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Frequently Asked Questions/Online Help

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1. Are the PDH credits awarded by PDH Center through PDHonline.com/PDHcenter.com/PDHonline.org recognized by the various state boards of registration for PE & PLS?
Florida Board Approval Letter Maryland Board Approval Letter New Jersey PE Board Approval Letter New Jersey LS Board Approval Letter New York Board Approval Letter North Carolina Board Approval Letter Texas Board Approval Letter Vermont Board Approval Letter Maryland Board Approval Letter


Professional Engineer (PE):

We are an Approved PDH Course Provider (Sponsor) for PE in ALL the states that require approval or have pre-approval program. These states are:

  1. Florida
  2. Indiana
  3. Maryland
  4. New Jersey
  5. New York*
  6. North Carolina

The following state PE boards require mandatory continuing education, but do not pre-approve any continuing education provider or activity. They leave the choice up to you:

  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arkansas
  4. Delaware
  5. Georgia
  6. Idaho
  7. Illinois
  8. Iowa
  9. Kansas
  10. Kentucky
  11. Louisiana
  12. Maine
  13. Michigan
  14. Minnesota
  15. Mississippi
  16. Missouri
  17. Montana
  18. Nebraska
  19. Nevada
  20. New Hampshire
  21. New Mexico
  22. North Dakota
  23. Ohio
  24. Oklahoma
  25. Oregon
  26. Pennsylvania
  27. South Carolina
  28. South Dakota
  29. Tennessee
  30. Texas
  31. Utah
  32. Virginia
  33. West Virginia
  34. Wisconsin
  35. Wyoming

Approved Sponsor/Provider

All of our online courses comply with the Continuing Professional Competency Guidelines published by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and, therefore, should be acceptable to all the state boards requiring mandatory continuing education. In order for your state board to accept your PDH's, you need to choose courses that will maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge related to your field of practice.

PDH Online | PDH Center (PDHonline.com/PDHonline.org/PDHcenter.com) is a Board Approved or Recognized Sponsor/Provider of continuing education activities for Professional Engineers in the following states:

*Attention NY Licensed PE & PLS:

PDHonline.org, Inc./PDH Center is a New York State Board Approved Continuing Education Sponsor. There are two categories of acceptable continuing education in the state of New York:

  1. Educational Activities: A maximum of 18 hours may be in educational activities for professional engineers and a maximum of 8 hours may be in educational activities for land surveyors. Acceptable educational activities include online courses, audio/video courses, and other structured self-study programs that include a testing instrument and are offered by an approved sponsor. PDH online courses in the following areas belong to this category and are accepted by the New York State Board:

    • Technical courses in all subject areas.
    • Courses related to laws and regulations governing the practice of engineering and/or land surveying in the state of New York.
    • Courses related to matters of laws and ethics that contribute to the health and welfare of the public.

    Note: New York State Board does not accept courses that do not directly contribute to the professional practice in the state of New York, which include:


    • Courses related to office management, risk management, leadership, marketing, accounting, financial planning, insurance, real estate, and basic CAD.
    • Courses addressing the laws and rules for practicing engineering and/or land surveying in states other than the New York state.

  2. Live Courses: A minimum of 18 hours of continuing education must be completed in live courses for professional engineers and a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education must be completed in live courses for land surveyors. All 36 hours for professional engineers or 24 hours for land surveyors may be completed through acceptable live courses. Acceptable live courses include webinars, seminars, workshops, lectures, technical presentations, telecourses, teleconferences, and other instructional methods that provide a student the opportunity for immediate interaction with an instructor/presenter. Our webinars belong to this category and are accepted by the New York State Board as continuing education courses.

In addition, we are a Board Approved or Recognized Sponsor/Provider of continuing education activities for Professional Land Surveyors in the following states:

To our knowledge, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York are the only six states that currently pre-approve courses or providers (vendors) in both engineering and surveying fields. Although Kentucky has separate pre-approval programs for land surveyors' continuing education activities, they usually accept courses pre-approved by another jurisdiction. In other states that have mandatory Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) requirements, it is generally the responsibility of the engineers and surveyors to select courses that meet the state guidelines. The typical state guidelines define a qualified course as one whose purpose and objective are clear with a content that will "maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice".

Designation as an Approved Sponsor/Provider indicates recognition by the Board of our online courses as meeting the required standards. Professional engineers and land surveyors in Florida, Indiana, and New York as well as professional land surveyors in Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Vermont are required to take continuing education courses from Approved Providers. In New Jersey and North Carolina, engineers and surveyors are not required to take courses from Approved Sponsors, but if they do, they are assured that their PDH credits will be accepted by the Board.

As an approved continuing education provider, PDH Online | PDH Center (PDHonline.com/PDHcenter.com/PDHonline.org) maintains records of all online PDH activities for at least seven (7) years. Our records include the name of the attendee who satisfactorily completed the course, type of activity claimed, date of activity, instructor's name, sponsoring organization, and the PDH credits earned. Copies of these records may be requested by sending emails to PDHonline.org, Inc./PDH Center for audit verification purposes.

