Continuing education

Professional Engineers licensed in Florida must take 18 continuing education (CE) course hours every two years in order to renew their licenses.

Of the 18 hours, one hour must relate to the Florida laws and rules of Professional Engineers from a Board-approved provider, and one hour must relate to professional ethics. Four hours must relate to area of practice. The remaining 12 hours may be related to any topic pertinent to the practice of engineering.

Up to four hours of the continuing education course hours may be obtained by serving as an officer for a Board-recognized professional or technical engineering society. The required hours relating to Florida law and rules, and ethics may also be earned by a PE serving as a member of the Legislature or as an elected state or local official.

Continuing education hours may be earned by presenting or attending seminars, in-house or non-classroom courses, workshops, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, webinars, conventions, or conferences, including those presented by vendors with specific knowledge related to the licensee’s area of practice.

Refer to Section 471.017(3), Florida Statutes, and Rule 61G15-22, F.A.C., for a full description of continuing education requirements for licensed engineers. You can view the statute in its entirety by going to the Statutes and Rules page under the Legal section of our website.

CONTINUING EDUCATION RECORD RETENTION RULE FOR LICENSEES

Professional Engineers licensed in Florida are required to retain sufficient records demonstrating completion of qualifying professional development hours for at least four years.

Rule 61G15-22.006, F.A.C., Demonstrating Compliance; Audits; Investigations.

(1) In order to demonstrate compliance with continuing education requirements, licensees must affirmatively declare completion of the continuing education requirements upon licensure renewal.

(2) The Board will randomly audit a minimum of three percent (3%) of licensees to assure that the continuing education requirements are met. …

(3) The licensee shall retain such receipts, vouchers, certificates, or other papers as may be necessary to document completion of the continuing education pursuant to an audit for four (4) years from the date of completion of the continuing education activity. In addition, the Board shall use attendance information submitted by the provider to determine whether licensees can demonstrate compliance.

The random CE audit is conducted beginning in June following a renewal cycle. If you are selected as part of the audit you will be notified by the Board and be required to provide proof of completion of all hours related to your continuing education for that last renewal cycle. If you have any questions regarding record retention of CE hours or reporting please contact the Board office at (850) 521-0500, ext. 113, or email cedesk@fbpe.org.

*** ATTENTION NEW LICENSEES AFTER MARCH 2021 ***

If you passed your Principles & Practice of Engineering exam between March 1, 2021, and Oct. 1, 2022, and became licensed in Florida during the 2021-23 biennium, you are required to pay only the fee to renew your license. You do not need to complete the 18 hours of continuing education for this renewal cycle. Please see Rule 61G15-22.009, Florida Administration Code, Exemptions From Continuing Education Requirements.

However, you must still take an Advanced Building Code course if your engineering practice includes the design of engineering works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code.

Effective with the 2023-25 biennium, you will be responsible for completing your continuing education hours and paying the renewal fee to renew your license by Feb. 28. 2025.

If you have any questions about renewing your license, please call us at (850) 521-0500 and select “Renewal” to speak to a representative, or email renewal@fbpe.org.

*** ATTENTION CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDERS ***

CE providers are not required to report CE credits for engineers to FBPE. CE providers must provide certificates to licensees as required by rule. If selected for a CE audit, the licensee will provide the appropriate certificates to FBPE.

Please refer to Section 471.017, F.S., to review the changes to the continuing education requirements for Professional Engineers, and Rule 61G15-22.001, F.A.C., for continuing education provider requirements for Board approval.

If you have any questions regarding CE provider renewal, please feel free to contact the Board office at (850) 521-0500, ext. 113, or cedesk@fbpe.org.

COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING CONTINUING EDUCATION

Click one of the commonly asked questions below to expand the answer.

If I am a CE Provider how do I add new courses?

If you need to add courses to your listing, please email Nancy Wilkins at cedesk@fbpe.org, and include your provider name and license number; the name of the course; and the PDH value of the course. You will then receive a number for that course.

