Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 7-1-10 - Continuing Professional Competency10.1. As a condition of registration renewal, every registrant shall show evidence that he or she obtained thirty (30) professional development hours (PDH's) during the previous two years.10.2. Requirements. A registrant may earn PDH's by providing evidence of: 10.2.a. Successful completion of college courses;10.2.b. Successful completion of continuing education courses;10.2.c. Successful completion of on-line, correspondence, televised, videotaped, and other short courses or tutorials;10.2.d. Actively participating in seminars, in-house courses, workshops, technical committees of professional engineering organizations, and professional conventions;10.2.e. Teaching or instructing in the activities set forth in subsections 10.2.a. through 10.2.d. if such teaching or instruction is outside of the registrant's regular employment duties or if the registrant can document such teaching activity or instruction was newly developed and presented for the first time; or10.2.f. Authoring published papers, articles, or books.10.3. If a registrant exceeds the requirement in any two-year period of licensure, he or she may carry a maximum of fifteen (15) PDH's forward into the subsequent two-year licensure period.10.4. Units. The conversion of other units of credit to PDH units is as follows: 1 College or unit semester hour | 15 PDH's |
1 College or unit quarter hour | 10 PDH's |
1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) | 10 PDH's |
1 Hour of professional development in course work, seminars, professional conventions, workshops, technical committee work | 1 PDH |
1 Hour of teaching professional development in course work, seminars, professional conventions, workshops | 2 PDH's |
Each published paper or patent on engineering subjects | 10 PDH's |
10.5. Determination of Credit. The Board has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, PDH value for courses, and other methods of earning credit. No pre-approval of offerings will be issued. The Board may deny or invalidate any renewal upon a determination of insufficient or unsatisfactory continuing education.10.6. Forms. All renewal applications require the completion of a continuing education form specified by the Board outlining PDH credit claimed. The registrant shall supply sufficient detail on the form to permit review for approval, shall certify and sign the continuing education form, and shall submit the form with the renewal form and fee.10.7. Record keeping. Each registrant is responsible for his or her own professional development activities. The registrant shall maintain the records to be used to support credits claimed for professional development activities. Records required include, but are not limited to: 1) a log showing the type of activity claimed, the sponsoring organization, the activity's location and duration, the instructor's or speaker's name, and the PDH credits earned; and 2) attendance or participation verification records in the form of completion certificates, paid receipts or other documents supporting evidence of attendance or participation. These records shall be maintained for three renewal periods. Copies of these records and supporting documentation may be requested by the Board for approval and verification purposes.10.8. Continuing Education Verification. 10.8.a. Any registrant may be audited, including Board members and staff.10.8.b. Three to five percent (3-5%) of renewals will be selected at random and contacted by the Board to verify compliance with continuing education claims.10.8.c. Any renewal forms submitted with questionable continuing education shall be added to those selected at random for verification.10.8.d. All verification submissions will be analyzed by the Board who may recommend continued registration, deny or invalidate the renewal, or take such enforcement action as may be appropriate.10.8.e. Those who are denied renewal will be provided a thirty (30) day probationary period in which to acquire the necessary continuing education and submit documentation to the Board. If the registrant fails to submit satisfactory documentation in the given time period, the registration shall be re-designated as invalidated without further action by the Board.10.8.f. A registrant may bring a registration invalidated for insufficient continuing education to active status by obtaining the delinquent PDH's, up to a maximum of thirty (30) PDH's, and submitting a PE reinstatement application and appropriate fees as prescribed in § 7-1-13.4.10.9. Exemptions. An active registrant may be exempt from the professional development educational requirements for one of the following reasons: 10.9.a. A new registrant by way of examination or reciprocity is exempt for his or her first renewal period;10.9.b. A registrant serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days in a calendar year is exempt from obtaining the professional development hours required during that year. The Board shall follow all other laws regarding continuing education for licensees on active duty and their spouses to the extent applicable and appropriate;10.9.c. A registrant experiencing physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances may be exempt subject to review and approval by the Board; the registrant shall furnish supporting documentation to the Board; and10.9.d. Registrants who list their occupation as "Retired" on the Board-approved renewal form and who further certify that they are no longer receiving any remuneration from providing professional engineering services are exempt from the required professional development hours. In the event a retired engineer elects to return to the active practice as a professional engineer, he or she shall comply with the requirements of § 7-1-10.10 before returning to active practice.10.10. Nonpracticing status. A registrant may bring a registration with a nonpracticing status designation to active status by obtaining the delinquent PDH's, up to a maximum of thirty (30) PDH's, and submitting the PE reinstatement application required by § 7-1-9.3.