Note: Most states requiring CPC (CPD or PDH) do not pre-approve courses or providers (vendors), and leave the choice to the licensees. Click on FAQ for more information.






Land Surveyor (LS):

We are an Approved PDH Course Provider (Sponsor) for LS in the following states:

  1. Florida (Our CEP# 0002496)
  2. Indiana
  3. Maryland
  4. Missouri
  5. New Jersey
  6. New York*
  7. North Carolina
  8. Texas
  9. Vermont

The following state LS boards require mandatory continuing education, but do not pre-approve any continuing education provider or activity. They leave the choice up to you:

  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arkansas
  4. Georgia
  5. Idaho
  6. Illinois
  7. Iowa
  8. Kansas
  9. Louisiana
  10. Maine
  11. Michigan
  12. Minnesota
  13. Mississippi
  14. Montana
  15. Nebraska
  16. Nevada
  17. New Hampshire
  18. New Mexico
  19. North Dakota
  20. Ohio
  21. Oklahoma
  22. Oregon
  23. Pennsylvania
  24. South Carolina
  25. South Dakota
  26. Utah
  27. Virginia
  28. West Virginia
  29. Wisconsin
  30. Wyoming

Our courses have not been directly registered with and approved by the following state LS boards:

  1. Delaware
  2. Kentucky**
  3. Tennessee

**Kentucky land surveyors may take PDH online courses specifically approved by other state land surveying boards since KY LS Board accepts courses approved by their counterparts in other states.

2. How does your continuing education program work?

All PDHonline courses are designed with a clear purpose and objective to maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee's field of practice. Courses offered by PDH Center are state-of-the-art in the field of engineering and surveying. Each lecture is supplemented with new learning materials including links to additional resources and a quiz to help the attendee earn professional development hours (PDH units).

Developed and maintained by professional engineers, PDHonline.com/PDHonline.org/PDHcenter.com is a fully automated virtual classroom dedicated to online continuing education for engineers, surveyors, and geologists. Our server is programmed to conduct quizzes, issue Certificates of Completion, and keep records of your PDH activities on a 24/7 schedule.

All the online courses offered by PDHonline.com/PDHonline.org/PDHcenter.com comply with the model guidelines published by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which are adopted by most state boards of registration for PE & PLS. Because they are selected based on their educational background and practical experience, PDHonline instructors are qualified to teach the subject matter. Many of them have over ten years of practical experience and are registered professionals in their field of practice.


As an approved continuing education provider, PDHonline.com/PDHonline.org/PDHcenter.com maintains records of all online PDH activities for at least seven (7) years. Our records include the name of the attendee who satisfactorily completed the course, the type of activity, the date of the activity, the instructor's name, sponsoring organization, and the PDH credits earned. Copies of these records for audit verification purposes may be requested by sending emails to PDHonline.org, Inc./PDH Center.

Some states require continuing education providers to submit reports to their respective boards of registration. As an approved provider, PDH Center submits monthly or quarterly reports when required. These reports include the names and license numbers of all students completing PDHonline courses during that month or quarter and the PDH credits earned.

3. How does your live webinar program work?

Through live webinars, we deliver our instruction to your home or office. Therefore, you do not need to travel. However, you need to have a computer with Internet connection and/or a telephone to participate.

Once you purchase a live webinar, you need to print out related lecture notes and quiz before you attend the web session. We'll send you an invitation through email approximately 24 hours before the webinar, which contains detailed information on how to access our webinar platform. We'll confirm your attendance and verify your participation during the webinar. At the end of the webinar, you need to submit the quiz answers (each quiz question will be reviewed during the webinar) and print a certificate of completion from our website.

Although the registration deadline is half an hour before the webinar, 24-hour advance registration is highly recommended so that we can contact you in case of any potential postponement or cancellation. Please call us at 571-295-4410 if you want to register after the deadline.

4. How do I take an online course?

Because it is not necessary to study the course materials online immediately after purchase, there are three methods you may use to take an online course.

Method A: Treat the online course as a home-study course. Here is the recommended procedure:

  1. Purchase the course using one of the payment options.
  2. Download the course files if they are in PDF or Word format.
  3. Print the course materials and quiz questions from your browser.
  4. Study the course materials at your own pace.
  5. Complete the quiz on paper (offline) if you like.
  6. Log onto our website and enter your quiz answers - our computer will grade your quiz immediately.
  7. Take the quiz again without additional charge, if you fail the quiz.
  8. Print the certificate of completion when you pass the quiz.
Method B: Take the online course entirely by computer. Here is the recommended procedure:
  1. Purchase the course using one of the payment options.
  2. Review the quiz questions online - you may optionally print the quiz questions.
  3. You may save the course materials and quiz questions on your computer for offline study.
  4. Study the course materials at your own pace online or offline.
  5. Complete the quiz online - our computer will grade your quiz immediately.
  6. Take the quiz again without additional charge, if you fail the quiz.
  7. Print the certificate of completion when you pass the quiz.
Method C: Take the online course using any combination of the techniques mentioned in Methods A & B.
5. How much time will I be allowed to complete a course?

