Alabama PE CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 30 Hours Every 2 Years
We're building a tool that tracks your CE hours and reminds you before your deadline — no more digging through board sites to check where you stand. Join the waitlist:
Requirements Overview
Under Rule 330-X-13-.02 (authorized by Code of Alabama 1975 §34-11-8(a)(2)), professional engineers must earn 30 PDH per 2-year biennial renewal period. A PDH is a contact hour of at least 50 minutes, and the smallest creditable increment is 0.5 PDH. Alabama imposes no mandatory subject areas on PEs; the 4-PDH Standards of Practice and 1-PDH annual ethics requirements apply only to professional land surveyors.
Excess hours carry forward, capped at 15 PDH into the next period, and hours may not be anticipated or reused. Self-study is not accepted, but correspondence, video, audio, and online courses qualify if they require evidence of completion. The Board pre-approves no providers, so licensees judge their own activities. Keep supporting records for four years for random audits; audited licensees must respond within 30 days.
Renewal Pathways
Exemptions
- Military Active Duty — Military licensee on active duty in the U.S. Armed forces exceeding 120 days in a renewal period is exempt from the PDH required during that period.
- Overseas Assignment — Licensee employed as a PE/LS assigned to duty outside the United States exceeding 120 consecutive days in a renewal period is exempt from the PDH required during that period.
- Serious Illness Or Injury — Licensee who during the past year had a serious illness or injury prohibiting completion of CPC requirements may be exempted for the past renewal period; supporting documentation such as a physician's letter must be furnished to the Board.
- Inactive Status — Licensees who list their occupation as Inactive on the renewal form and certify they are not currently practicing engineering or land surveying are exempt from the required PDH.
- New Licensee First Renewal — A new licensee is awarded 30 PDH toward their first renewal (effectively exempting the first renewal period).
How You Can Complete Your CE
Alabama CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Alabama that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — A maximum of 15 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period, whether the licensee is on an annual or biennial cycle. PDH must not be anticipated and cannot be used for more than one renewal period.
- Corroborated by live official BELS pages (HTTP 200): the FAQ 'Does Alabama require continuing education.' answers 'Yes. 30 PDH's every 2 years.' (https://bels.alabama.gov/faq/does-alabama-require-continuing-education-in-order-to-renew-my-pe-or-ls-license/) and the Renewals page.
- A PDH is a contact (clock) hour of not less than 50 minutes of instruction; minimum acceptable fraction is 0.5 PDH (30 minutes).
- Self-study is NOT accepted. Correspondence, video, audio, and online courses are accepted only if they require the participant to show evidence of completion.
- Records supporting claimed PDH must be maintained by the licensee for four (4) years and furnished to the Board upon audit request; they should not be submitted with the renewal.
- The Board conducts random audits; audited licensees must respond within 30 days or a reinstatement fee is applied February 1st.
- Mandatory subject requirements (4 PDH Standards of Practice every two years; 1 PDH ethics every year) apply ONLY to professional land surveyors, not to professional engineers.
- Reinstating an expired or inactive license requires earning 30 PDH to return to active status, in addition to the renewal-period PDH once renewal is due.
- Rule authority: Code of Alabama 1975 Section 34-11-8(a)(2); Rule 330-X-13-.02 footer dated 11/23.
Provider Requirements
The Board does not preapprove or endorse any CPC activities or providers; each licensee is responsible for ensuring claimed PDH meet the rule's requirements. The Board retains final authority over approval of courses and PDH values.
Tips for Alabama PEs
- Alabama sets no mandatory ethics or subject-matter hours for PEs; the ethics and Standards of Practice hours apply only to land surveyors.
- Carry-over is capped at 15 PDH into the next renewal period, and hours cannot be reused across periods.
- Pure self-study does not count; correspondence, video, audio, and online courses qualify only if they require documented evidence of completion.
- Your first renewal is effectively covered — new licensees are awarded 30 PDH toward it.
- The Board keeps no pre-approved provider list, so retain your completion records for four years in case of a random audit.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 1 source cited — 1 primary (official board)
PE Requirements in Nearby States
Other Professions in Alabama
All Professional Engineer CE Requirements by State
Open any other state's PE CE (PDH) requirements, or see the full Professional Engineer CE hub to compare every state in one table.