Free Live Webinars for Professional Engineers free live webinars for professional engineers free live webinars for professional engineers

free live webinars for professional engineers Written by: Jordan Ellis, PE
Published: November 17, 2025

I’ve been a professional engineer for over 15 years. I know the drill. That calendar reminder pops up, and you realize your license renewal is looming. The scramble for PDH (Professional Development Hours) begins. It’s not that we don’t want to learn; it’s that our time is our most valuable asset. We can’t afford to waste an hour, let alone a whole day, on a useless course.

This is where free live webinars come in. They sound like the perfect solution, right? You get your continuing education credits, you get to interact (somewhat), and you don’t have to break out the company card.

But let’s be honest. In our field, “free” is usually a red flag. It often means a thinly veiled, 60-minute sales pitch. So, how do you find the good ones? How do you find legitimate free webinars that respect your time, teach you something valuable, and, most importantly, provide a valid PDH certificate to keep your license active?

After 15 years of sifting through the junk, I’ve developed a system. This is my practical, PE-to-PE guide on how to find and vet free live webinars that are actually worth your time.

The Value of Live PDH Webinars

First, let’s talk about the “live” part. In a world of on-demand everything, why bother with a scheduled, live webinar?

We’ve all taken those “self-paced” courses. You click “next,” zone out, and then try to remember just enough to pass the 5-question quiz. It’s a checkbox, not an education.

A live webinar is different. Its value is in the interaction.

You Can Ask Questions: This is the single biggest benefit. You’re not just a passive listener. You have a direct line to an expert. If you’re a structural engineer listening to a webinar on a new ACI 318 provision, you can ask a specific question about your current design project. That’s not something you get from a recording.
It’s Engaging: A good presenter who knows there’s a live audience is just better. They’re more dynamic. Plus, the Q&A at the end is often the most valuable part of the whole session.
It’s Required by Some States: This is a big one. Some states, like New York, have very specific rules that a portion of your PDH hours must be “interactive.” A live webinar, where you can ask questions, typically satisfies this live credit A pre-recorded video does not.

A live course forces you to block out the time, focus, and actually engage with the engineering content.

The “Catch”: How to Evaluate Free PDH Courses

Okay, let’s talk about the “free” part. Why would a provider give away high-quality engineering training for free?

There are two main reasons:

It’s a “Loss-Leader”: The PDH provider is a company that sells continuing education. They offer a handful of free live webinars each month to prove their quality. They’re hoping you’ll be so impressed that you’ll come back and buy your other 10 courses from them.
It’s a “Content Marketing” Webinar: This is the more common scenario. The webinar is hosted by a vendor—a software company (like Autodesk or Bentley), a material supplier, or a design firm. Their goal is to show you how their new software or construction material can solve your problems.

The second one isn’t necessarily bad! I’ve taken some of my best, most practical courses from vendors. I learned more about new transportation modeling from a software webinar than I did from a 3-hour paid course.

The “catch” isn’t the sales pitch; the “catch” is whether the webinar is legitimate. Here’s my vetting checklist:

Is it really a PDH Webinar? The registration page must explicitly state it offers PDH credits (or PDH credit). If it just says “informational webinar,” it’s probably not eligible.
Who is the Provider? Is it a provider you recognize? (e.g., ASCE, NSPE, or a major industry vendor). If it’s a company you’ve never heard of, be skeptical.
Will You Get a Certificate? This is the only thing that matters for an audit. The provider must state that a certificate of completion will be provided to all attendees. If they don’t promise a certificate, I don’t attend. It’s a waste of my time.

Finding Webinars Beyond Ethics: Technical Design and Construction

It’s incredibly easy to find free live webinars on engineering ethics. State boards require it, and it’s an easy topic to cover.

But you and I are practicing engineers. We need more than just the mandatory ethics course. We need real, technical content that helps us with our day-to-day work. We need courses on the technical side of engineering.

