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Continuing Education Requirements for Alaska Engineers

CEU Requirements for Alaska Professional Engineers

We are frequently asked by Alaska professional engineers What are the continuing education requirements for PEs in the state of Alaska are.

A total of 24 Professional Development Hours (or PDHs) are required by Professional Engineers biennially to successfully renew a PE license in the state of Alaska. If the development hours total more than 24, 12 development hours can be transferred over to the next term. December 31st is the license renewal due date — but only on years ending in odd numbers. Required course content is that which maintains, improves, or expands relevant Professional Engineering skills — in order to protect public safety and health within the state.

We developed all inclusive continuing education course packages for Alaska professional engineers. Check out our complete packages for Alaska Engineers.

Refer to our Alaska PE renewal page for more information.

Required PDH Credits

The Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors (AELS) renews licenses every two years, with 24 PDHs required for each period of renewal. There are no specific courses required, but courses must be relevant to the field of Professional Engineering and develop skills in the PE’s specific area of work — for the interest of safety, health, and the public good.

State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors

The AELS does not offer pre-approval of courses and content. Electric renewal is not allowed; forms must be typed, printed, signed, and mailed to the AELS office. Engineers are not required to send PDH documentation unless “requested to do so”, and completion certificates are required in case of an audit. PDH records must be kept for at least four years.

License Renewal DatesAlaska-Engineering-Continuing-Education-requirements

The renewal deadline is the last day of December in non-even numbered years, regardless of when the license was issued (unless it was issued within 90 days of the renewal deadline. Then, it is valid until the next period of renewal comes up.) If the license is not renewed by the deadline, it will lapse. Lapsed licensees must complete the most recent renewal application. Expired licensees (lapsed over five years) must go through reinstatement. If a licensee holds more than one Alaskan registration, then a minimum of 8 PDHs must be met per biennial period in each registration area. Engineers must keep PDH records for at least four years.

Professional Conduct and Ethics in Engineering Requirements

There are currently no requirements for courses on ethics, professional conduct, or state laws/regulations. The AELS, however, states that licensees are responsible for “knowledge of all statutes and regulations pertaining to their profession” and courses may include ethical, managerial, or technical content that must address the public’s protection and social health.

Records Keeping Requirements for Engineers

PDH records must be kept for at least four years. Each licensee must maintain a detailed list of their PDH activities. Sufficient information is required to prove the activity was related to the licensee’s field of practice, including sponsoring organization, duration, location, name of instructor, and number of PDHs earned. If audited, valid verification documents can include completion certificates, signed attendance receipts, receipts for the payment of tuition, a copy of a list of participants signed by the instructor, or other attendance-proving documents. PDH documentation is not required upon license renewal, but must be kept in case of an audit.

Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the Board

PDH activities can include: 1) 1 semester hour college course (worth 45 PDHs); 2) 1 quarter hour college course (30 PDHs); 3) one continuing education unit course (10 PDHs); 3) tutorials or short courses (1 PDH per hour); 4) seminars, workshops, or technical presentations (1 PDH per hour); 5) first-time teaching of professional development courses, seminars, or technical presentations (2 PDHs per hour of instruction); 6) published papers, articles, or books (10 PDHs, value may vary); and 7) participation in professional and technical societies (up to 8 PDHs per year per society, 1 PDH for each two hours of involvement). Online courses are allowed. However, their PDH value is usually limited to 1 PDH per hour. Webinars are allowed, with a value of usually 1 PDH per hour. “Courses in self-study or self improvement” are not allowed; however, relevant short engineering courses are (1 PDH per hour).

To summarize, the AELS accepts taking college courses, taking or teaching professional development courses, seminars, workshops, or technical presentations, relevant published materials, and participation in professional or technical societies toward the 24 PDHs. Activities not allowed include regular employment, self-study or self improvement courses, service club meetings, equipment demonstrations at trade shows, enrollment in courses without attendance, unrelated course materials, committee or business meetings, and conversational language courses for personal use.

Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Activities

The AELS does not offer or require pre-approval for course content or course providers. It is the responsibility of the licensee to determine which courses and continuing educational activities are valid for license renewal.

Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses

The American Society of Civil Engineers offers new members 10 free continuing education courses. Similarly, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) offers members 15 free continuing education courses. One free engineering PDH course is offered by the private company PDH Direct, and a free engineering PDH course is offered by PDH-Pro.

Engineering Licensing Requirements

Licensed Engineers in Alaska are required to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering/Principles and Practices of Engineering exams, take an approved course in Arctic Engineering, submit the NCEES’ Council Record, and submit transcripts, references, fees, and accounts by previous professional engineering supervisors. Full details are available on the application.

Engineering Discipline Restrictions for Continuing Education

AELS requests continuing education to be that which maintains, improves, or expands the information or talents “within the registrant’s field of practice”, i.e. development in the engineer’s current specific line of work. This includes technical content that, as the AELS specifies, has the well-being of the public in mind. This can include health and safety concerns.

Conclusion

The AELS requires PE licensees to obtain 24 PDHs biennially for successful license renewal. Qualifying PDH activities include college courses, continuing education units, taking or teaching workshops or seminars, published materials, and technical society participation. Engineers with PDHs totaling more than 24 may use a maximum of 12 PDHs for the next renewal deadline. Finally, PDH records must be kept for at least four years.