Iowa Land Surveyor CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 30 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

In Iowa, continuing education is a condition of every land surveyor license renewal, administered by the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board under Iowa Administrative Code 193C, Chapter 7. Licenses renew on a two-year biennial cycle, and each cycle you must earn 30 PDH of qualifying professional development, of which at least 2 PDH must be in the area of professional ethics.

The hours can only be earned during the biennium before renewal, except for carryover: up to 15 PDH may roll forward, but only into the immediately following biennium. Self-paced independent study (Internet courses with no real-time interaction) is limited to 10 PDH per biennium, so the rest must come from live or interactive formats. Surveyors who also hold an Iowa PE license face a higher combined target of 40 PDH.

Mandatory Topics

Exemptions

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  Inactive Licensees — Inactive licensees are exempt from the continuing education requirements.
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  New Licensees (Reduced Requirement) — A new licensee is obligated to satisfy only one-half of the biennial requirement (15 PDH) at the first renewal following initial licensure. Licensees admitted by comity are not treated as new licensees and must meet the full requirement.

  Professional engineers and land surveyors licensed by comity are not eligible for the one-half requirement.
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  Military Active Duty — The requirement may be reduced in proportion to periods the licensee serves honorably on active duty in the military services. A written request with documentation of the period of absence is required.
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  Out-Of-State Resident Meeting Another State'S CE — The requirement may be reduced for periods the licensee is a resident of and licensed in another state or district that has CE requirements for engineers or land surveyors and meets all of that jurisdiction's requirements.
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  Government Employee Assigned Outside The U.S. — The requirement may be reduced in proportion to periods the licensee is a government employee working as an engineer or land surveyor and assigned to duty outside the United States, or documented board-approved periods of active practice absent from the U.S.
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  Hardship Or Extenuating Circumstances — Upon written request, the board may grant a waiver of the CE requirements in cases of hardship or extenuating circumstances for a period not to exceed one year.

How You Can Complete Your CE

Iowa CE Rules & Limits

Details specific to Iowa that generic CE guides tend to miss:

• Carry-over — Up to 15 excess PDH may be carried forward, but only into the next biennium (not beyond one renewal cycle). Dual PE/PLS licensees may carry forward up to 10 PDH for each profession.
• The requirement is 30 PDH per two-year (biennial) renewal cycle, including at least 2 PDH in professional ethics (193C—7.5(1)).
• Independent study — activities with no real-time interaction, such as most self-paced Internet courses — is capped at 10 PDH per biennium, and must include a written evaluation, a completion certificate, and an assessment (193C—7.4(3)).
• New licensees owe only one-half of the requirement (15 PDH) at their first renewal; those admitted by comity do not get this reduction (193C—7.5(4)).
• Dual PE/PLS licensees must complete 40 PDH per biennium — 20 in engineering, 20 in land surveying, and at least 4 in professional ethics (193C—7.5(1)).
• Licensees must keep documentation of reported PDH for two years after the renewal period and produce it if selected for compliance review (193C—7.8).

Tips for Iowa PLSs

• Reserve at least 2 of your 30 PDH for a professional ethics course each biennium — this subject requirement is separate from general technical hours and is verified on the renewal report.
• Watch the independent-study cap: only 10 PDH per biennium can come from self-paced Internet courses with no real-time interaction, so plan at least 20 PDH from live webinars, seminars, or classroom sessions.
• You can carry up to 15 excess PDH forward, but only into the very next biennium — hours banked beyond that are lost, so time longer courses accordingly.
• If you are newly licensed, you only owe 15 PDH (half the requirement) at your first renewal; surveyors admitted by comity do not get this reduction and must meet the full 30.
• Keep certificates and records for every PDH claimed for two years after the renewal period — the board audits licensees at random and on reinstatement.

Sources

PLS Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Iowa

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.