation, and documentation rules applicable to the category claimed.
Only the Florida laws-and-rules hour has the special FBPE course-and-provider approval requirement. Other qualifying credit earned for another state’s engineering license may generally be applied to Florida’s remaining 17 hours if it satisfies Florida’s criteria.
Exemptions and Status Changes
A licensee first licensed in Florida during the current biennium is generally exempt from the regular CE requirement for that renewal. A separately applicable Florida Building Code requirement may still apply.
A licensee renewing in inactive status is not required to complete the active-license 18 hours. Returning to active status requires meeting the Board’s reactivation and CE requirements before practicing.
Florida law permits the Board to exempt licensees in unique circumstances that severely limit opportunities to obtain the required education. Relief is not automatic; follow the Board’s current application and documentation process.
A delinquent active licensee may owe the prior cycle’s 18 hours in addition to the current cycle’s 18 hours. Confirm the exact requirements and license status with FBPE before attempting renewal.
Reporting, Documentation, and Audit
Florida PEs must use the free NCEES CPC Tracking system to report all 18 hours and upload supporting documentation. After the complete record is entered, the licensee sends the CE transcript to FBPE through the tracking system. CE certificates cannot be uploaded through the DBPR website.
Keep receipts, certificates, vouchers, and other sufficient proof for at least four years from completion. The Board may require documentation and may open a disciplinary complaint if an audited licensee cannot demonstrate compliance.
Official Sources