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

Requirements Overview

The baseline for an engineering-only PE is 30 PDH per biennium, of which at least 2 PDH must be in professional ethics; the ethics hours count toward, not on top of, the 30. Engineers actively licensed in both engineering and land surveying must instead complete 40 PDH—20 in each profession—including at least 4 ethics PDH. New licensees satisfy one-half of the requirement at their first renewal, though comity licensees do not qualify for that reduction.

Up to 15 PDH may be carried forward into the next biennium. Online delivery is allowed: live and interactive online courses and online video courses have no separate cap, but independent study with no real-time interaction—such as Internet courses—is limited to 10 PDH per biennium and requires a completion certificate and written evaluation. The board does not preapprove providers and holds final authority over credit. The governing rule is 193C-7.5(1).

Mandatory Topics

Renewal Pathways

Exemptions

• ✓
  Inactive License — Inactive licensees are exempt from the continuing education requirements.

  A licensee active in one profession and inactive in another must meet CE for the profession in which active licensure is maintained.
• ✓
  New Licensee (First Renewal) — New licensee satisfies one-half of the biennial requirement at first renewal following initial licensure.

  PEs and PLSs licensed by comity are not new licensees and are not eligible for the one-half reduction.
• ✓
  Military / Out-Of-Country / Out-Of-State Resident (Proportional Reduction) — CE may be reduced proportionally for honorable active military duty, residence and licensure in another state with CE requirements, government PE work assigned outside the U.S., or board-approved active practice absent from the U.S.

  No exemption is granted without a written request from the licensee with documentation of the period of absence.
• ✓
  Hardship Or Extenuating Circumstances Waiver — Upon written request, the board may grant a waiver of CE requirements for a period not to exceed one year in cases of hardship or extenuating circumstances.

  Granted on an individual-case basis at board discretion; maximum 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 — Engineering-only PE: up to 15 PDH may be carried forward into the next biennium only. Individuals actively licensed in both engineering and land surveying: up to 10 PDH per profession may be carried forward into the next biennium only.
• Renewal cycle is biennial (2 years). Baseline for an engineering-only PE is 30 PDH per biennium including at least 2 PDH in professional ethics (rule 193C-7.5(1)).
• Independent study (defined as any course/activity with no real-time interaction between provider and licensee, such as Internet courses) is limited to a maximum of 10 PDH per biennium and must include a written evaluation process, a certificate of completion, and an evaluation assessment (rule 193C-7.4(3)).
• Live/interactive online courses and online video courses are allowable activities without a stated separate cap (rule 193C-7.3(1)(d),(i)).
• Teaching credit: 2 PDH per contact hour, valid for teaching a course/seminar for the first time only, not applicable to full-time faculty, and limited to 10 PDH per biennial renewal period (rule 193C-7.3(2)).
• The board does not preapprove offerings; it has final authority over course approval and PDH value and may deny renewal for insufficient CE (rule 193C-7.3(3)).
• Individuals actively licensed in both engineering and land surveying must complete 40 PDH (20 engineering + 20 land surveying) including at least 4 ethics PDH; carryover up to 10 PDH per profession (rule 193C-7.5(1)).
• New licensees complete one-half of the biennial requirement at first renewal; comity licensees are excluded from this reduction (rule 193C-7.5(4)).
• Licensees must retain documentation of reported PDHs for two years after the period for which the renewal form was submitted; the board conducts random and for-cause compliance reviews (rule 193C-7.8).
• Chapter 7 rescission date pursuant to Iowa Code section 17A.7 is 4/10/29. Current rule text reflects ARC 7670C (IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24).

Provider Requirements

The board does not preapprove providers or courses. No preapproval of offerings will be issued; the board has final authority over approval of courses, credit, and PDH value, and may deny renewal upon a determination of insufficient or unsatisfactory continuing education.

Tips for Iowa PEs

• Include at least 2 PDH of professional ethics within your 30—these count toward the total, not in addition to it.
• Limit non-interactive Internet or self-paced courses to 10 PDH; live and interactive online courses are uncapped.
• Carry forward up to 15 unused PDH, but only into the immediately following biennium.
• If you hold both PE and PLS licenses, plan for 40 PDH total with at least 4 ethics hours.
• Keep PDH documentation for two years after renewal; the board runs random and for-cause reviews.

Sources

PE Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Iowa

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.