Calculating Required CE Units for Surveyors: A Step-by-Step Guide

Published: Oct 31, 2025 | Last Verified Against State Boards: Oct 31, 2025

For a licensed professional land surveyor, maintaining licensure is an active, ongoing responsibility. At the heart of this responsibility is the mandate for continuing education (CE). However, the rules are not uniform. Each state board sets its own standards, renewal periods, and topic requirements. This complexity creates a significant challenge: calculating required CE units for surveyors is often a confusing and stressful process, especially for surveyors licensed in multiple states.

Do you need PDH or CEUs? Can you carry over hours from last year? How many hours must be on state standards or ethics?

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step process for calculating your required continuing education hours. We will explore the fundamental education units, provide a comprehensive list of state-by-state requirements, and detail the calculation method for mandatory topics, multi-state licenses, and carryover hours. This is your complete resource for mastering your surveyor’s continuing competency.

The Building Blocks: Understanding Your CE Units (PDH vs. CEU)

Before you can calculate your required CE, you must understand the units of measurement. The terms “CEU” and “PDH” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same, and confusing them is a critical calculation error.

PDH (Professional Development Hour): This is the most common unit used by engineering and land surveying It is simple: One PDH = One contact hour (typically 50-60 minutes) of instruction or participation in an approved professional development activity. If you take a 2-hour live webinar, you earn 2 PDH.
CEU (Continuing Education Unit): The Continuing Education Unit is a standardized unit defined by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The calculation is different: One CEU = 10 PDH (or 10 contact hours).

This distinction is the first step in your calculation. If a course is advertised as “0.5 CEUs,” it is equivalent to 5 PDH. Always convert your required hours and your completed courses into a single, consistent unit. For nearly all land surveyors, that unit will be PDH.

State-by-State Surveying CE Requirements (The Core Calculation Data)

The first step in calculating required CE units for surveyors is to know your state board‘s specific rules. Below is a comprehensive list of the core requirements for land surveyors in all 50 states. Use this data as the starting point for your calculation.

(Disclaimer: Rules change frequently. Always verify these requirements with your specific state board of registration before your renewal period.)

Alabama

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: At least 2 PDH must be on Minimum Technical Standards for surveying in Alabama, and 1 PDH in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Alaska

State Board: Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: At least 2 PDH must be in professional At least 12 PDH must be “activities related to the practice of land surveying.”
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover:

Arizona

State Board: Board of Technical Registration
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 3 PDH must be related to professional ethics or Arizona statutes/rules.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Arkansas

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: A minimum of 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or surveying standards/rules.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

California

State Board: Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 4 years (quadrennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or California-specific surveying laws/rules.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Not specified.

Colorado

State Board: Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: A minimum of 12 PDH must be on “topics related to the practice of land surveying.”
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Connecticut

State Board: Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 15 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: A minimum of 7 PDH must be in land surveying
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover:

Delaware

State Board: Board of Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 3 PDH must be in professional 2 PDH must be on Delaware Standards of Practice.
Online/Self-Study: A maximum of 12 PDH may be self-study. The rest must be live/interactive.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Florida

State Board: Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 6 PDH must be on Florida Standards of Practice (SOPs).
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover:

Georgia

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 15 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: At least 7 PDH must be in technical surveying
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Hawaii

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects
Required Hours: 16 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: None specified.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 8 PDH may be carried over.

Idaho

State Board: Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Illinois

State Board: Board of Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be on Illinois surveying standards/ethics.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Indiana

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 6 PDH must be in professional ethics or state standards.
Online/Self-Study: A maximum of 18 PDH may be self-study. 6 PDH must be live/interactive.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Iowa

State Board: Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Kansas

State Board: Board of Technical Professions
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: A minimum of 20 PDH must be in technical land surveying
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Kentucky

State Board: Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 8 PDH must be in professional ethics or state standards.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Louisiana

State Board: Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
Required Hours: 15 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: 1 PDH in ethics. 4 PDH must be in Louisiana Standards of Practice.
Online/Self-Study: A maximum of 8 PDH may be self-study.
Carryover: Up to 7 PDH may be carried over.

Maine

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Maryland

State Board: Board for Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional 16 PDH must be in technical surveying topics.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online from approved
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Massachusetts

State Board: Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: None specified.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Michigan

State Board: Board of Professional Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 3 years (triennial).
Mandatory Topics: 8 PDH must be in state-specific surveying practice.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover:

Minnesota

State Board: Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture…
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Mississippi

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Required Hours: 15 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: 1 PDH in ethics.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Missouri

State Board: Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors…
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in Missouri standards/ethics.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Montana

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Nebraska

State Board: Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Nevada

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional ethics or state laws.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

New Hampshire

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

New Jersey

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 3 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: A maximum of 12 PDH may be self-study.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

New Mexico

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or business practice.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

New York

State Board: Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 3 years (triennial).
Mandatory Topics: 3 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: A minimum of 12 PDH must be “interactive” (live courses/webinars). The rest may be self-study.
Carryover:

North Carolina

State Board: Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors
Required Hours: 15 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: 1 PDH in ethics. 4 PDH must be in state-specific surveying practice (SOPs).
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over (ethics/SOPs cannot be).

