The maintenance of an active and legitimate Professional Engineer (PE) license is essential for civil engineers operating in Florida. It is a matter of law that engineers always update themselves with trends, changes, and ethics governing the practice. Among the conditions for license maintenance, there is participation in PDH, otherwise, the license will be inactive. As for civil engineers practicing in Florida, it is required that the Florida Engineers complete a total of 18 PDH hours in each renewal period. Thus, engineers do not get rusty or outdated on what they have learned and what is expected of them when it comes to discharging their professional responsibilities.
PDH courses are developed specially to address the continuing education requirements of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Offered programs include civil engineering courses that contain several subjects important for civil engineer practice; including technological advances, safety, ethics, and environmental rules. In this article, we will discuss the requirements of the PDH for civil engineers in the state of Florida and the advantages of taking PDH courses and more—to help you keep your license.
Understanding Florida Civil Professional Engineer PDH Courses Requirements
One of the basic expectations is accumulation of 18 PDH hours during a two-year renewal period. This is part of what engineers are required to do in order to keep updating themselves on new laws, new technologies and new standards.
The 18 PDH hours have to include specific categories. One of these hours must be spent learning about ethical considerations in engineering, which is central to the tenets of practical professionalism. Also, it is required that one more hour provides information concerning legislation and regulation concerning the engineering practices in the state of Florida. The rest of the hours can be obtained by enrolling in several different technical or managerial courses that improve a civil engineer’s practical skills.
The rationale behind these requirements is simple: civil engineers have significant responsibility. Irrespective of whether civil engineers are involved in planning infrastructures, supervising a project or solving environmental issues, they must be armed with the best know-how—to meet every project’s safety and efficiency and conform to the set rules and laws. Through the completion of PDH courses, the state is guaranteed that license holders are able to continue practicing engineering and contributing to the profession responsibly and appropriately.
The Advantages of Florida Civil Professional Engineer PDH Courses for Civil Engineers
There are several benefits to professional development for civil engineers. PDH courses are helpful in a sense that they consist of a definite sequence that may include new technologies, new materials, and practice standards—to make civil engineers aware of recent developments. The requirements of these courses help engineers to continue practicing, as they have proven themselves able to continue to update themselves in the ever complex aspects of engineering projects.
Probably the most important advantage of gaining PDH for civil engineers is the chance to develop professionally. Technology and industry development continue to advance at such a pace in the civil engineering world that engineers must learn of such changes in order to be more competitive in the employment field. Those engineers who always strive to continue their education stand better chances of being hired, because employers always go for those candidates who are always updating their knowledge and skills in the field.
Other than upwards mobility, engineers are faced with a challenge of compliance. PDH courses can offer information about important regulations, and make sure engineers are informed of legal changes in their sector.
It also seems impossible not to mention the effect of enhanced work efficiency. Knowledge gained enables the engineers to undertake implementation of projects in an efficient manner. This can in turn assist in enhancing project performance thus fetching a higher level of client satisfaction, and maybe lead to leadership positions in an organization. In addition, professional development shows the commitment to the profession and the public, without which people will start losing trust in the engineering profession.
An Overview of Florida Civil Professional Engineer PDH Courses
All the Florida Civil Professional Engineer PDH courses have been developed to meet the state’s continuing education needs while delivering quality information pertinent to practicing civil engineers. Florida Civil PDH courses cover the following basic subjects and topics: ethics, engineering laws and rules, and technical topics related to civil engineering. Engineering professionals are quite often confronted with decisions that affect communities and the environment and having a solid understanding of ethical practices guarantees that a decision is made in the best interest of the public.
Other courses cover the legal requirements applicable to the practice of civil engineering in Florida—the Florida Administrative Code and laws that pertain to engineering as provided by the Florida Statutes. Such knowledge is important as a civil engineer when practicing in Florida because it is unlawful to practice civil engineering without a license, and any violation of the law in the state attracts disciplinary action or a revocation of the engineers license.
In addition to the statutory credit courses, civil engineers practicing in Florida are free to attend any of the numerous elective PDH courses that are specialized in technical and managerial disciplines. These courses may include advanced project management practices, design for sustainability, or knowledge about state of the art construction materials. This way, engineers get to be able to select courses in their area of specialization, which does in fact, effectively supplement their continuing education process.
How to Choose the Right PDH Courses for License Renewal
Choosing the appropriate PDH courses is rather important, so that in addition to completing the legal minimum to renew your license, you build your knowledge base and choose the areas of practice most important to you. Since you get a wide and diverse offer, you should select the courses in accordance with your short and long-term career plan, and certainly, not forgetting the Florida’s specifications.
It was discussed above that engineers practicing civil engineering in Florida are required to complete some one-hour courses. Apart from those core, compulsory courses, you have the freedom to choose technical ones which teach about innovations in your area of interest, including sustainable infrastructure, transport engineering, water resource engineering, etc.
It is always recommended that any PDH courses that are taken meet the requirement of having the provider being affiliated with the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. This ensures that the credits you are going to accumulate will be recognized when you are ready for the renewal of your license. Details of legally accredited providers are often published on the FBPE website and therefore it is easier for you to identify relevant and rightful course providers.
Moreover, think of your present and future goals in your workplace or any organization you wish to join in the future. Do you want to be employed in an area of civil engineering that is well defined, like Geotechnical engineers or Environmental engineers? If so, search for PDH courses that provide more information in those fields. If your field of interest is more towards leadership or project management roles, you can look for courses that teach about project management, communication, or leadership in engineering projects.
Lastly, which do you prefer, online delivery of lessons or face to face delivery of lessons? Many engineers prefer online PDH courses since they allow them to take their professional courses while they perform their work duties. Online courses also offer the convenience of learning at your own pace, which makes it easier to study complex material. Some might go for face-to-face classes such as workshops or seminars where activities are more practical and trainers and fellow learners are physically present.
Step-by-Step Guide to Renewing Your License with PDH Courses
Depending on the type of projects and work you do as a civil engineer in Florida, taking PDH courses in order to renew your license is relatively easy, however, it involves proper tracking of the hours completed together with compliance with the rules and regulations of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Below, you will be able to find a step by step guide on how to renew your membership and avoid any hitches.
a. Understand the Renewal Deadline
In Florida, civil engineers are expected to renew their PE license every two years. Know when your renewal date is and ensure that you get to complete the 18 PDH hours before the renewal period elapses. Failure to work on your courses in a timely fashion may cause stress if you decide to rush it toward a date so close to your license’s expiry.
b. Complete the Required PDH Courses
As we told you earlier, some PDH courses are compulsory. But to make your courses up to the required 18 hours, you can also take technical or managerial courses that relate to your engineering practice. Make it a habit though, to check whether all the courses you are taking have been approved by the FBPE.
c. Keep Records of Your PDH Hours
There is a need to ensure that records concerning the PDH courses completed are kept. The FBPE may request to audit your records at any one time, and having good records to support this will help in the audit process.
d. Submit Your Renewal Application
When you are satisfied with the total hours of the PDH, you can fill the renewal application on the FBPE online platform. An additional requirement in your application is the renewal fee. And that’s all!
