Requirements
A licensee shall complete at least 24 PDH units during each reporting period with:
(1) a minimum of 18 PDH units in Category A programs, including a minimum of 1 PDH unit in content areas related to the standards of practice
or care, laws and regulations applicable to the practice of engineering in Maryland, or professional engineering ethics; and (2) a maximum of
6 PDH units in Category B programs.
A maximum of 12 PDH units earned in excess of 24 PDH units that are required for a license renewal during the licensing term can be carried
forward to apply as credit toward the next individual licensing term.
Programs
Programs shall meet at least the following criteria in order to be considered qualifying programs:
(1) Maintain and enhance professional competency of professional engineers; and
(2) Foster improvement, advancement, and extension of professional skills and knowledge related to the practice of engineering.
Qualifying programs may fall into one or more of the following categories:
(1) Category A programs shall have content areas that focus on the following issues:
(a) Technical, research, analytical, or design aspects of engineering;
(b) Laws and regulations applicable to the practice of engineering in Maryland;
(c) Engineering-related computer hardware and software topics;
(d) Standards of practice or care;
(e) Professional engineering ethics;
(f) Project management, risk assessment and management, or emergency and disaster management; or
(g) Similar topics aimed to maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee's field
of practice; or
(2) Category B programs shall have content areas that focus on the following issues:
(a) Business or government administration; or
(b) Development of traits, skills, or behavioral patterns geared towards improved communications skills, oral and written
skills, personal management skills, or other similar programs which contain a clear purpose of improving a licensee's methods of practice or
operations or advancing professionally related skills and practices as applicable to the practice of engineering.
Qualifying programs shall be formally organized and classified as:
(1) University, college, and community college courses;
(2) Professional workshops;
(3) Seminars;
(4) Self-directed; or
(5) Technical presentations.
Qualifying programs may be presented by the following methods:
(1) Live;
(2) Televised;
(3) Videotaped;
(4) Audiotaped;
(5) Online; or
(6) Through other appropriate formats approved by the Board.
Sources of Credit
A. A licensee may earn PDH units by the following methods:
(1) Attendance and successful completion of structured educational programs in which the teaching methodology consists primarily of
systematic presentation of subjects related to the practice of engineering, and which programs are:
(a) Offered by pre-approved or other authorized providers;
(b) Have a stated purpose and defined content areas; and
(c) Have a clearly stated duration.
(2) Serving as a single or first author of an original paper on engineering subject matters published in magazines, journals, professional
proceedings, or other similar publications intended for professional use and distribution;
(3) Serving as a single or first author of an original published book on engineering subject matters that exhibits excellence in
scholarship and has a significant impact and influence on the direction of engineering;
(4) Subject to limitations set forth in Regulation .07 of this chapter, active participation in an engineering professional or
technical society;
(5) Obtaining a patent;
(6) Teaching of an engineering subject as identified in Regulation .04B(1) of this chapter;
(7) Developing examination questions accepted for use on NCEES examinations; or
(8) Other appropriate methods.
B. A licensee may not earn credits for such activities as:
(1) Regular employment as a professional engineer or expert witness;
(2) Marketing or business development or sales;
(3) Equipment demonstrations or trade show displays;
(4) Time management techniques and strategies;
(5) Computer-aided drafting;
(6) Repetitive attendance of the same course or activity without substantial modifications or updates;
(7) Attending committee meetings or general business meetings of any
organization;
(8) Conversational language courses for personal use;
(9) Executive coaching;
(10) Basic computer software, including, but not limited to, Excel, Word, Outlook, and similar basic computer software; or
(11) Any other topics not relevant to the practice of engineering.
Determination of the Value of a Unit.
The conversion of other units of credit to PDH units is as follows:
A. 1 college or unit semester hour-45 PDH units;
B. 1 college or unit quarter hour-30 PDH units; and
C. 1 continuing education unit-10 PDH units
Determination of Credits
A. A licensee is eligible to earn PDH units only upon attendance and successful completion of the appropriate program. The number of
PDH units earned is per each individual licensing term.
B. Credit for university, college, or community college courses shall be given when taken for credit and will be based upon the course
credit value established by the institution of higher education. An audited class is not acceptable for purposes of receiving a credit.
C. Each published paper or article on an engineering subject as identified in Regulation .04 of this chapter is equal to 5 PDH units.
D. Each published book on an engineering subject is equal to 24 PDH units.
E. Except for full-time faculty, teaching of engineering and related subjects is subject to the following limitations:
(1) For the first-time presentation, a presenter may claim credit for the program that is equivalent to two times the number
of PDH units awarded by the Board for the program; and
(2) Unless a presentation has been substantially modified and updated for a subsequent presentation, a presenter may not
claim credit for repeat presentations of the same material.
F. Credit for participation in engineering, professional, or technical societies as an officer or an active participant in a committee
of the organization is equal to 1 PDH unit in Category B program. The credit is not considered earned until the end of each year of service
is completed and is limited to 1 PDH unit regardless of the number of engineering, professional, or technical societies that a licensee may
be serving at one time.
G. Work related to the development and submission of examination questions subject to the following limitations:
(1) Questions accepted for use on NCEES examinations-2 PHD units per accepted question, up to 6 PDH units per year.
(2) Attendance and participation in exam development committee meetings-up to 8 PDH units per year.
H. Obtaining a patent is equal to 10 PDH units.
I. The final determinations of value, appropriate category, and other matters related to the PDH units are the responsibility of the
licensee, subject to review and approval by the Board.
Regulations
Click here to download text of the regulations. (Word document, 45KB,
download Word viewer for free)
Record Keeping
The licensee is required to maintain records and documentation of the PHD units earned. To
assist the licensee, two forms have been created. The
Reporting Form (Word document, 72KB,
download
Word viewer for free) should be used to list all the pertinent information about the 24 PDH
units earned over the renewal period. The
Assessment Form (Word document, 57KB,
download
Word viewer for free) should be used when (1) a course provider does not supply a PDH form
or a record of an outcome measure, or (2) an activity is offered by a provider described in
.08 B(2) of the Regulations. The records must be maintained for at least 4 years from the date of
the completion of the qualifying program.
Audit
Licensees will be subject to a random audit of continuing professional competency courses. If you are audited, you will be required to submit
proof of the hours claimed as more fully described in Section .09 of the regulations.
Retired Status
You may qualify for a retired license if you are currently licensed in Maryland;
have been licensed as a Professional Engineer for at least 25 years - 5 years of which were in Maryland; and are not the subject of a pending
disciplinary action related to the practice of engineering in this or another state.
The fee for a retired license is $50. If granted, this
license does not have to be renewed. Download the application
(Word document, 261KB, download
Word viewer for free).
CPC PROVIDERS
The following providers are considered to be pre-authorized providers:
- National (ABET/EAC), regional, or State accredited academic institutions;
- National, State or regional engineering professional or technical societies or organizations;
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES);
- American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC);
- International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET); and
- Entities currently certified as approved providers by the pre-authorized providers listed above; and
- Other entities that have been approved by the Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
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