Georgia Professional Engineer Renewal
Georgia professional engineers complete 15 professional development hours during each annual renewal period. Qualifying education must maintain, improve, or expand knowledge and skills relevant to the engineer’s practice.
Complete 15 PDH during each 12-month renewal period. Up to 7.5 excess PDH may be carried into the immediately following renewal period. Georgia’s current PE rule does not prescribe a separate ethics-hour requirement.
Core Requirement
| Requirement | Georgia PE rule |
|---|---|
| Total education | 15 PDH during each 12-month annual renewal period. |
| Course subject | The course or activity must have a clear purpose and objective and maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge relevant to the professional engineer’s practice. |
| Ethics | Chapter 180-11 does not allocate a mandatory number of PE hours specifically to ethics. A relevant engineering-ethics course may qualify as general PDH. |
| Carryover | Up to 7.5 PDH earned beyond the annual requirement may be carried into the subsequent renewal period. |
| Course approval | The Board retains final authority over acceptance of an activity and the number of PDH awarded. |
| Out-of-state licensees | The Board recognizes another state’s CE requirements to the extent that the courses also meet Georgia’s requirements. Georgia recordkeeping rules still apply. |
Qualifying Education
Successful completion means satisfying the course or activity requirements and obtaining a certificate of completion or equivalent evidence.
Distance Education
Georgia expressly accepts qualifying correspondence, televised, video, audio, and other short courses or tutorials. Modern online courses can fit this category when they are relevant to the engineer’s practice and the participant successfully completes the course.
Chapter 180-11 does not state a general numerical cap on distance-learning PDH. The engineer should retain a completion certificate and enough information to show the subject, sponsor, duration, and relevance of the activity.
Exemptions and Reinstatement
A registrant licensed by examination or comity is exempt from continuing education for the first renewal period.
A professional engineer serving more than 120 consecutive days on temporary duty in the U.S. armed forces may qualify for the military exemption described in Rule 180-11-.07.
Physical disability, illness, or another extenuating circumstance may support a Board-approved exemption. Supporting documentation must be provided.
A registrant over age 65 who is actively practicing and has held a valid Georgia license for the previous 25 consecutive years is exempt under the rule. Separate conditions apply to retired or inactive licensees over age 65.
Documentation and Audit
The licensee is responsible for maintaining records supporting every claimed PDH. The log must identify the activity type, sponsor, location, duration, instructor or speaker, and PDH earned. Keep certificates or other evidence of attendance with the log.
The Board randomly audits registrants and may request copies for verification. A registrant found deficient may face an initial $500 fine after notice and hearing; an uncorrected deficiency can ultimately lead to suspension until compliance is demonstrated.
Official Sources