Minnesota professional engineers are required to complete 24 professional development hours (PDH) during each biennial renewal period as part of the state’s continuing education requirements.

At least 2 PDH must be dedicated to professional ethics, although the ethics content does not necessarily need to be profession-specific. Ethics PDH must be earned during the current renewal period and cannot be carried forward as ethics credit.

Minnesota defines one PDH as at least 50 minutes of instruction, and qualifying continuing education should enhance and expand the skills, knowledge, and abilities of practicing professionals so they can remain current and render competent professional services to the public. Qualifying activities may include college courses, self-study courses with an examination or verification process, seminars, tutorials, televised or videotaped courses, short courses, in-house educational programs, teaching or presenting, published professional work, certain public board or committee service, and patents.

Minnesota does not pre-approve continuing education courses, activities, or providers, so each licensee is responsible for selecting appropriate courses and maintaining documentation in case of audit. Records should be kept for four years after the end of the licensure period and should include dates, subjects, program duration, sponsoring organization, PDH earned, receipts where appropriate, and other supporting documentation.

Up to 12 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period as general PDH, but ethics hours must be earned in the renewal period to which they are applied.