Is there a separate application for providing a Florida laws and rules course?

Yes. The application for providing a Florida laws and rules course available on the Provider Application Process and Renewal page under the Continuing Education section.

Do CE providers have to report CE credits to FBPE?

No. Providers are not required to report CE credits to FBPE. Rule 61G15-22.006, F.A.C., Demonstrating Compliance; Audits; Investigations, F.A.C., requires Professional Engineer licensees to maintain sufficient records demonstrating completion of qualifying professional development hours for at least four years. CE providers must provide completion certificates to course participants/licensees. Those licensees may be subject to an audit after renewal.

Do unused or extra CE credits carry over to the next biennium?

No. All CE credits must be earned within the single biennium for which they are claimed. See Rule 61G15-22.001(2), Continuing Education Requirements, F.A.C.

How long is a CE provider required to hold onto a participant’s records?

As a provider, you should be aware that you are obligated to provide certificates of completion to all course attendees and you are also required to maintain accurate records for four years. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a loss of your provider license and the ability to provide continuing education courses to Florida engineers.

How often am I required to renew my provider license, and can I renew my license online?

You are required to renew your provider license every two years. This can be done online using the renewal system at myfloridalicense.com. You will need to create an account, if you have not created one already. You will need your license number and activation code (the last four digits of your FEIN) to access your account.

How much is the fee for renewal of my CE provider license?

The renewal fee for continuing education providers is $250.

Can I fax or email my CE certificates to the Board?

No. You are no longer required to report continuing education to the Board. Pursuant to Rule 61G15-22.006, Demonstrating Compliance, F.A.C., you are responsible for retaining receipts, certificates, or other documentation as may be necessary to demonstrate completion of continuing education if you are audited. You must retain these records for four years from the date of completion of the continuing education course.

The only exception is that Professional Engineers who complete the Advanced Building Code course must provide documentation to the Board so that it may be added to your record, pursuant to Section 471.0195, Florida Statutes.

I am a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and several other states. Can I use CE credit obtained for my other licenses towards the requirement for my Florida license? If so, how do I document proof of completion of the continuing education?

With the exception of the one-hour Florida Laws & Rules requirement, you may apply continuing education credit earned for another state’s engineering license to your 18 hours, assuming it meets the criteria set forth in 471.017, F.S., Renewal of License, and Rule 61G15-22.001, F.A.C., Continuing Education Requirements. And CE providers must meet the requirements detailed in Rule 61G15‐22.011, F.A.C., Board Approval of Continuing Education Providers.

A list of Board-approved CE providers and courses can be found on myfloridalicense.com. If you are unsure if a provider or course is approved or acceptable, call the Board office at (850) 521-0500, and ask to speak to a representative in the Continuing Education department.

Refer to Rule 61G15-22.003, F.A.C., Demonstrating Compliance, which provides that all licensees are responsible for maintaining the appropriate documentation necessary to evidence completion of CE each biennium.

Isn't there some training required for the Florida Building Code?

Yes. Chapter 471.0195, F.S., Florida Building Code Training for Engineers, requires Professional Engineers covered by the law to take and report advanced or specialized courses on any portion of the Florida Building Code applicable to the licensee’s area of practice.

Rule 61G15-22.001, F.A.C., states:

(3) Beginning with the Fifth Edition of the Florida Building Code, all licensees actively participating in the design of engineering works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code, as identified within Section 553.73(1)(a), F.S., shall:

(a) Complete at least one advanced Florida Building Code course within 12 months of each edition of the Florida Building Code effective date,
(b) Provide the Board with a copy of a certificate of completion which shows: course number, course hours, Code edition year, and Code or course focus. This course may also count towards the area of practice requirement for continuing education set forth in Rule 61G15-22.001, F.A.C.

(4) The Board shall approve all Advanced Florida Building Code courses. Courses submitted for approval shall have been designated an “Advanced” course by the Florida Building Commission and shall be within the discipline of civil structure, mechanical, electrical or general engineering.