BY DYLAN ALBERGO, PE, FBPE Chair (2024)
Renewal for all Professional Engineers licensed in Florida is near, and continuing-education (CE) hours for the upcoming renewal period must be completed and reported (emphasis on reported). But no worries, I’m from the Board, and I’m here to help.
CE requirements do not fall under the same category as over-burdensome regulations that put up barriers to and stifles innovation. The requirement is well-intentioned and critical for personal and professional development. If we are the trailblazers who push boundaries and create a safer society in a world of nonstop technological advancement, it’s our responsibility to stay abreast of the latest trends, research, and technology.
The price to pay for failing to complete CE can have damaging long-term effects but can also have near-term consequences for you personally in the form of fines, additional education, and, if egregious enough, suspension. (See Rule 61G15‐19.004, Florida Administrative Code, for a full range of possible penalties.) Another substantial consequence is having to report any action deemed disciplinary to every other State Board where you are licensed. Put simply, if you are licensed in 25 other states, you have the potential of having 25 additional investigations opened up on you if you are disciplined here.
Taking quality CE is everyone’s responsibility. The Board focuses more on outcomes rather than dictating the precise class, seminar, workshop, etc., that engineers should take. Allowing the freedom to take CE in various areas of interest, practice, and emerging technologies offers the industry more opportunities to be dynamic, presenting on the latest innovations without having to maneuver through layers of bureaucratic red tape.
In 1986, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, famously said, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.” He understood that many of society’s problems could be attributed to the government “trying to help.”
While I do not think requiring 18 hours of continuing education rises to the level of government regulation that is actually harmful, I do think that individually we are all more effective and capable of finding and taking good CE, and it should be our responsibility. Please ensure that before the Feb. 28, 2025, renewal deadline, you complete and report (using the NCEES CPC Tracking system) your 18 hours of continuing education.
Dylan Albergo, PE, of Tampa, specializes in bridge design and engineering project management. He has served as FBPE chair since 2023 and was its vice chair in 2022. He chairs the special inspector rules committee and serves on the application review and the FEMC operations committees.