Delaware PE CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

The 24 PDH obligation breaks down into required and capped categories. Ethics must account for no fewer than 2 and no greater than 6 PDH per period, while business or project management is limited to a maximum of 9 PDH. The remaining hours must relate to the licensee's area of technical practice. Dual PE/PS licensees may apply up to 12 PDH toward the technical practice of surveying.

Delaware does not permit carry-over: hours earned beyond the required 24 in one biennium cannot be applied to a later period. Distance-education courses delivered by correspondence, television, DVD, or the Internet are accepted with no numeric cap. DAPE does not pre-approve courses or providers, and the Council retains final authority over credit. These rules are set under 24 Del. Code Ch. 28 and the DAPE CPC Guidelines.

Mandatory Topics

Renewal Pathways

Exemptions

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  New Licensee By Exam — New licensees by way of examination are exempt for their first renewal period.
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  Military Active Duty — A licensee on temporary active duty in the U.S. Armed forces exceeding 120 consecutive days in a year is exempt during that renewal period.
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  Hardship — Licensees with disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances may apply for an exemption or extension of time, subject to Council review and approval.

  Supporting documentation must be furnished to the Council.
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  Inactive Status — Licensees with 'Inactive' status on the Council roster are exempt from the requirements.

  To return to active practice, PDHs must be earned for each year exempted, not to exceed the annual requirement for 2 years.
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  Retired Status — Licensees with 'Retired' status on the Council roster are exempt from the requirements.

How You Can Complete Your CE

Delaware CE Rules & Limits

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

• Annual minimum — at least 12 hours must be completed each year of the cycle, not just by the renewal deadline.
• Carry-over — No carry-over permitted. PDHs earned in excess of the required 24 during a biennial period may not be carried forward to any subsequent renewal period.
• License renewal is biennial (2-year renewal period); 24 PDH are required per period.
• Ethics: no less than 2 and no more than 6 PDH; business/project management: no more than 9 PDH; the balance must relate to the licensee's area of technical practice.
• Records must be retained for a minimum of three years. DAPE accepts a log and documentation via the NCEES Tracking Tool.
• The Council conducts a random biennial audit of up to 5% of licensees; licensees who do not renew on-time are subject to automatic audit.
• PDH conversions: 1 semester hour = 45 PDH; 1 quarter hour = 30 PDH; 1 CEU = 10 PDH; 1 hour of seminar/presentation = 1 PDH. Teaching applies a 2x multiplier for the first offering.
• Other credit: peer-reviewed paper/book/chapter = 10 PDH; published paper/article = 5 PDH; peer review = 2 PDH; society participation = 3 PDH/year/committee (max 6/org/year); each patent = 10 PDH; outreach = 1 PDH/hour, not to exceed 4 PDH/year.
• Out-of-jurisdiction residents may meet their home jurisdiction's CPC requirements; if that jurisdiction has no CPC requirement or exempts them, they must meet Delaware's requirements or the NCEES CPC Standard.
• Falsely claiming CPC compliance at renewal is treated as an ethical violation.

Provider Requirements

DAPE does not pre-approve courses or providers. The Council has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, and PDH value.

Tips for Delaware PEs

• Track ethics carefully—you need at least 2 PDH, but earning more than 6 will not count toward the requirement.
• Do not bank extra hours; Delaware carry-over is prohibited, so surplus PDH from one biennium are lost.
• Keep the business/project management category under 9 PDH, and direct the balance into your technical practice area.
• Retain CE records for at least three years; DAPE audits up to 5% of licensees and auto-audits late renewals.
• New licensees by examination are exempt for their first renewal period.

Sources

PE Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Delaware

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.