I actively hunt for webinars that are technically deep. I don’t care if it’s a sales pitch, as long as the first 45 minutes are a solid technical breakdown of a problem. I’m talking about webinars on:

Advanced steel connection design.
New materials in highway construction.
Seismic retrofitting of existing structures.
Updates to the NFPA 70 (NEC) for electrical engineers.
Thermal modeling for mechanical design.

These are the webinars that make you a better engineer. Don’t just use your PDH hours to check a box. Use this “free” time to actually learn something that solves a problem you’re facing on a real design project. A webinar on engineering ethics is fine, but a deep-dive course on a new construction method is what makes you more valuable.

How to Get Your PDH Credits After the Webinar

This is the most important part of the entire process, and it’s where PEs get sloppy. You don’t get your PDH credits just for registering.

You need proof. Your state engineering board doesn’t take your word for it.

Here’s the process for every single live webinar I attend:

Attend the Entire Thing. The provider is tracking you. They have to. They often have pop-up “attention checks” or polls to prove you’re at your desk. If you log in and then go to lunch, you won’t get your PDH credit.
Stay for the Q&A. You must be present for the required time (usually 50-60 minutes) to get your 1.0 PDH.
Get the Certificate. After the webinar, the provider will send a follow-up email. This email will have a link to download your certificate of completion.
DOWNLOAD IT. RENAME IT. SAVE IT. This is my cardinal rule. Do not leave that certificate in your email inbox. Do not trust the provider’s “portal” to hold it for you. I have a folder on my computer: “PDH Renewal 2024-2026.” Every single certificate I earn goes right in that folder with a clear name (e.g., “2025-11-17_ACI_318_Update_1.0_PDH.pdf”).

When your state board audits you, that folder is your only defense. Your PDH log is just a summary; the certificates are the proof.

Our Curated List of Free Engineering Webinars

So, where do you actually find these magical webinars? After 1Click “next,” zone out, and then try to remember just enough to pass the 5-question quiz. It’s a checkbox, not an education.

A live webinar is different. Its value is in the interaction.

You Can Ask Questions: This is the single biggest benefit. You’re not just a passive listener. You have a direct line to an expert. If you’re a structural engineer listening to a webinar on a new ACI 318 provision, you can ask a specific question about your current design project. That’s not something you get from a recording.
It’s Engaging: A good presenter who knows there’s a live audience is just better. They’re more dynamic. Plus, the Q&A at the end is often the most valuable part of the whole session.
It’s Required by Some States: This is a big one. Some states, like New York, have very specific rules that a portion of your PDH hours must be “interactive.” A live webinar, where you can ask questions, typically satisfies this live credit A pre-recorded video does not.

A live course forces you to block out the time, focus, and actually engage with the engineering content.

The “Catch”: How to Evaluate Free PDH Courses

Okay, let’s talk about the “free” part. Why would a provider give away high-quality engineering training for free?

There are two main reasons:

It’s a “Loss-Leader”: The PDH provider is a company that sells continuing education. They offer a handful of free live webinars each month to prove their quality. They’re hoping you’ll be so impressed that you’ll come back and buy your other 10 courses from them.
It’s a “Content Marketing” Webinar: This is the more common scenario. The webinar is hosted by a vendor—a software company (like Autodesk or Bentley), a material supplier, or a design firm. Their goal is to show you how their new software or construction material can solve your problems.

The “catch” isn’t the sales pitch; the “catch” is whether the webinar is legitimate. Here’s my vetting checklist:

Is it really a PDH Webinar? The registration page must explicitly state it offers PDH credits (or PDH credit). If it just says “informational webinar,” it’s probably not eligible.
Who is the Provider? Is it a provider you recognize? (e.g., ASCE, NSPE, or a major industry vendor). If it’s a company you’ve never heard of, be skeptical.
Will You Get a Certificate? This is the only thing that matters for an audit. The provider must state that a certificate of completion will be provided to all attendees. If they don’t promise a certificate, I don’t attend. It’s a waste of my time.

Finding Webinars Beyond Ethics: Technical Design and Construction

It’s incredibly easy to find free live webinars on engineering ethics. State boards require it, and it’s an easy topic to cover.