North Dakota

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Ohio

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional ethics or state standards.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Oklahoma

State Board: Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional ethics or state laws.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Oregon

State Board: Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or state laws.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Pennsylvania

State Board: Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional ethics or standards.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Rhode Island

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

South Carolina

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 6 PDH must be in state-specific Standards of Practice (South Carolina).
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

South Dakota

State Board: Board of Technical Professions
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Tennessee

State Board: Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be on Tennessee Standards of Practice and 2 PDH in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Texas

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 12 PDH every year (annual).
Mandatory Topics: 3 PDH must be in ethics, state standards, or rules.
Online/Self-Study: A maximum of 9 PDH may be self-study. 3 PDH must be live/interactive.
Carryover: Up to 11 PDH may be carried over (ethics/rules cannot be).

Utah

State Board: Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Licensing Board
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

Vermont

State Board: Board of Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or Vermont surveying
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover:

Virginia

State Board: Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors…
Required Hours: 16 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 16 PDH must be related to surveying practice.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 8 PDH may be carried over.

Washington

State Board: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 24 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 12 PDH may be carried over.

West Virginia

State Board: Board of Professional Surveyors
Required Hours: 12 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be on West Virginia surveying standards/ethics.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 6 PDH may be carried over.

Wisconsin

State Board: Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers…
Required Hours: 20 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 4 PDH must be in professional ethics or state standards.
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 10 PDH may be carried over.

Wyoming

State Board: Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
Required Hours: 30 PDH every 2 years (biennial).
Mandatory Topics: 2 PDH must be in professional
Online/Self-Study: All hours may be taken online.
Carryover: Up to 15 PDH may be carried over.

Step 1: Calculating Your Required Topic “Buckets”

The first step in calculating your required CE is to understand that your total PDH is not one single number. It is a calculation of different “buckets” of continuing education.

Total PDH = (Mandatory Ethics PDH) + (Mandatory State-Specific PDH) + (General PDH)

For example, if you are a land surveyor in North Carolina:

Total: 15 PDH
Ethics: 1 PDH
State Practice: 4 PDH
Calculation: 15 (Total) – 1 (Ethics) – 4 (State) = 10 “General” PDH

This means you must find 1 hour of ethics, 4 hours on NC standards, and 10 hours of any other acceptable professional surveying courses.

Step 2: The Multi-State Surveyor’s Calculation (The Master List)

For surveyors licensed in multiple states, calculating required hours is more complex. You cannot simply complete the hours for one state and assume you are covered.

The safest method is to create a “Master Requirement List” based on the most restrictive rules of all states where you are licensed.

Example Calculation (Surveyor in NY, NJ, and PA):

Requirement	New York	New Jersey	Pennsylvania	Your Master List (Most Restrictive)
Total PDH	24 (every 3 yrs) = 8/yr	24 (every 2 yrs) = 12/yr	24 (every 2 yrs) = 12/yr	12 PDH per year (or 24 biennially)
Ethics PDH	3 (every 3 yrs) = 1/yr	3 (every 2 yrs) = 1.5/yr	2 (every 2 yrs) = 1/yr	3 PDH every 2 years (to satisfy NJ)
State-Specific	None	None	None	None
Online Limit	12 PDH max self-study (over 3 yrs)	12 PDH max self-study (over 2 yrs)	None	12 PDH max self-study (to satisfy NJ)

By following the “Master List,” this surveyor satisfies the requirements for all three states simultaneously.

Step 3: Adjusting Your Calculation (Carryover & Format Limits)

Once you have your “Master List” (or your single state‘s list), you have two final checks.

Factoring in Carryover: Did you earn extra PDH during your last renewal period? Check your state‘s carryover limit. For example, if you need 24 PDH and your state (like PA) allows 12 PDH to be carried over, you may only need to earn 12 new PDH in this cycle.

Crucial Caveat: Most states do not allow mandatory topic hours (like ethics or state standards) to be carried over. You must take these courses during the current renewal period.

Checking Format Limits: Review your calculation one last time. If your list requires 24 PDH but has a self-study limit of 12 PDH (like NJ), your calculation is:

Total Required: 24 PDH
Mandatory Ethics: 3 PDH (must be live)
Live/Interactive: 9 PDH (to meet the 12-hour minimum)
Self-Study (On-Demand): 12 PDH (maximum allowed)

This final, detailed calculation ensures you are selecting the right type of courses to satisfy your board.

Your Final Checklist & The Importance of a CPC Log

Calculating required CE units for surveyors is a process of systematic refinement. Use this checklist:

Identify State(s): List all states where you hold a land surveyor license.
Get Core Data: Use the list above (and verify on your board‘s site) to find:

Total Required PDH
Renewal Period
Mandatory Ethics Hours
Mandatory State-Specific Hours
Online/Self-Study Limits
Carryover Allowance

Create Your Master List: Find the most restrictive rule for each category.
Do the Math:

Total PDH – Ethics PDH – State PDH = General PDH Needed
General PDH Needed – Eligible Carryover PDH = Final General PDH to Earn

Check Formats: Ensure your plan meets any limits on self-study courses.

Finally, the most important part of this process is tracking. Maintain a “CPC Log” (Continuing Professional Competency Log). For every course or activity you complete, record:

Provider Name
Course Title
Date Completed
PDH Hours Earned
Topic (e.g., “Ethics,” “State Standards,” “Technical”)
Save the Certificate of Completion

This log is your proof. It turns your calculation into a verifiable record, ensuring you are prepared for any board audit and can renew your professional surveying license with confidence.