Engineering Online courses can be used to fulfill the professional development requirements for renewal of a professional engineer license. Completion of 2 hours of credit in our online courses is equivalent to 30 professional development hours (PDH).

Reprinted below are excerpts of Part 1380: The Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, taken from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Visit http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/pe.asp and click on the "Professional Engineering Rules" link for Part 1380.

Note: According to Section 1380.325 of the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, one semester hour is equal to 15 PDHs.

Section 1380.310 -- Renewals

a) Every license issued to an individual under the Act shall expire on November 30 of each odd numbered year. Beginning with the November 30, 2005 renewal and every renewal thereafter, a licensed professional engineer shall comply with the professional development hours specified in Section 1380.325 of this Part. The holder of a license may renew such license for a two-year period during the month preceding the expiration date thereof by paying the fee required by Section 1380.275.

b) It is the responsibility of each licensee to notify the Department of any change of address. Failure to receive a renewal form from the Department shall not constitute an excuse for failure to pay the renewal fee and to renew one's license.

c) Every license issued to a professional design firm under the Act shall expire on April 30 of each odd-numbered year. The holder of such license may renew that license for a 2-year period during the month preceding the expiration date thereof by paying the required fee.

d) Practicing or offering to practice on a license which has expired shall be considered unlicensed activity and shall be grounds for discipline pursuant to Section 24 of the Act.

(Source: Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 13301, effective July 16, 2003)

Section 1380.325 -- Professional Development

The professional development required as a condition for license renewal under the Professional Engineering Act of 1989 is set forth in this Section. All professional engineers shall meet these requirements.

a) Professional Development Hours Requirements
           1) Beginning with the November 30, 2005 renewal and every renewal thereafter, in order to renew a license as a professional engineer, a licensee shall be required to complete 30 professional development hours (PDH) relevant to the practice of professional engineering. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in non-renewal of the professional engineer's license or other disciplinary action, or both.
           2) A prerenewal period is the 24 months preceding November 30 of each odd-numbered year.
           3) One professional development hour shall equal 50 minutes of instruction or participation. If a program is taken that awards continuing education units (CEU) rather than professional development hours, one CEU equals 10 professional development hours of class in an approved continuing education course.
           4) A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with the professional development requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois license.
           5) Professional engineers licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states shall comply with the professional development requirements set forth in this Section.
           6) Professional development units used to satisfy the professional development requirements of another jurisdiction may be applied to fulfill the professional development requirements of the State of Illinois if they are substantially equivalent.

b) Professional Development Activities shall include, but not be limited to:
           1) Successful completion of a college or university course in the area of professional engineering, related sciences and engineering ethics. One semester hour completed shall equal 15 PDHs and one quarter hour shall equal 10 PDHs;
           2) Successful completion of professional engineering courses or programs in which professional development hours are earned;
           3) Active participation and successful completion of professional engineering programs, seminars, tutorials, workshops, short courses, on-line or in-house courses. Credit will be given for self study courses only if an examination has been completed by the licensee and graded by the sponsor;
           4) Attending program presentations at related technical or professional meetings;
           5) Teaching or instructing. Teaching credit is valid for teaching a course or seminar for the first time only. Two PDHs will be earned for every hour of teaching. This does not apply to faculty in the performance of their regularly assigned duties;
           6) Authoring papers or articles that appear in nationally circulated journals or trade magazines or presented to a professional society or organization. A maximum 10 PDHs per paper or presentation per renewal are allowed for this activity;
           7) Receiving a patent within the renewal period. Ten PDHs may be earned per patent;
           8) Active participation on a committee or holding an office in a professional or technical society. Two PDHs will be awarded per committee membership or office held. A maximum of 8 PDHs may be accepted per prerenewal period.

c) All professional development programs, activities or courses shall:
           1) Contribute to the advancement, extension or enhancement of the professional skills and/or scientific knowledge of the licensee in practice of professional engineering;
           2) Foster the enhancement of general or specialized practice and values of professional engineering, related sciences and engineering ethics;
           3) Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program.

d) It shall be the responsibility of a licensee to maintain a record of PDHs for 6 years that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
           1) The name and address of the sponsor or provider, the number of hours attended in each program, the date and place of the program and a certificate of attendance; or
           2) A log of activities that includes the date and number of hours claiming as PDHs, a brief statement of the subject matter, printed program schedules, registration receipts or other proof of participation; or
           3) Transcripts or records of professional development hours maintained by an acceptable provider as set forth in subsection (e).

e) Acceptable providers for structured educational activities shall include, but not be limited to:
           1) National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES);
           2) National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE);
           3) Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE);
           4) Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois (CECI);
           5) Technical or professional societies or organizations relating to professional engineering, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE);
           6) Colleges, universities or other educational institutions;
           7) Other technical or professional societies or organizations including manufacturers.

f) The Department shall not pre-approve individual courses or programs.

g) Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements
           1) Each renewal applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the professional development requirements set forth in this Section.
           2) The Department may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE requirements as set forth in subsection (d). This additional evidence shall be required in the context of the Department's random audit. It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.
           3) When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant shall be notified in writing and may request an interview with the Board. At that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-65].

h) Restoration of Nonrenewed License. Upon satisfactory evidence of compliance with PDH requirements, the Department shall restore the license upon payment of the required fee as provided in Section 1380.275.

i) Waiver of PDH Requirements
           1) Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with these PDH requirements shall file with the Department a renewal application along with the required fee set forth in Section 1380.275, a statement setting forth the facts concerning non-compliance and request for waiver of the PDH requirements on the basis of these facts. A request for waiver shall be made prior to the renewal date. If the Department, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from the affidavit or any other evidence submitted that extreme hardship has been shown for granting a waiver, the Department shall waive enforcement of PDH requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.
           2) Extreme hardship shall be determined on an individual basis by the Board and be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the PDH requirements during the applicable prerenewal period because of:
                       A) Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States of America during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;
                       B) An incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;
                       C) A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a currently licensed physician; or
                       D) Any other similar extenuating circumstances.
           3) Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the license, submits a request for a waiver, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final decision on the application is made by the Department.

(Source: Added at 27 Ill. Reg. 13301, effective July 16, 2003)