Review the official 18-hour breakdown, reporting responsibilities, first-renewal exemption, and documentation rules.
| Category | Hours | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Laws and Rules | 1 | Must be from a Board-approved provider. |
| Professional Ethics | 1 | Required each two-year cycle. |
| Area of Practice | 4 | Should relate directly to the engineer’s practice. |
| Other pertinent engineering topics | 12 | May cover technical topics relevant to engineering practice. |
| Total | 18 | Standard biennial requirement. |
Use the free NCEES system to enter courses and supporting documentation.
The Florida Laws and Rules course is reported directly by the approved provider.
Retain certificates, receipts, vouchers, and similar proof in case of an audit.
Professional Engineers who actively participate in design work covered by the Florida Building Code must complete a current approved Advanced Building Code course before performing that work.
No. It is a specialized qualification tied to covered building-code work, not a universal renewal requirement for every Florida engineer.
Education Pathways includes it in the 18-hour and 4-hour bundles because many engineers need the qualification and benefit from completing the courses in one purchase.
Most Florida Professional Engineers complete 18 PDHs during each two-year renewal cycle: one hour of Florida Laws and Rules, one hour of professional ethics, four hours related to the engineer’s area of practice, and 12 additional hours pertinent to engineering practice.
An area-of-practice course should relate directly to the engineering discipline or professional work the licensee performs. Engineers should select coursework that is technically relevant to their current practice and keep documentation showing the course title, provider, date, and completed hours.
Florida Professional Engineers use NCEES CPC Tracking to report continuing education. Approved providers report the Florida Laws and Rules course directly to FBPE, while the engineer enters and documents the remaining PDHs.
Florida engineers should retain certificates and supporting records for four years. Keeping organized digital and paper copies makes it easier to respond if FBPE requests documentation during an audit.
The Advanced Florida Building Code course is a specialized qualification rather than a universal requirement for every Florida PE. It is required for engineers who actively participate in design work covered by the Florida Building Code. Course hours may also contribute to professional development when they are otherwise eligible.
The course is included because many Florida engineers perform building-code-related work and need the current qualification. Its inclusion makes the bundles more convenient for those engineers without suggesting that every Florida PE is legally required to hold the qualification.
No. The Advanced Building Code qualification is separate from the one-hour Florida Laws and Rules requirement. An engineer who needs the building-code qualification must still complete the approved Laws and Rules course.
Engineers who need the qualification should submit the completion certificate to FBPE according to the Board’s current instructions and verify that the Special Qualifications designation appears on their licensure record.
Some engineers first licensed on or after March 1, 2025, with a 2027 expiration date may be exempt from 16 PDHs for the first renewal. The Laws and Rules and ethics requirements still apply, and the engineer should verify eligibility directly with FBPE.
Online coursework may be used when it meets the applicable Florida requirements and is relevant to the engineer’s practice. Education Pathways provides self-paced online options for the required subjects and additional technical education.
Choose the complete 18-hour renewal bundle or select only the individual PDH courses you need.
