This forum as PDH for PE License??? 2

[rmw]

Has anyone ever considered claiming time in this fourm as PDH hours for licensure??? Frankly, based on some of the "ethics" lectures I have been to in order to get my PDH credit and certificate, I think there is much more beneficial information here than I ever heard there.

Does anyone think that would be ethical or unethical?? And, what if the site management could give a certificate (e-mail) to members based on time spent in here??

Wild Idea, might be. Give some opinions.

rmw, PE

 

[JAE]

There would be a difficult time being able to "prove" that you had X contact hours on the site. How could that be measured?

 

[Rich2001]

Kick the time logging up to the site management.

As for claiming it as PDH, you can print out copies of your posts (date stamped) that prove that you were actively involved in the forum not just a passive bystander.

You will probally need some way to proved that you are the person that goes with the handle (screen name).

The more I think about this, the more I like the idea.

 

[JAE]

Rich2001 - I don't disagree with you but I would wonder what the actual Engineering Boards would think. I would first check with them to see what their policy is on it.

I would argue with them that Eng-Tips has certainly been a benefit to me, a resource, and to some extent a form of continuing education. But whether they would consider it a valid continuing education and how you could put a time value on reading a post, or posting an answer would be tough.

 

[Rich2001]

JAE & RMW, I contacted the board on another issue and posed your question to them. I'll let you know what I learn.

 

[rmw]

JAE,

First, the same way I would "prove" that I actually sat through the lecture at some 'ethics' session set up by some entity, (rather than skipping out, or sleeping through it, and then just showing up for the certificate presentation,) it is an integrity issue.

Frankly, the only value in some of what I have sat through was that I did get the certificate, and satisfied my requirements. What I learned about ethics was pretty weak.

Valid points re the verification of the time and identity of our 'handles', but I have individuals on this site who know me personally, and know who goes with my handle. If the idea grew legs in this forum and had enough interest, I would present it to site management to ask regarding their ability to track the usage. They certainly can track things like how many times I log on, and how many stars I present to others, so they do have some tracking ability.

Further, if they did, and it flew, then, it would be value added for the site as a whole, so I would think that site management might have an interest in looking into it.

I was hoping that some member of this forum might be involved with the accreditation process for PE's somewhere, and could add some input to this suggestion. If anybody knows such an individual, please e mail this thread to him/her for their evaluation.

If there is enough positive response in this thread, I might e mail it to my state board for their evaluation.

You bring out some good points about it being tough, but I am old school, and that is when the "tough get going".

rmw

 

[JAE]

I'd be interested in what the state boards have to say -

The "prove" that I spoke of was in determining the actual time spent - not the proving that I actually spent some time on it. Not the "whether" but the "how long".

If Dave can get some kind of tracking mechanism going where we could key on a button and get a printout of on-line hours - that would then provide the proof I think.

Then the question would be whether the state boards value the time spent here. You have no argument with me on that.

 

[RDK]

I’ve claimed time spent here as PDH.

My association allows informal education hours, promotion of the profession as valid PD time.

I have no issues if ever audited, I’d simply print out a bunch of posts and submit them.




Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[zdas04]

See thread730-94484 I checked with my board's (New Mexico)web page and there is a category called "literature review" that fits very well. The only rub I see is that it is limited to a max of 6 hours for credit - for some of us that is a day in Eng-Tips.

David

 

[pmkPE]

What is the difference between asking questions and entering into discussions here versus in our offices? I don't think there is any, therefore it won't fly (That dog won't hunt (southern)).

 

[jsummerfield]

No! Claiming web fourm time as PDH hours is completely bogus. There are some good web sites for PDH home study.

John

 

[zdas04]

jsummerfield,
I don't know for sure where you're coming from, but it is far from bogus. Many boards have a legimate category for "Literature review". I can't think of a single thing about this forum that doesn't satisfy the definition of "Peer-Reviewed Literature".

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

The Plural of "anecdote" is not "data"

 

[BJC]

zdas04
Your correct. I know of two states that will accept part of their CE requirments with documented activity in this form.
Continuing education means to some extent learning about new equipment, systems problems etc. Here these come at you at the speed of light. Even if don't solve them for other people you learn from trying and/or observing.

 

[jsummerfield]

I will likely participate in organized studies such as those found at

http://www.pdhonline.org/

I fly but infrequently. Participating in a pilot forum would not count toward a flight review. Although I do not sell it I have an insurance license too. The state requires an organized class with 30 study hours including six hours ethics every two years. This is the model that makes sense for me. Internet classes are suitable. Exams are required.

John

 

[JKEngineer]

I am licensed in NY and have been accredited by the Practicing Institute of Engineering, PIE, as a course evaluator.

As I understand the case:
Under NY rules, which went into effect 1/1/04, participation in this forum would not be eligible for PDH. PDHs are broken down into two types. The more valuable ones, of which we have to get at least 18 per triennium, require live instruction and a feedback mechanism, for example. The less valuable ones, of which we can take credit for no more than 18 hrs per triennium, are things like patents, self study courses, etc. I don't think that NY recognizes reading a text book, for example, for credit.

A problem with using this forum for credit would be validation of the qualifications of the participants. We have none. NY certainly requires some evaluation of the qualifications of a course instructor, for example, at least as practiced under PIE.

HTH
Jack


Jack M. Kleinfeld, P.E. Kleinfeld Technical Services, Inc.
Infrared Thermography, Finite Element Analysis, Process Engineering

http://www.KleinfeldTechnical.com

 

[HgTX]

Texas is more lenient. We can do 5 hours of "self-directed study". From

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/CEP_FAQ.htm#SelfStudy

:

Essentially, self-study is any study, research, reading, etc. that is performed by the license holder that is relevant to the practice of a technical profession and includes technical, ethical, or managerial content. It is credited on an hour for hour basis, with a maximum set by the legislature at 5 PDH total per renewal period.

So, reading up on a new topic, researching a new design, keeping up with current engineering periodicals, or reading about the engineering Act and Board Rules can all count toward self-study.

I could see counting *some* things on this forum but not others. Discussions specifically about ethics, for example, don't seem any less authoritative than the full-day ethics class I once took which was little more than group discussion of scenarios. And all the technical discussion I read could count. I don't think I could count time I spent posting or goofing around in the language forum.

(That said, I wasn't planning on using the forum anyway. I have more "Personal Development" than I know what to do with.)

Hg