CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR

ENGINEERS

A CONDITION OF LICENSE RENEWAL

FIRST, A BRIEF HISTORY

1970’S PLUS OR MINUS

• Iowa passes legislation requiring continuing education for all professions including engineering and surveying

CURRENT STATUS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS

• Approximately 35-40 jurisdictions currently require continuing education of some form as a condition of license renewal for professional engineers, more for surveyors

• To date, license applications by comity have not been denied if the applicant comes from a state which does not require continuing education. Compliance required if license is issued.

1988

• Idaho Board went on record as supporting the concept of continuing education as a condition of license renewal but had three concerns.

• What about approval of activities?

• What about PE/LS licensees?

• What about out-of-state licensees?

1995

• Idaho Association of Land Surveyors (now Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors) sponsored legislation to empower Idaho Board to require continuing education for land surveyors

• No hearings were held on the bill

1995

• Idaho Board sent an opinion poll regarding continuing education to license and certificate holders

RESULTS IN BRIEF

• Highest return rate on the poll was about one-third

• Well over half of the PLS’s favored CPD as a condition of license renewal

• Well over half of the PE’s and PE/LS’s did NOT favor CPD as a condition of license renewal

• The highest percentage of those favoring were Retired, who would not be affected

RESULT

• The Board did not include amendments to 1997 legislation which would result in the requirement of continuing education as a condition of license renewal

1997-1998

• Board continued to seek input by holding public hearings throughout the state

• Testimony indicated strong support from surveying community and opposition from engineering community

1998

• The Board made a conscious decision to call this “Continuing Professional Development” rather than “Continuing Professional Competency”, believing that competency can only be demonstrated by an outcomes assessment (test), and most continuing education does not include such a measurement.

1998

• Board introduced legislation which empowered them to promulgate rules of continuing professional development not to exceed 16 hours per year for land surveyors only

• Legislation passed

• Board promulgated rules effective July 1, 1999 for land surveyors only

ISPE CPD SURVEY – 2002

• 49% of PE’s favored mandatory CPD

• 21% favored voluntary CPD

• 27% favored “no action” in implementation of CPD

• 3% didn’t respond to the question

HOUSE BILL 380 - 2008

• This was a “Big Picture” bill taking a wide view of the engineering and surveying professions

• Expanded authority of Board to promulgate rules of CPD to include professional engineers

• Bill went into effect July 1, 2008

RULE PROMULGATION

• Meetings held in July ‘08 in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Boise, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls

• Proposed Rules published October ‘08• Public Hearing held in November ’08• Final Rules published January ‘09• Rules have been reviewed by the

Legislature and are effective upon adjournment of the Legislature this year

SCOPE OF RULES

• Now includes both professional land surveyors and professional engineers

• If a licensee is both a PE and a PLS he/she must meet the CPD requirements for each profession

• Some activities may qualify as CPD for both PE and PLS

WHAT’S A PDH?

• Professional Development Hour

• A contact hour (minimum of 50 minutes) of instruction or presentation. It is the common denominator for other units of credit.

CPD REQUIREMENTS

• Thirty (30) Professional Development Hours (PDH’s) during the renewal biennium (or alternatively during the two calendar years nearest the renewal biennium)

• May carry forward up to 30 PDH’s from previous biennium or from exempt biennium

WHAT “COUNTS” TOWARD CPD?

• An “activity” is defined as “Any qualifying action with a clear purpose and objective which will maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s field of practice or practices.”

• PDH units must come from more than one activity

SOME ACTIVITIES AND THEIR CONVERSIONS

• 1 semester credit hour = 45 PDH’s

• 1 quarter credit hour = 30 PDH’s

• 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) = 10 PDH’s

MORE ACTIVITIES AND THEIR PDH EQUIVALENTS

• 1 published paper = 5 PDH’s (Maximum of 10 per year)

• Membership in organization = 1 PDH (Maximum of 2 per year)

• Active Participation in organization = 1 PDH (Maximum of 2 per year)

STILL MORE ACTIVITIES AND THEIR PDH EQUIVALENTS

• 1 Patent = 5 PDH’s

• Presentations = 2 PDH’s per hour of presentation

• Documented Self-Study = ½ PDH per hour (Maximum of 3 per year)

EXAMPLES OF “WHAT COUNTS”

• College Credits• Continuing Education Units granted

through workshops, seminars, conferences

• Teaching or instructing when it is above and beyond normal work assignments

• Authoring papers, article or books• Membership in technical or professional

organizations

MORE EXAMPLES OF “WHAT COUNTS”

• Active Participation in Technical or Professional Organizations (serving as an officer or committee chair at the national, state or local level)

• Being granted a patent

• Making presentations to organizations

• Documented Self-Study

DETERMINATION OF CREDIT

• Except as below, Board will not pre-approve

• Seminars and courses offered by an organization registered with NCEES Registered Continuing Education Providers Program are accepted

RECORD KEEPING

• Must keep a log

• Must have attendance verification

CPD LOG

• Type of activity claimed• Sponsoring Organization• Location• Duration• Instructor’s or speaker’s name• PDH credits claimed• Time and/or expense sheets may qualify• Available on Board Website

ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION

• Completion Certificates

• “Sign-in Sheets” which identify date and organization

DOCUMENTED SELF-STUDY

• Abstract of material studied

• Date activity occurred

• Number of PDH’s claimed

• Bibliographic reference of material studied

• Photocopy of pertinent parts of the material, annotated with date and number of PDH’s claimed meets documentation requirement

RECORD RETENTION

• Maintain for six (6) years

• Provide to the Board upon request for audit purposes

EXEMPTIONS

• First Renewal Period of new Licensees

• Active Duty in the Armed Forces

• Extenuating Circumstances

• Retired and Receiving No Remuneration

• Expired License

• Remainder of current Renewal Period following Effective Date of CPD Rules Applying to Professional Engineers

?www.ipels.idaho.gov