CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory CE Reporting for Professional Engineers

In order to renew their licenses, Professional Engineers (PEs) in Florida are required to complete 18 continuing education (CE) course hours every two years. Professional Engineers must report their continuing education using the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Free Tracking System

Out of the 18 required hours, one hour must cover Florida laws and rules for Professional Engineers from a Board-approved provider, and one hour must focus on professional ethics. Four hours should be specific to the engineer’s area of practice, while the remaining twelve hours can pertain to any topic relevant to the practice of engineering.

Professional Engineers whose practice includes the design of engineering works or systems in connection with buildings, structures, or facilities and systems covered by the Florida Building Code, must also complete an Advanced Building Code course prior to participating in the design of engineering projects covered by the code.

The CE provider will directly report ONLY the Florida laws and rules course. It is the only course that will be listed in your account on Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s website at myfloridalicense.com.

Professional Engineers are responsible for reporting the remaining 17 hours through the NCEES Tracking system. The Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) has step-by-step online instructions to help PEs set up their free NCEES account and directions on uploading CE documentation.

If you have been issued one certificate for multiple CE credits, you will need to input each course separately, but you only have to upload the certificate once. See FBPE’s Tips for Reporting Multiple CE Credits With One Certificate.

You can download certificates for courses earned through ACEC Florida|FES using your Member Profile. Once you log in to your account, click on Welcome —> Account & Settings —> Professional Development. If you need assistance downloading certificates from your Member Profile, please email us at seminars@fleng.org.

Once you have earned all 18 required hours, you can report your CEs to FBPE using the NCEES Tracking System. PEs should not send their CE credits directly to FBPE. For more information on licensure renewal, please contact the Florida Board of Professional Engineers at 850-521-0500 or visit fbpe.org.

The current renewal period for Professional Engineers licensed in Florida opens on November 5, 2024, and the deadline is February 28, 2025.
Continuing Education Requirements for Professional Engineers
Continuing Education Type Hours Required Requires FBPE Approved Provider/Number and Course/Number? Requires Test? Requires Certificate?
Laws and Rules 1 Yes Yes Yes
Ethics 1 Yes Yes Yes
Advanced Building Code (ABC)   1* Yes No Yes
Area of Practice 4 No No Yes
Practice of Engineering 12    No** No  Yes*

*ABC Course can be used towards Area of Practice Requirements
**Per Statutes and Rules, up to 4 hours may be earned serving as an officer or actively participating on a committee of a board-recognized professional or technical engineering society. Documentation in relation to your service hours is accounted for differently by each organization and you should discuss this with the respective organization and FBPE directly.

  • Successfully completing an FBPE-approved laws & rules course from an FBPE-approved CE provider,
  • Serving on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers,
  • Serving as a consultant engineer used by the Board in the resolution of Board business, including rule-making and prosecution of discipline cases and complaints, or
  • Serving as a member of the Legislature or as an elected state or local official.

  • Successfully completing an FBPE-approved ethics course from an FBPE-approved CE provider,
  • Serving on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers, or
  • Serving as a member of the Legislature or as an elected state or local official.

  • You are required to take an Advanced Building Code course on the latest edition of the Florida Building Code (FBC) before you engage in the practice of engineering if your work is governed by the FBC, including if your area of practice includes compliance with ADA requirements and/or any other aspects governed by the FBC. The 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code is effective December 31, 2023. –  Additional Information.

  • Successfully completing an “Advanced” Florida Building Code course approved by the FBPE within the disciplines of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, or general engineering; or
  • Presenting or attending seminars, in-house or non-classroom courses, workshops, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, webinars, conventions, or conferences, including those presented by vendors, provided the vendor is an FBPE-approved CE provider.

The remaining twelve (12) hours of continuing education may correlate to any topic pertinent to the practice of engineering. These hours can be obtained in the following ways:

  • Up to 4 hours may be earned by serving as an officer or actively participating on a committee of a board-recognized professional or technical engineering society.