Maine Land Surveyor CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 8 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

The Maine State Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors, part of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), requires every professional land surveyor to complete continuing education before renewal. Under Board Rule Chapter 70, you must earn 8 hours of Board-approved education during the preceding license term, and licenses renew on a two-year cycle that ends December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

There is no per-year minimum — the 8 hours are measured across the full term — but carryover is not permitted, so extra hours from one term cannot be pushed into the next. One hour of credit equals one hour of actual instructional time, excluding breaks and meals.

Newly licensed surveyors get a reduced first renewal: 4 hours if first licensed in the first year of the term, and none if first licensed in the second year. Hardship deferments and active-duty military waivers are available on request.

Exemptions

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  First Renewal (Licensed In First Year Of Term) — A surveyor who received an initial license during the first year of the two-year license term must complete only 4 hours of professional education at the time of first renewal.
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  First Renewal (Licensed In Second Year Of Term) — A surveyor who received an initial license during the second year of the term has no continuing education requirement for the first renewal.
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  Hardship Deferment — The board may grant a deferment of the continuing education requirement in hardship situations pursuant to 10 M.R.S. §8003(5-A)(D)(4).
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  Active Duty Military Waiver — Active duty military personnel receive a waiver of the continuing education requirement as specified in 10 M.R.S. §390-A.

How You Can Complete Your CE

Maine CE Rules & Limits

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

• The requirement is 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education per two-year license term. Licenses renew biennially, expiring December 31 of each odd-numbered year (02-360 C.M.R. Ch. 70 §3; 32 M.R.S. §18225).
• Carryover of excess continuing education credit from one license term to another is not permitted (Chapter 70 §3).
• First-renewal proration: a surveyor first licensed in the first year of the term needs only 4 hours at first renewal; one first licensed in the second year of the term needs none for the first renewal (Chapter 70 §4).
• Acceptable activities include seminars, courses, workshops and in-service training, delivered live or by distance education; providers must document the content area, date, and hours earned (Chapter 70 §5).
• Approved content areas include land surveying practice, business administration relevant to surveying, land use regulation, related fields (e.g., civil/environmental engineering, soils, geology, forestry, title/real estate law), relevant computer skills, technical communication, and compliance with board laws and rules (Chapter 70 §6).
• Compliance is self-certified at renewal and is subject to audit under OPOR Chapter 13, the Uniform Rule for the Substantiation of Continuing Education Requirements (Chapter 70 §2).

Tips for Maine PLSs

• Aim to finish all 8 hours before your December 31 (odd-year) renewal deadline — because carryover between terms is prohibited, hours banked beyond 8 in one term are simply lost.
• If you were licensed partway through a term, check Chapter 70 §4: you owe 4 hours at first renewal if licensed in the first year of the term, and nothing if licensed in the second year.
• Online and distance-education courses count. Chapter 70 §5 accepts seminars, courses, workshops and in-service training delivered live or by distance methods.
• Keep your provider certificates showing the content area, date, and hours earned — Maine self-certifies at renewal but audits compliance under OPOR Chapter 13.
• If illness or hardship prevents you from finishing, ask the Board about a deferment (10 M.R.S. §8003) before your renewal date; active-duty military members can request a waiver.

Sources

PLS Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Maine

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.