Ways for Continuing Education Engineers to Earn Professional Development Hours

Professional development hours are a key part of maintaining licensure. They are essential to keeping engineers at the top of their game through continuing education. Requirements vary by state, but there are opportunities to achieve these hours that are applicable nationwide.

In the State of New Jersey, 24 professional development hours, or PDHs, are required. At least two must be in professional practice ethics.

Web Seminars

NSPE offers 15 free courses as a membership benefit to assist in the process of meeting the professional development requirements. Viewers are required to view the content and pass the quiz at the end with a score of 70 percent or higher. If successful, the viewer earns an attendance certificate along with the designated number of credits or professional development hours.

Examples from the selection of available courses include, but are not limited to:

• Building Your Pipeline of Success (1 PDH)
• Engineering Ethics: Licensure and Professional Practice Concerns (1 PDH)
• Real and Perceived Concerns About Hydraulic Fracturing (1 PDH)

As long as the viewer has access to a computer with audio and Internet access, they can complete the seminar anywhere. New courses are added annually.

Independent Study

Independent study opportunities are available, whether they are taken as print, DVD, or online.

Conferences and Events

Events are an excellent way to meet others in the engineering field, expand networking opportunities, and complete professional development hours.

• Professional Engineers Conference: NSPE hosts its annual conference in August. In 2020, it will held from August 12-16. The full conference provides up to 12 PDHs, completing half the requirements in the State of New Jersey. Learn more.
• State and Local: While the Professional Engineers Conference gathers attendees nationwide, state and local events provide the opportunity to engage with members of the engineering field from the same area.
• Online Forums: Attending events from home eliminates worries of travel time and expenses. Attendees can chat and network with other online users to gain tips and knowledge from anywhere in the country.

Learning and networking are key components of the process for continuing education for engineers. Contact NJSPE for more information on becoming a member and gaining access to all the benefits, such as the free online courses.