Advanced steel connection design.
New materials in highway construction.
Seismic retrofitting of existing structures.
Updates to the NFPA 70 (NEC) for electrical engineers.
Thermal modeling for mechanical design.

How to Get Your PDH Credits After the Webinar

This is the most important part of the entire process, and it’s where PEs get sloppy. You don’t get your PDH credits just for registering.

You need proof. Your state engineering board doesn’t take your word for it.

Here’s the process for every single live webinar I attend:

Attend the Entire Thing. The provider is tracking you. They have to. They often have pop-up “attention checks” or polls to prove you’re at your desk. If you log in and then go to lunch, you won’t get your pdh credit.
Stay for the Q&A. You must be present for the required time (usually 50-60 minutes) to get your 1.0 PDH.
Get the Certificate. After the webinar, the provider will send a follow-up email. This email will have a link to download your certificate of completion.
DOWNLOAD IT. RENAME IT. SAVE IT. This is my cardinal rule. Do not leave that certificate in your email inbox. Do not trust the provider’s “portal” to hold it for you. I have a folder on my computer: “PDH Renewal 2024-2026.” Every single certificate I earn goes right in that folder with a clear name (e.g., “2025-11-17_ACI_318_Update_1.0_PDH.pdf”).

When your state board audits you, that folder is your only defense. Your PDH log is just a summary; the certificates are the proof.

Our Curated List of Free Engineering Webinars

So, where do you actually find these magical webinars? After 15 years, I’ve built up a go-to list. Here’s where I look first:

Professional Organizations (NSPE, ASCE, IEEE, etc.) Your membership dues are already paying for this. Organizations like NSPE and ASCE constantly offer free webinars to their members. This should be your first stop. The quality is high, and they are guaranteed to be accepted.
Industry Vendors & Manufacturers This is my secret weapon. Think about the companies that make the stuff you spec. The big software companies (Autodesk, Bentley) and material suppliers (Hilti, Simpson Strong-Tie, etc.) offer some of the best, most practical engineering courses you can find. They are part-training, part-sales pitch, but they are always PDH-eligible.
Reputable PDH Providers Many of the big “paid” continuing education companies will offer a free credits webinar or two each month as a “loss leader.” They want to give you a taste of their platform so you’ll come back and buy your other 10 hours. Sign up for their newsletters. It’s a great way to snag a high-quality live course for free.

A Practical Strategy for Your Engineering PDH

Don’t wait until the last-minute scramble. The best advice I can give other professional engineers is to be proactive. Make a simple plan. At the start of every quarter, take 15 minutes and browse the webinar schedules for the providers I listed above.

Look for one or two live webinars that align with your actual project work. I find it’s much easier to pay attention to a credits webinar on transportation design when I’m actually in the middle of a transportation project.

Create a calendar appointment for yourself right when you register. Treat it like a client meeting. This simple strategy turns your engineering pdh from a last-minute chore into a steady, manageable part of your professional life. Find a good course that includes credits and lock it in. This proactive approach is what separates the pros from the amateurs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get free engineering webinars with certificates? You get the certificate by completing the webinar. The key is to find a reputable provider (like a professional organization or a major vendor) that explicitly states a “Certificate of Completion” or “PDH Credit” will be provided to all attendees. You must attend the full, live session and follow their instructions (like answering polls) to receive the completion certificate afterward.
Are these free PDH webinars for electrical engineers or just civil? They are for all engineering disciplines. While a lot of webinars are focused on civil, structural, and construction topics, you can find just as many for electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineers. Look to your professional organization (like IEEE for electrical) or vendors (like Schneider Electric or Siemens) for highly technical, free courses.
Are free PDH courses for Civil Engineers really accepted by state boards? Yes, absolutely, as long as two conditions are met:
1. The course or webinar is relevant to the practice of civil engineering (e.g., a webinar on a new roadway design standard is valid; a webinar on engineering ethics is valid; a webinar on stock trading is not).
2. You have proof of completion (the certificate). The “free” part doesn’t matter to the board. The content and the proof are what matter. A free PDH from ASCE is just as valid as a $100 course.