CEU versus PDH - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E., P.C.

In some recent communications regarding credit for and the availability of Continuing Education Units (CEU) versus Professional Development Hours (PDH), I learned that I had been harboring some personal misconceptions.

Now, by shamelessly plagiarizing some writings that have been very kindly provided by Michelle Demydenko at IEEE and by Chris Early and Robert Weiner at The IEEE Consultants Network of Long Island (LICN), I will try to convey some information about this subject.

I do wish to preface this with a note that this is from a New York State perspective.

There is a distinction to be borne in mind between CEUs and PDHs. The IEEE gives out CEUs for Continuing Education and they do so even if the seminar is not valid for PE licensure purposes.

For instance, there are certain topics which could go through the Continuing Education process and for which CEU certificates could be issued, but those CEUs might not be valid for New York State Professional Engineers (PE) license renewal requirements. The reason is that New York State specifically excludes some topics from the list of acceptable subject matter, even though another state might find some of those materials acceptable.

CEUs may be used for purposes outside of being a PE.  For instance, a teacher might be given bonuses or other union benefits when they take Continuing Education courses. Keep in mind however that once a CEU is received, a PE must still follow the guidelines appropriate for his or her state. This includes the topics, who issued the certificates and perhaps other criteria.

In New York State, once those guidelines are met, the CEUs convert to PDHs with a 1 to 10 ratio where one CEU equals ten PDH.

There are various affinity groups here on Long Island where CEU/PDH lectures are provided and I have handled the paperwork via IEEE for several of them. This service via IEEE is available to any attendee. There is no requirement of IEEE membership for certificates/credit.

Happy learning!!

Comments

[John Schmidt, P.E., SM IEEE]

This link takes you to the actual New York State requirements for PDH for Professional Engineers: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/peceques.htm

There are a lot of requirements, including one PDH for a course in ethics each period, which is pretty easy to satisfy as you can take that course online here: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/peceselftest.htm

From the first link:
Acceptable subjects may include:

Professional Engineering:
aerospace engineering, agricultural engineering, architectural engineering, bioengineering, ceramic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, construction engineering, control systems engineering, electrical/computer engineering, environmental engineering, fire protection engineering, geological engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, materials/metallurgical engineering, mining/mineral engineering, naval architecture/marine engineering, nuclear/radiological engineering, ocean engineering, petroleum engineering, structural engineering, systems engineering, architecture, land surveying; or other matters of law and/or ethics which contribute to the professional practice in engineering and the health, safety, and/or welfare of the public; and in other topics which contribute to the professional practice of engineering as such practice is defined in section 7201 of the Education Law.

Exclusions:

Subject areas that are not so related, such as, project management related to improving/maximizing profitability and professional fees; marketing and public relations; expanding a design professional's business; laws related to arbitration, mediation, liens and limiting the design professional's liability (unless they are related to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public); real estate licensing; basic Auto CAD; personal, estate or financial planning; zoning as it relates to increasing a developer or engineer/land surveyor's profitability; design build and/or alternative delivery methods (unless it includes information on the laws related to design build and its limitations in New York State) are non-acceptable subjects.

[Paul Molnar]

Has anyone used the IEEE on-line courses? If so, are the CDUs there acceptable for PE professional development?