PDH Requirements

Number of Hours

All Professional Land Surveyors must earn 20 professional development hours (PDHs) within the current 2-year renewal period. One PDH equals 50 minutes of presentation/classroom time.

Of these 20 hours, 4 must come from Statutes and Standards and 2 must come from Professional Conduct (ethics).

The hours must be earned within the renewal period (there are no "carry over" hours from one renewal period to the next).

What Counts

Professional development activities must be conducted by an acceptable provider (IPLSA is an acceptable provider named in the PLS rules), and:

  • Contribute to professional skills and/or scientific knowledge relevant to the practice of professional land surveying;
  • Enhance the general or specialized practices and values of professional land surveying
  • Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program.

The following table will help you convert various approved activities into professional development hours.

Activity PDH Additional Qualifiers
College Course - Successful completion of college or university course in professional land surveying, related sciences or surveying ethics
 1 Semester Hour = 15 PDHs
1 Quarter Hour = 10 PDHs 		 
Professional Surveying Courses - Successful completion of professional land surveying courses or programs in which professional develop hours are earned
 50 Minutes = 1 PDH  
Seminars & Workshops - Professional land surveying programs, seminars, tutorials, workshops, short courses, or in-house courses.
 50 Minutes = 1 PDH   
Professional Meetings - Attending program presentations at related technical or professional meetings
 50 Minutes = 1 PDH
  
Teaching - Teaching or Instructing (does not apply to faculty in the performance of regular assigned duties)
 1 Hour Teaching = 2 PDHs
 Only valid for teaching a course or seminar the first time.
Papers & Presentations - Authoring papers or articles that appear in nationally circulated journals or trade magazines
 Maximum of 5 PDHs per renewal
 Only valid for publishing or presenting the article the first time.
Continuing Education Units - An approved Continuing Education Course by a credentialing body
 1 CEU = 10 PDHs
  
On-Line Courses – On line-line, distance learning or video courses
 No more than 10 PDHs per renewal  4 hours of Statutes and Standards may not be obtained in this way

NCEES PDH Tracking Tool

Keeping all your PDHs in one place just got easier with the new tracking tool available on the NCEES website. Completely free with a MyNCEES log-in, the CPC (continuing professional competency) tracker allows you to conveniently track and report your CPC requirements.

 

How to Track Your CPC Courses and Requirements:

  1. Identify the state licensing board(s) for which you would like to track CPC requirements. Log into your MyNCEES account and select CPC Tracking to select the appropriate state licensing boards and enter renewal period information for each.
  2. Enter CPC course information
  3. When you complete a continuing education course, add the course information and corresponding professional development hours (PDH). Supporting documentation can be uploaded to your account and the course and PDHs will be applied to the appropriate states.
  4. Track your progress
  5. View a side-by-side comparison of the state’s requirements and your completed CPC courses.
  6. Transmit your completed CPC report
  7. Send your CPC transcript electronically to a state licensing board. Check with your state licensing board for specific requirements.
 
Find more information and FAQs about CPC Tracking by following this link.