Georgia Land Surveyor CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 15 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Georgia State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors requires every land surveyor to obtain 7.5 PDH each year (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 180-11-.03(2)). Land surveyor licenses renew biennially, by December 31 of even-numbered years, so a full renewal cycle covers 15 PDH.
One subject is mandatory: once every two years, at least 3 PDH must be in Minimum Technical Standards — defined as a review of all Georgia board rules and state laws pertaining to the practice of land surveying. These hours count within the 15-PDH total rather than adding to it.
Excess hours carry over modestly: up to 3.75 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period. Correspondence and recorded/online formats are accepted (180-11-.04). Note that a 2022 law (HB 476) moved professional engineers to annual renewal, but land surveyors still renew in even-numbered years, and their two-year total remained 15 PDH. Keep attendance records for four years.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Technical Standards (Georgia board rules and surveying laws) | 3 | Every renewal | Once every two years, at least 3 PDH must be in 'Minimum Technical Standards' — a review of all board rules and applicable state laws pertaining to the practice of land surveying specific to Georgia. These count within the overall PDH total. |
Exemptions
- First Renewal After Licensure — A surveyor is exempt from the CPC requirement for the first renewal following initial licensure.
- Active Military Service — Licensees on military service exceeding 120 days may be exempt.
- Disability Or Illness — Licensees prevented from meeting the requirement by disability or illness may be exempt.
- Inactive License Holders Over 65 — Inactive license holders over age 65 are exempt.
- Senior Active Practitioners — Active practitioners over age 65 with 25 or more consecutive years of licensure are exempt.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Georgia CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Georgia that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Annual minimum — at least 7.5 hours must be completed each year of the cycle, not just by the renewal deadline.
- Carry-over — If a land surveyor exceeds the requirement in an annual period, up to 3.75 excess PDH may be carried forward into the subsequent renewal period.
- The requirement is measured per year: 7.5 PDH each year, totaling 15 PDH across the biennial renewal (December 31 of even-numbered years).
- Once every two years, at least 3 of those PDH must be in Minimum Technical Standards — a review of Georgia board rules and state surveying laws.
- Up to 3.75 excess PDH may be carried forward into the subsequent renewal period.
- Under HB 476 (2022), professional engineers moved to annual renewal, but land surveyors continue to renew in even-numbered years; the surveyor PDH total remained 15 over two years.
- Keep attendance and completion records for four years for audit purposes.
Tips for Georgia PLSs
- Aim for 7.5 PDH each year rather than 15 in one year — the rule is written as an annual figure, and the modest 3.75-PDH carryover cap limits how much you can bank ahead.
- Schedule the 3-PDH Minimum Technical Standards course (Georgia board rules and surveying laws) at least once every two years; it is a specific carve-out, not generic technical credit.
- Confirm your renewal deadline: land surveyors renew by December 31 of even-numbered years, unlike Georgia engineers who now renew annually.
- Online, correspondence, and recorded short courses are accepted formats under 180-11-.04, so distance learning counts toward the 15 PDH.
- Keep attendance and completion records for four years; the board audits and may request proof of every PDH, including the Minimum Technical Standards hours.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Georgia State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
PLS Requirements in Nearby States
Other Professions in Georgia
All Land Surveyor CE Requirements by State
Open any other state's Land Surveyor CE (PDH) requirements, or see the full Land Surveyor CE hub to compare every state in one table.