Continuing Education
Overview
Most state licensing boards require licensed engineers and land surveyors to meet continuing education requirements to renew their license. Nevada requires licensees to acquire at least 30 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) biennially, or every two years. When renewing a professional license, licensees are required to report the PDHs accrued in the preceding twenty-four months (during the current biennial license period) on the Nevada license renewal application.
“Home State” Rule
Nevada recognizes the differences in continuing education requirements across jurisdictions and applies the “home state” rule. If a Nevada licensee lives in another state or jurisdiction and holds a valid license in that jurisdiction—when that jurisdiction’s requirements are substantially equivalent to Nevada’s and those requirements have been met— then reporting of PDHs is waived per NAC 625.450 at license renewal.
Here are two examples that explain how the home state rule works:
When PDH reporting is waived
If a Nevada licensee lives in Texas (or state with similar PDH requirements) and has met the PDH requirements there, then reporting PDHs is waived at Nevada license renewal. That’s because Texas’s PDH requirements are substantially equivalent to Nevada’s (Texas and Nevada each requires 30 biennially or 15 annual equivalent).
When PDH reporting is required
If a Nevada licensee lives in California (or state with similar PDH requirements), then reporting PDHs is required at Nevada license renewal. That’s because California’s PDH requirements are not substantially equivalent to Nevada’s (California requires 0 while Nevada requires 30 biennially).
Please note though, even if reporting is waived because of the Home State Rule, the licensee is still required to complete continuing education requirements that are unique to Nevada (see Revisions below).
Revisions to Nevada Continuing Education Regulations
Recent revisions to Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 625.430) require that two (2) of the 30 hours must be in professional ethics and one (1) of the 30 hours must be in the provisions of chapter 625 of NRS and NAC, Nevada engineering statutes and regulations.
NAC 625.470 was also revised by adding self-study as an eligible activity to accrue professional development hours. One hour of self-study equates to one PDH.
Options to meet new requirements
Nevada engineering/land surveying statutes and regulations
Licensees may satisfy the one (1) hour requirement focused on Nevada engineering/land surveying statutes and regulations through self-study. A considerable number of statutes and regulations have been revised, and it is important that licensees are familiar with the provisions by which they are regulated. Reviewing the Statutes & Regulations section of the board’s website, and documenting that review (Take a screen shot, note the date reviewed, and time spent), would satisfy the requirement. Alternatively, licensees may attend the webinar we host twice annually or watch the recorded video to satisfy the requirement (see below).
Professional ethics
There are several ways to satisfy the two (2) hour requirement for professional ethics. Licensees may attend in-person or online courses presented by professional organizations. Licensees may also satisfy the requirement through self-study by reading books, white papers, or articles on ethics. Or, like the Nevada law requirement, they may attend the webinar we present or watch the recorded video to earn the PDH credits (see below).
For those who were unable to attend the Nevada Chapter 625 Statutes and Regulations Webinar live on Wednesday October 25, 2023, you may watch the recorded video of the webinar and earn 1 (one) PDH credit.
For those who were unable to attend the Professional Ethics Webinar live on Thursday October 26, 2023, you may watch the recorded video of the webinar and earn 2 (two) PDH credits.
Professional Development Hour Activities
| Types of Qualified Activities | PDH Units Earned |
|---|---|
| Successfully completing approved college sponsored course | 1 Sem. hr = 45 PDH 1 Qtr. hr. = 30 PDH |
| Monitoring or auditing college sponsored courses | 1 PDH for each contact hour |
| Successfully completing qualifying courses which are awarded CEU’s. | 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH |
| Successfully completing qualifying seminars, tutorials, short-courses, correspondence, televised or videotaped courses or programs | 1 PDH for each contact hour |
| Attending qualifying in-house programs sponsored by employers or other organizations | 1 PDH for each contact hour |
| Attending qualifying programs at technical and professional meetings | 1 PDH for each contact hour |
| Teaching, instructing, or making presentations at activities listed above | 2 x PDH for attending/completing activity |
| Authoring published papers, articles, or books | 10 PDH per paper or book |
| Receiving a patent as an inventor of record related to Engineering or Land Surveying | 10 PDH for each qualified patent issued |
| Professional/Technical society officer or active committee member | 2 PDH per organization, per year |
| Writing “Accepted” Professional Examination problems | 4 PDH per question. 10 PDH max/year |
| Participating in a self-study activity | 1 PDH for each hour of self-study |
Professional Development Hour Audits
Following the conclusion of a license renewal period, the board will conduct an audit to verify that regulations are being met and identify any communication issues that may be preventing licensees from understanding the regulations. A random sample of 100 licensees will be selected, and they will be requested to send documentation to support the professional development hours reported in their license renewal applications.
Tip:
If you are an NCEES record holder, you can maintain your continuing education records, free of charge, via your My NCEES account. The Nevada Board can access your NCEES continuing education records to confirm compliance.
