New York PDH requirements
Last checked against board materials . Sources: NYSED continuing education Q&A.
Base PDH courses do not satisfy New York requirements
The New York board only accepts continuing education from providers it has pre-approved, and we are not on that list. Please use a board-approved provider for your New York renewal. The requirements below are here for reference only.
- 36 PDH
- per 3 years
- Triennial
- Last day of birth month
- 6 PDH
- into next period
- 1 PDH
- of the total
How many PDH does a New York PE need?
Professional Engineers in New York complete 36 contact hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period, at least 1 of which must come from a course or activity focused substantially on ethics relating to professional practice.
Professional engineers will be required to complete 36 hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period. NYSED continuing education Q&A
When does a New York PE license renew?
Registration runs on a three-year cycle aligned to the licensee's birth month rather than a shared statewide date, and all required hours must be completed before the registration expires.
Can New York PEs carry over PDH?
Since January 1, 2022, a maximum of 6 contact hours completed during one triennial registration period may be transferred into the following period.
Beginning January 1, 2022, a maximum of six continuing education hours completed during one triennial registration period may be transferred to a subsequent triennial registration period. NYSED continuing education Q&A
Does the New York board pre-approve courses?
Courses must be administered by a sponsor approved by the New York State Education Department. Recognized sponsors include ACEC New York, RCEP, IACET, colleges and universities with ABET-accredited programs, and organizations approved directly by NYSED.
What content counts toward New York PDH?
Acceptable subject matter must contribute to the professional practice of engineering and relate to public health, safety, and welfare. Topics such as project management for profitability, marketing, business expansion, and basic CAD instruction are excluded.
1 hour of professional ethics must be taken as either a course or educational activity every registration period. NYSED continuing education Q&A
Which activities count in New York?
NYSED recognizes live instruction with real-time instructor interaction, live webinars, online courses with a testing mechanism, on-demand educational activities with an assessment, teaching or presenting at approved events, committee and task force service, obtaining a patent, and publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Educational activities must be taken from an approved provider and in an acceptable subject area and be structured study that is based on audio, audio-visual, written, online, or other media, and does not meet the criteria established for live instruction described in question 15. NYSED continuing education Q&A
Other New York rules to know
Requirements come from Sections 7211 and 7212 of Article 145 of the Education Law and sections 68.11 and 68.12 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. Newly licensed engineers are not required to complete continuing education during their initial three-year registration period, though engineers first licensed in New York after practicing elsewhere complete 1 hour per month of registration. Records must be retained for six years after the date of completion and made available for Department inspection. Our platform eases this process by offering immediate access to certificates upon course or webinar completion, secure long-term storage of completion certificates for at least ten years, and hassle-free access through your online account anytime.
You should retain your continuing education records in your files for a period of 6 years after the date of completion of the continuing education. NYSED continuing education Q&A
Rule changes in New York
| Effective | What changed |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 excess continuing education hours completed in one triennial registration period may now be carried into the next period. Board notice. |
New York PE continuing education FAQ
Do I need CE in my first registration period?
No. Continuing education is not required during the initial three-year registration period. NYSED continuing education Q&A
How do I reactivate an inactive registration?
Complete the hours for your last registration period plus 1 hour for each month inactive, up to 12 additional hours. NYSED continuing education Q&A
Is there a public sector exemption?
Yes, for engineers whose only practice is the exempt government service; it ends if you practice outside it. NYSED continuing education Q&A