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
|