Using PDH's (credit hours) from a previous PE licensing cycle 1

[AFUpe]

I hold a PE license in Michigan and I'm due to renew it for another two years on November 1, 2014. Up until now, Michigan did not require PDH's (Professional Development Hours) as part of the renewal process. However, when I renew my license in 2016, I will need to verify that I've met the PDH requirements during the past two years. There is an 18 credit coarse being offered in my area which I am very interested in and it would conclude on October 30th, 2014, two days before my next licensing cycle. Keep in mind that I don't need the credits for this renewal. When I renew my license in 2016, would it be unethical for my to claim the PDH's, considering I earned them two days before the cycle?

 

[SLTA]

2 days is still outside the cycle. Call the board and get a written answer.

 

[zdas04]

Contact the board, but the states I'm registered in allow you to carry over some number of PDH from the previous period (I had 200 more PDH than I needed and they let me carry 15 non-ethics hours forward).

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat

 

[mtu1972]

I don't know if this is quite right, but I go from the date I renew for the State in question. As you don't generally wait until the last day in the cycle, I report the credits I have to the date I submit for renewal and then start counting for the next cycle. This may be a solution for you.


gjc

 

[racookpe1978]

Yeah.

Plan on taking a CPR class, an Excel class, or do some studying. How many hours do you have logged for reading/writing/arithmatic'ng on this forum?

 

[AFUpe]

zdas04: I don't believe that Michigan is going to allow carry over.

racookpe1978: I'm not sure a CPR class would apply, but maybe an Excel class. I guess it depends on how you interpret the Rules (

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_61343_35414_60647_35472-316140--,00.html)

They state, "Continuing education hours shall be relevant to the occupation". You could argue that almost any thing is relevant, but I think they are saying that it should be specific to a particular field of engineering. Same goes for reading these forums. They way the rules are worded, I don't think self-study can be counted towards PDH's. Either way, it's not about being able to find ways to get PDH's; it's about a particular class that I want to attend, but won't count because it's two days before the 2 year renewal cycle.

I suppose I can try contacting "the board", but I have a feeling I'll get a generic "rules are rules" answer. Thank you all for your suggestions and opinions.

 

[JedClampett]

If Michigan doesn't allow carry over, they're unusual. Most states I'm familiar with, NV, TX, SC, NC, etc., that track PDH's allow carryover.
I fill out a form (a very simple spreadsheet) that I stole from the Texas website. You add in carryover from the past period, new PDHs and for a one year cycle, if it's more than 15, that's your carryover. I've been lucky enough to be audited twice and never had an issue.

 

[mtu1972]

AFUpe - Thanks for the link to the MI rules.

I am also registered in MI and must say they have been remiss in letting us know about this change. My renewal period ends in 2015 and I only learned about the requirements through a MI Tech Univ alumni group. I've been keeping track of Cont Ed since 1980 so I was thinking it would not be too difficult to add in an additional state. In reviewing their rules, I see that the classes have to be "live" (i.e. having access to the instructor). Many of my other states do not have that requirement and so I get a lot of my credits through on-line pre-packaged classes.

This will require a more diligent approach on my part.

gjc

 

[AFUpe]

mtu1972: You bring up a good point. Sites like RedVector always provide email addresses to the instructor that wrote the lesson. Is that considered access to the instructor? Some states, like Wisconsin, require x number of hours to come from LIVE (real time) access to the instructor. So you could still do it online, but it would have to be a live "webinar".

 

[racookpe1978]

racookpe1978: I'm not sure a CPR class would apply, but maybe an Excel class. I guess it depends on how you interpret the Rules (

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_61...)

They state, "Continuing education hours shall be relevant to the occupation". You could argue that almost any thing is relevant, but I think they are saying that it should be specific to a particular field of engineering.

True, true.

I'm a field engineer, not a classroom nor office. So, I've needed CPR, have fought fires at the job site, done immediate first aid on casualties, and had a few other "adventures" not in the usual office space. The training would be different, and my example won't be relevant to your case. Give it a try for the board, worst they can do is say "no, rules are rules" and then audit your records for other incidents they don't like.

 

[zdas04]

I had a class with my state board a few years ago and one of the examples that the presenter used for acceptable training was OSHA required training (he actually had CPR on the slide).

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat

 

[dicksewerrat]

I think as long as it is "safety" training it should be OK, especially if you are the PE in charge of safety.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com