Contributor: Jordan Ellis, PE
Written: Jan 22, 2020 | Updated: Jul 1, 2026
CEU Requirements for Florida Professional Engineers
Florida PE’s renewing their license often ask – What are the continuing education requirement for Florida professional engineers?
Professional engineers in Florida must complete 18 professional development hours of continuing education biennially to renew their licenses. No continuing education hours may be carried over into the following renewal cycle. PEs must complete at least one PDH on professional engineering rules and laws in Florida and one PDH on engineering ethics as part of their 18 continuing education PDH. Florida based PEs must also complete four continuing education PDH in their area of engineering practice to complete the PE license renewal process. The remaining continuing education PDH can deal with any topic pertinent to practicing engineering. The license renewal date for all professional engineers is February 28 on odd years.
For a complete overview of all license renewal requirements, visit our Florida PE renewal page
Florida PE Continuing Education: PDH Credit Requirements
The Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) regulates the practice of professional engineering in Florida and administers the continuing education program for all licensed PEs.
Florida PDH requirements are structured around subject-area mandates rather than format restrictions. All 18 PDH may be completed through online courses, provided those courses are offered by FBPE-approved providers. There is no minimum requirement for in-person attendance. Beginning with the current renewal period, Florida PEs are required to report all 18 hours of completed CE to the FBPE using the free NCEES CPC Tracking system before renewing. Engineers must also retain all documentation, including certificates, receipts, and attendance records, for at least four years.
PDH Pro offers a Florida 18 PDH renewal package that satisfies every component of the biennial requirement, including the mandatory ethics, rules and laws, and practice-area hours.
Florida License Renewal Dates
All Florida PE licenses expire on February 28 of odd-numbered years. Renewals are processed online through myfloridalicense.com. Engineers who need a walkthrough of the renewal process can follow the step-by-step renewal guide on PDH Pro’s site.
Continuing education for Florida engineers is the responsibility of the individual PE, not the FBPE. Florida now requires mandatory CE reporting: all 18 PDH must be reported to the FBPE via the free NCEES CPC Tracking system before a renewal will be processed. The Florida Laws and Rules course is the only hour reported directly by the CE provider; all other hours must be uploaded by the engineer. Engineers should verify that the Laws and Rules course appears in their myfloridalicense.com account before submitting renewal, as the license will not renew until that course is confirmed.
Engineering Ethics and Professional Conduct
Of the 18 required PDH, 2 hours address mandatory subject areas beyond technical practice: 1 PDH in professional engineering ethics and 1 PDH in professional engineering rules and laws specific to Florida. Both are mandatory components of Florida PE continuing education and must come from FBPE-approved providers.
PDH Pro’s Florida Laws and Rules course is approved by the FBPE and satisfies the rules and laws mandate. It is included in all Florida renewal packages.
Record Keeping Requirements for Florida Engineers
Florida PEs must retain all proof of completed PDH for a minimum of four years from the renewal date. Acceptable documentation includes completion certificates, receipts, attendance logs, and any other records confirming the course was completed with an FBPE-approved provider. Engineering licensure, including CE compliance, is the responsibility of the PE, not the Board.
Continuing Education Activities Accepted by the Board
For any activity to count toward Florida PE continuing education requirements, it must be sponsored or delivered by an FBPE pre-approved provider. Subject to that requirement, the following activity types are accepted:
- Attending or presenting at conferences, conventions, in-house or non-classroom courses, online courses, seminars, self-study or self-directed courses, live webinars, workshops, or vendor presentations by professionals knowledgeable in the PE’s practice area.
- Serving as an officer of a technical or professional engineering society recognized by the FBPE, earning up to 4 PDH per renewal cycle.
- Serving as an elected local or state official, or as a member of the Florida Legislature, earns credit toward the required PDH hours related to Florida engineering laws, rules, and ethics.
- Completing courses of an ethical, technical, or managerial nature relevant to engineering practice.
Courses and activities not approved by the FBPE include:
- Personal self-improvement courses, trade shows, equipment demonstrations, and estate, financial, or personal planning courses.
- Courses with content below the professional engineer’s level of skill, knowledge, and responsibility.
Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Providers
Florida requires that all providers and sponsors of PDH courses and activities be pre-approved by the FBPE before their offerings can count toward license renewal. Engineers are responsible for confirming provider approval before enrolling in any course. Credits earned through a non-approved provider will not be accepted, regardless of course content.
PDH Pro is an approved provider in the State of Florida (Provider #0009553, License #868). All PDH Pro courses meet FBPE standards for Florida engineer continuing education and are available immediately after enrollment, with certificates of completion issued upon passing the course exam.
Sources of Free Continuing Education Courses
A number of organizations offer free PDH courses that Florida engineers can use to complete part of their 18-hour requirement, provided the courses are offered by FBPE-approved providers. PDH Pro’s guide to free online PDH courses provides a detailed overview of available no-cost options.
Florida Engineering Licensing and Continuing Professional Competency
To become licensed as a professional engineer in Florida, candidates must be at least 18 years old, hold a United States Social Security number, and hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or engineering technology from an EAC/ABET-accredited program. Candidates with degrees from foreign universities or non-accredited programs must have their credentials evaluated by a Florida-approved evaluation company.
After meeting the educational requirement, candidates must pass the NCEES-administered Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. After passing both, candidates must work under the supervision of licensed professional engineers for 48 to 72 months, demonstrating progressively increasing responsibility, and provide references from three licensed PEs before applying for licensure.
Engineering Discipline Restrictions for Florida Engineers
The Florida Board of Professional Engineers does not restrict the continuing education courses or activities a PE may take based on their specific license discipline. However, every course or activity must provide professional or technical information that improves or enhances the engineer’s knowledge and skill level. The 4 PDH in area of practice are the only hours with a discipline-specific content requirement.
FAQs
Can Florida PE continuing education hours be carried over to the next renewal cycle?
No. Florida does not permit carryover of PDH hours. Any hours completed above the 18-hour requirement in a given biennial cycle do not apply to the following renewal period. Engineers who complete more than 18 hours in a cycle receive no credit toward their next renewal.
What happens if a Florida PE renews without completing all required PDH?
Engineers must report all 18 CE hours to the FBPE via the NCEES CPC Tracking system before their renewal is processed. The FBPE verifies completion after renewal closes. Attesting to hours not actually completed is a violation of FBPE rules and can result in disciplinary action, including fines or license suspension. Engineers must also retain all supporting documentation for four years as required by Rule 61G15-22.006, Florida Administrative Code.
Does the 1-hour ethics PDH requirement have to be Florida-specific?
The ethics PDH does not need to address Florida-specific content, but it must be delivered by an FBPE-approved provider. A general professional engineering ethics course from an approved provider satisfies the requirement. The 1 PDH for Florida rules and laws, by contrast, must specifically address Florida statutes and FBPE administrative rules; a general state law course from another jurisdiction would not qualify.
Does Florida accept PDH from providers not on the FBPE-approved list?
It depends on the hour type. The 1-hour Florida Laws and Rules requirement must come from an FBPE-approved provider, no exceptions. For the remaining 17 hours, the FBPE allows CE credits earned for another state’s PE license to be applied, provided the course meets the content criteria in Rule 61G15-22.001, Florida Administrative Code. Engineers should confirm eligibility before claiming out-of-state hours. PDH Pro maintains active approval as an FBPE provider (Provider #0009553), so all PDH Pro courses satisfy Florida’s provider requirement without any additional verification.