Accepted activity types
- College courses
- Continuing-education courses
- Online and correspondence courses
- Televised or recorded courses
- Short courses and tutorials
- Seminars and workshops
- Professional conventions
- Technical-committee participation
West Virginia Professional Engineer Renewal
West Virginia PE Continuing Education Requirements
West Virginia Professional Engineers must complete 30 professional development hours during each biennial renewal period.
Report totals at renewal and retain the details
West Virginia no longer requires every PE to submit a detailed activity list with the regular renewal. The licensee certifies compliance, reports total PDH and requested carryover, and must retain the complete log and supporting evidence in case of audit.
30 PDHPer biennial period
15 PDHMaximum carryover
3 PeriodsRecord-retention term
3–5%Randomly audited renewals
Core Requirements
Complete 30 PDH during the qualifying biennium
| Requirement | West Virginia rule |
|---|---|
| Total hours | Complete at least 30 PDH during the applicable two-year renewal period. |
| Carryover | Up to 15 excess PDH may be carried into the immediately following biennial renewal period. |
| Ethics | The current engineering rule does not prescribe a separate ethics-hour minimum. Relevant engineering ethics may qualify as professional development. |
| Provider approval | The Board does not preapprove course offerings. It retains final authority over course acceptance and the number of PDH allowed. |
| Renewal reporting | Certify completion, report total PDH earned, and identify requested carryover during renewal. Detailed evidence is submitted if selected for audit. |
| Renewal schedule | West Virginia PE licenses renew biennially during late November and December of even-numbered years. |
Qualifying Activities
Online and independent-study formats are expressly recognized
Professional relevance
- Engineering design and analysis
- Codes, standards, and regulations
- Public health, safety, and welfare
- Risk and quality management
- Professional ethics
- Emerging engineering technologies
- Project and engineering management
- Topics supporting competent practice
Acceptance is determined after the fact: Because the Board does not preapprove offerings, select activities that clearly support professional engineering competence and retain enough material to demonstrate their value.
Credit Calculations
Use the Board's stated conversion factors
| Activity | West Virginia credit |
|---|---|
| Professional-development activity | One hour of coursework, seminar, convention, workshop, or technical-committee work equals 1 PDH. |
| Continuing Education Unit | One CEU equals 10 PDH. |
| College semester credit | One semester credit hour equals 15 PDH; a typical three-credit course therefore equals 45 PDH. |
| College quarter credit | One quarter credit hour equals 10 PDH; a typical three-credit course therefore equals 30 PDH. |
| Teaching | One hour of eligible teaching earns 2 PDH when outside regular employment duties or newly developed and first presented. |
| Publication or patent | Each qualifying published engineering paper, article, or patent earns 10 PDH. |
Online-PDH course format
West Virginia expressly recognizes online, correspondence, recorded, short-course, and tutorial formats. A relevant Online-PDH course supported by learning material, completion records, assessment results, and a detailed certificate fits these recognized delivery methods, subject to final Board review.
Records and Audit
Keep documentation for three renewal periods
The licensee must maintain a chronological professional-development log and supporting participation evidence for three renewal periods. Carryover credit should appear first, followed by activities earned during the current period.
The Board randomly selects approximately 3–5% of renewals and may also review renewals containing questionable CE claims.
Thirty-day cure period: A licensee denied renewal for insufficient CE is provided 30 days to obtain the deficiency and submit satisfactory documentation. Failure to do so can invalidate the registration.
Exemptions and Status
Several limited exemptions may apply
First renewal
A newly registered PE, whether licensed by examination or reciprocity, is exempt from PDH for the first renewal period.
Military service
A registrant serving on active duty for more than 120 consecutive days in a calendar year is exempt from the hours required during that year, subject to applicable law.
Illness or hardship
Physical disability, illness, or another extenuating circumstance may support an exemption, but Board review, approval, and supporting documentation are required.
Retired or nonpracticing status
Qualifying retired registrants are exempt while not receiving remuneration for engineering services. Returning to active practice may require delinquent PDH, up to 30 hours, and reinstatement.
Official Sources
Verify current West Virginia requirements
Informational notice: This summary is not legal advice or a guarantee of course acceptance. The West Virginia PE Board has final authority over qualifying activities, credit, exemptions, audits, and renewal compliance.
Last modified: Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 1:35 PM