Ohio PE CE (PDH) Requirements (2026): 30 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (PEPS) requires 30 CPD hours per biennial (two-year) renewal, of which 2 hours must address professional ethics or the rules governing engineering practice. This requirement took effect January 1, 2018 under House Bill 236 and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733.
Ohio defines acceptable CPD by activity type rather than by an approved-provider list — courses from professional organizations, universities, in-house corporate programs, seminars, and online courses all qualify. You may carry up to 15 excess hours from the immediately preceding biennium, but hours cannot be earned in advance ("anticipated"). Licensees self-certify compliance at renewal without submitting documentation, but must keep an activity log and certificates for four years in case of a random audit.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional ethics or rules relevant to the practices of engineering or surveying | 2 | Every renewal | 2 of the 30 biennial CPD hours must be in professional ethics or rules. The Board encourages courses based on Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733 and the Board’s Code of Ethics for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. |
Exemptions
- Active Duty Military Waiver — An exemption from the CPD requirement may be granted if a registrant is on active duty in the U.S. Military. A written request with official documentation of military active duty must be made to the Board.Requires written request to the BoardRequires official documentation of military active duty
- Medical Waiver — In limited cases the Board may grant an exemption from the CPD requirement because of a medical condition and/or reason. A Medical Waiver Request form (not available online) plus a written letter of explanation must be submitted to the Board for approval.Granted only in limited casesMust contact the Board for the Medical Waiver Request formRequires a written letter of explanation and Board approval
How You Can Complete Your CE
Ohio CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Ohio that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — Up to 15 excess CPD hours may be carried over from the immediately preceding biennium if the licensee exceeded the requirement in that biennium and has documentation showing the excess hours. CPD hours cannot be anticipated (earned before the reporting period).
- Records supporting CPD (activity log plus completion certificates / attendance documentation) must be maintained for four years and made available to the Board for random audit or verification.
- The Board does not require CPD documentation at renewal; the licensee self-certifies compliance and may be selected for a random audit during the renewal period.
- Ethics CPD should be based on Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733 and the Board’s Code of Ethics for Professional Engineers and Surveyors; state-specific courses based on another state’s laws/rules are not acceptable.
- Teaching or instructing a relevant course, seminar, or workshop earns credit for the first time only.
- Technical articles in publications/trade journals requiring successful completion of a test are capped at a maximum of 3.0 hours per year.
- Live web seminars earn credit only if the provider can verify and confirm attendance and participation.
- CPD conversion rates: 1 semester hour = 45 CPD; 1 quarter hour = 30 CPD; 1 CEU = 10 CPD; 1 published paper/article/book (year published only) = 10 CPD; 1 U.S. Patent (year awarded only) = 10 CPD; 1 hour at a conference/seminar/workshop = 1 CPD.
- Individual P.E./P.S. Licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years; the renewal period runs November 1 through December 31; renewals are online-only (no paper renewals since 2018).
- Reinstatement after delinquency requires obtaining all delinquent CPD hours and meeting Ohio Administrative Code 4733-25-01.
Provider Requirements
The Board defines acceptable CPD by activity type rather than by an approved-provider list. Qualifying activities include continuing education courses offered by a professional or trade organization, a university or college, or offered in-house by a corporation, when relevant to the practice of engineering or surveying, as well as seminars, conferences, conventions, workshops, and online courses relevant to the profession.
Tips for Ohio PEs
- Base your 2 ethics/rules hours on Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733 and the Board's Code of Ethics — courses built on another state's laws and rules are not accepted.
- You can carry up to 15 excess CPD hours from the immediately preceding biennium, but only with documentation, and hours cannot be earned before the reporting period (no anticipating).
- There is no approved-provider list — Ohio accepts qualifying activities by type, including online courses, but live web seminars only count if the provider can verify and confirm your attendance and participation.
- You self-certify compliance at renewal (online only, November 1 - December 31 of odd years) without sending documents, so keep your log and certificates for four years for a possible random audit.
- Watch the conversion rates: a published paper or U.S. patent is worth 10 CPD in its year, and test-based technical articles are capped at 3 hours per year.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 2 sources cited — 1 primary (official board)
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