Continuing Education Requirements

Pursuant to 864 IAC 1.1-15-1, a licensee is not required to seek authorization from the board before fulfilling their continuing education requirements. Hours completed by licensees are subject, however, to the statutes and rules below. Although prior authorization is not required before attending a course, the board has discretion to approve or deny courses at any time.

For your reference, "Approved organization," as described in IC 25-1-4-0.2, refers to the following:
(1) United States Department of Education.
(2) Council on Post-Secondary Education.
(3) Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.
(4) Joint Commission on Healthcare Organizations.
(5) Federal, state, and local government agencies.
(6) A college or other teaching institution accredited by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Post-Secondary Education
(7) A national organization of practitioners whose members practicing in Indiana are subject to regulation by a board or agency regulating a profession or occupation under this title.
(8) A national, state, district, or local organization that operates as an affiliated entity under the approval of an organization listed in subdivisions (1) through (7).
(9) An internship or residency program conducted in a hospital that has been approved by an organization listed in subdivisions (1) through (7).
(10) Any other organization or individual approved by the board.

Rule 15. Continuing Education
864 IAC 1.1-15-1 Continuing education
Authority: IC 25-1-4-8; IC 25-31-1-17.5
Affected: IC 25
Sec. 1. This rule establishes the continuing education requirements for professional engineers. (State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers; 864 IAC 1.1-15-1; filed Jul 19, 2010, 11:22 a.m.: 20100818-IR-864090788FRA)
 

864 IAC 1.1-15-2 Definitions
Authority: IC 25-1-4-8; IC 25-31-1-17.5
Affected: IC 25-1-4-0.2; IC 25-1-4-0.5.
Sec. 2. (a) As used in this rule, "biennium" means a two (2) year licensure period during which continuing education requirements must be met. It:
(1) commences on August 1 of an even-numbered year; and
(2) concludes on July 31 of the next even-numbered year.
(b) Based on IC 25-1-4-0.5 and as used in this rule, "continuing education" means an orderly process of instruction that is:
(1) approved by an approved organization (as defined in IC 25-1-4-0.2) or the board; and
(2) designed to directly enhance a professional engineer's knowledge and skill in providing services relevant to the practice of engineering.
The activities described in section 4 of this rule qualify as continuing education if they augment the professional engineer's knowledge and skill in providing services relevant to the practice of engineering.
(c) As used in this rule, "hour of continuing education" means at least fifty (50) minutes of instruction or course contact time. "Hours of continuing education" has the same meaning for the number of hours stated. An alternate term for an hour of continuing education that is used nationally with continuing education for professional engineers is professional development hour or PDH.

864 IAC 1.1-15-3 Continuing education hours required
Authority: IC 25-1-4-8; IC 25-31-1-17.5
Affected: IC 25-1-4
Sec. 3. (a) Except for holders of an inactive certificate under section 9 of this rule, during each biennium a professional engineer shall complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education that meets the requirements of this rule and IC 25-1-4 in order to renew his or her professional engineer registration. This continuing education requirement first applies to the biennium of August 1, 2010, through July 31, 2012, and therefore first applies to the July 31, 2012, renewal.
(b) At least one (1) hour of the continuing education required in each biennium under subsection (a) shall be in ethics applicable to the practice of professional engineering.
(c) At least one (1) hour of the continuing education required in each biennium under subsection (a) shall be in Indiana statutes and rules applicable to the practice of professional engineering.
(d) A professional engineer initially licensed in Indiana in the first year of a biennium shall only be required to obtain fifteen (15) hours of continuing education. A professional engineer initially licensed in Indiana in the second year of a biennium shall not be required to obtain any continuing education.
(e) Up to fifteen (15) hours of continuing education obtained during a biennium beyond what is required for that biennium may be carried over to the next biennium.

You may click here to view the language which implements the requirement to earn continuing education.