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

Requirements Overview

Of the required 30 PDH per biennium, South Dakota mandates at least 20 hours in technical subjects tied to the licensee's field of practice — covering design, structural systems, construction methods, building codes, and related areas — while up to 10 hours may cover professional management topics such as ethics, business practice, and quality management. The requirement is set by ARSD Chapter 20:38:35 under SDCL 36-18A-39.

Excess PDH beyond 30 can carry forward, capped at 15 hours, but only from the immediately preceding biennium. Online, correspondence, and self-study courses qualify for credit as long as they include verifiable, recorded passing test scores. The Board does not pre-approve courses; licensees must submit a signed PDH log as a PDF by email at renewal, and certify its accuracy under penalty of perjury.

Mandatory Topics

Exemptions

• ✓
  Military Active Duty — A licensee serving on temporary active duty in the U.S. Armed forces for more than 120 consecutive days in the biennium prior to renewal is exempt from the CE requirement for that biennium.

  Supporting documentation must be furnished to the board
• ✓
  Disability Illness Hardship — A licensee experiencing physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances in the last six months of the biennium prior to renewal may be exempt from the CE requirement for that biennium.

  Supporting documentation must be furnished to the board
• ✓
  Inactive Or Retired — A licensee maintaining inactive or retired status, subject to the provisions of the chapter.

How You Can Complete Your CE

South Dakota CE Rules & Limits

Details specific to South Dakota that generic CE guides tend to miss:

• Carry-over — If a licensee obtains more than 30 PDH in a biennium, up to 15 PDH may be carried over to the following biennium. Carried-over PDH may only be carried over from the immediately previous biennium.
• PDH documentation must be submitted in a log format saved as a PDF file and emailed to sdbtp@state.sd.us; physical submissions are not accepted.
• Licensees must certify the accuracy of their PDH log under penalty of perjury.
• If selected for audit, supporting documentation must be submitted within 30 calendar days of notification.
• Of the 30 PDH: at least 20 must be technical subjects; up to 10 may be professional management subjects such as total quality management, professional business practice, and ethics.
• A person licensed in more than one profession regulated by the board must obtain a combined total of 30 PDH biennially, with at least one-third obtained in each profession (ARSD 20:38:35:04).
• Requirements are mandated by SDCL 36-18A-39 and ARSD Chapter 20:38:35:01-10; licensees are referred to the board 'Blue Book' for full detail.
• An alternative 12 CEH per calendar year option applies to licensed architects only and is not available to professional engineers (ARSD 20:38:35:02).

Provider Requirements

The board does not pre-approve courses or providers. The board is the final authority for approval of PDH credit.

Tips for South Dakota PEs

• Cap professional management/ethics hours at 10 — anything beyond that doesn't count toward the 30 PDH total.
• Keep records of online course completion including proof of passing test scores, since the board does not pre-approve courses.
• If you exceed 30 PDH, only 15 hours carry to the next biennium — plan accordingly rather than banking a large surplus.
• Submit your PDH log as a PDF via email to sdbtp@state.sd.us before renewal; physical submissions aren't accepted.
• If licensed in multiple professions under the board, track at least one-third of your combined 30 PDH total in each profession.

Sources

PE Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in South Dakota

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.