IOWA PDH FOR ENGINEERS

Professional Development Hours (PDH) Requirements

Continuing education for licensed Professional Engineers in Iowa

Here is a summary of the engineering continuing education requirements mandated by the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau for Engineers and Land Surveyors.

PDH for Iowa Engineers

Hours Required

30 hours biennially

Renewal Dates

December 31 even-numbered years or odd-numbered years depending on the date of initial licensure.

Board Approval

The Board does not pre-approve providers or specific courses. Each engineer must determine whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements.

Approved Content

Not Accepted Topic Areas:

1. Personal Development

The catalog on this website lists courses and webinars by Topic Areas. Due to Board restrictions on content, you should avoid earning your PDH in the Topic Areas listed above.

Ethics requirement effective with renewals in December 2019: The Board now requires Professional Engineers to complete 2 PDH covering the subject of Ethics as a part of the mandated hours.1

The Board defines accepted continuing education activities as “education which is obtained by a professional or occupational licensee in order to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure or to develop new and relevant skills and knowledge.” The board segregates PDH credits into Group 1 and Group 2 activities.

Group 1 Activities
There are limitations on the number of hours allowed in each type of course area for Group 1 activities, which are intended to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge obtained prior to initial licensure. Here is a list of Group 1 activities along with the corresponding maximum number of PDHs allowed in each 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, environmental regulation, and courses in management of engineering.

Approved Activities

Activity Restrictions:

1. No more than 10 PDH, in each renewal period, can be online, self-study courses

Online self-study courses are considered “independent study” by the Board and are capped at a maximum of 10 PDH each renewal period. NoonPi’s free lunchtime webinars contribute to the overall mandated PDH.

PDH Carryover

A maximum of 15 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period.

Notes

  1. The continuing education requirement for biennial licensure renewal for an individual who is active in both engineering and land surveying is 20 PDH in engineering and 20 PDH in land surveying. For an individual active in both engineering and land surveying, a total of 4 PDH covering the subject of Ethics must be earned.
  2. Courses in CAD and fundamental computer applications will generally not be acceptable as either Group 1 or Group 2 activities. Only computer courses that have the solution of engineering or land surveying problems as a purpose will be considered acceptable.

Last updated on June 13, 2019

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Disclaimer: The information listed above represents a summary of the Board’s requirements and is provided solely for the convenience of NoonPi customers. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, Professional Development Options and its affiliate NoonPi make no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the data listed above. It is the responsibility of each engineer to investigate the Board’s rules to ensure his/her own compliance. You are strongly encouraged to contact the Board directly for a complete listing of the Board’s current requirements.