Missouri Land Surveyor CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 20 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects (APELSLA) requires each licensed professional land surveyor to complete a minimum of 20 professional development units (PDUs) during the two-year period immediately preceding renewal (20 CSR 2030-8.020) — a lighter load than the 30 hours Missouri asks of professional engineers.
Of those 20 PDUs, at least 2 must be in Surveying Standards, pointing to 20 CSR 2030 Chapters 16 and 17 and/or Chapters 60 and 327, RSMo (a requirement effective March 30, 2016). A PDU is earned for every 50 to 60 minutes of qualifying activity.
Excess hours help you later: up to 10 PDUs may be carried into the next two-year period. New licensees (held less than 12 months at first renewal) and those on active military duty are excused, and a surveyor who cannot meet the requirement may place the license on inactive status rather than renew as active.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surveying Standards | 2 | Every renewal | At least 2 of the 20 PDUs must be in Surveying Standards (20 CSR 2030, Chapters 16 and 17, and/or Chapters 60 and 327, RSMo) during the two-year period immediately preceding renewal. |
Exemptions
- Newly Licensed (First Renewal) — A licensee who has held licensure less than twelve (12) months need not report PDUs at the first renewal.
- Active Military Duty — A licensee on active duty in the military is exempt from the PDU requirement for the renewal period during the service.
- Good Cause / Hardship — For good cause shown, the board may grant an extension or make-up period to complete the required PDUs.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Missouri CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Missouri that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — A licensee who completes more than 20 PDUs during the two years immediately preceding renewal may carry forward up to 10 PDUs into the next two-year period.
- A PDU is earned for every 50 to 60 minutes of qualifying activity (20 CSR 2030-8.020(4)(B)).
- The 2-PDU Surveying Standards requirement (effective March 30, 2016) points to 20 CSR 2030 Chapters 16 and 17 and/or Chapters 60 and 327, RSMo.
- A surveyor who cannot meet the requirement may place the license on inactive status instead of renewing as active.
- Retain records of completed PDU activities for four years after the reporting period; a completed PDU documentation form must be submitted with renewal.
Tips for Missouri PLSs
- Reserve 2 of your 20 PDUs for Surveying Standards tied to 20 CSR 2030 Chapters 16/17 and/or Chapters 60 and 327, RSMo — a generic surveying course will not satisfy this piece.
- Remember a PDU is 50 to 60 minutes of qualifying activity, so plan course lengths accordingly when totaling to 20.
- Carry up to 10 excess PDUs into the next two-year cycle if you over-earn, but not more than that.
- If you cannot complete the hours, consider inactive status instead of renewing active — it avoids a compliance violation while you are not practicing.
- Keep your PDU documentation form and supporting records for four years; you submit the form at renewal and must be able to back it up.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects (APELSLA)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
PLS Requirements in Nearby States
Other Professions in Missouri
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