You have one year from the date of purchase to complete the course.

6. How much time do I have to complete a quiz?

There is no time limit while you take the quiz. If you can't finish the quiz in one session, that's okay because our server will remember your partially completed quiz for 30 days as long as you are using the same browser and computer. However, you must complete the quiz within one year from the date of purchase.

7. Do you have a shopping cart?

Yes, we do. You may also use our course package deals to achieve just one payment transaction for a group of courses:

1. Select a PDH Course Package (Z-Course) based on the number of PDHs you need.
2. After making payment for the package, you may customize your package by selecting courses of interest to you through the "Courses To Be Completed" section under "My Account".
3. Once you confirm your selection, the courses you select will be automatically activated for you.

You may find PDH Course Package Deals in the right-hand side column of the PDH Online Course Library table or through the following link:

PDH Course Package Deals

8. How do I pay for the online courses?
To obtain PDH credits for any PDH online course, you must purchase the course and take a quiz. There are several payment options:

1. Payment by Credit Card or eCheck through Express Checkout.

Visa, MasterCard, AMEX & Discover
Authorize.net

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. If you prefer to pay through PayPal, please send payment to PDHonline@Gmail.com and specify the course number(s) in the transaction note.

2. Payment by Check or Money Order

If you experience any difficulties in paying by credit card online or prefer to pay by check, you may purchase the course by sending a check or money order to:
PDHonline.com
5272 Meadow Estates Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030-6658
U.S.A.
Note: The check or money order should be made payable to PDHonline.com or PDHcenter.com, and must be drawn on a US bank in US dollars. Once we receive your payment, we will notify you by email so that you can take the quiz and obtain your Certificate of Completion.

3. Payment by Credit Card through Phone or Email

We also accept credit card orders over the phone or email if you provide us with the following information:
Your name
Your daytime phone number
Credit card number
Credit card expiration date
The name on the credit card
The card code (CVV on credit card)
Course numbers or titles
Here is our phone number: 571-295-4410, and email address: PDHonline@Gmail.com. Once we receive your order, we will notify you by email about the course activation.

4. Payment through Purchase Order or Corporate Account

We accept purchase orders or corporate accounts. Please email us at PDHonline@Gmail.com and provide the following information to set up your corporate account or purchase order:
Your name
Your company name
Your company address
Your company phone number
The name & email of the contact person
Course numbers or titles
Special arrangements can be made to activate the courses using your corporate purchase order. Please contact us by phone or through email for details.
9. Why didn't my credit card transaction go through?

Online credit card transaction failure could be caused by one of the following reasons:

1. You entered an incorrect Card Code (CVV - Card Verification Code) on the payment screen. In this case, you will receive the following message on the payment screen:


This transaction has been declined.

To resolve this issue, you need to enter the correct card code (the last 3 digits on the back of your credit card or the 4 digits in small print above your American Express card numbers.

2. Your credit card company may have placed a hold on your credit card transaction. In this case, you will receive the following message on the payment screen:


(2) This transaction has been declined.

To resolve this issue, you need to contact your credit card company to ask them to remove any restrictions they have placed on your credit card (they can do so instantly within their systems). Then you can re-submit your transaction online.

3. When a transaction is declined, you need to go back to Step 1 of the payment process so that you can submit the corrected card information successfully. If you resubmit the card information without going back to Step 1, you may receive the following error message:

Error: A duplicate transaction has been submitted.

When this happens, you will NOT be charged twice because this is an error message, which means that your transaction is NOT successful (it did not go through). All you need to do is to click the BACK button in the browser so that you can go back to Step 1 and restart the payment process.

4. Occasionally, the following error message may result after you resubmit the transaction:


(98) This transaction cannot be accepted.

If the error message (98) above appears on the payment screen, please close the payment screen (the one with a light yellow background) and restart the payment process. If the problem persists, please call us at 571-295-4410 to place your order over the phone.

10. How do I know my credit card transaction is secure?

Our online ordering system uses the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology powered by the credit card processors Authorize.net or PayPal.com to encrypt the information you send us when you place your order. The transaction information is encrypted on your computer, sent through the Internet as scrambled code, and decrypted on the credit card processor's secure server. Therefore, your credit card information is secure and cannot be read in transit.

11. How do I convert a CEU to a PDH or an LU?

1.0 CEU (Continuing Education Unit) = 10 PDHs or 10 LUs.

1.0 PDH (Professional Development Hour) = 1.0 Clock Hour (minimum 50 minutes).

1.0 LU (Learning Unit) for architects = 1.0 PDH for engineers.

12. How much do online courses cost?

The standard price of our online course ranges from $15 to $30 per credit hour. Special discounts are available during promotional events. Group discounts are also available to any company with four or more engineers and/or surveyors who must meet continuing education requirements and register as PDHonline users. To receive a special group discount, please contact us through email or at 571-295-4410 for details.

13. How can I get a receipt for my purchase?

We will send you a receipt through email once we receive your online payment or check payment. You may also print a payment receipt at any time from "My Account".

14. How can I get an additional certificate of completion?

You may print certificates of completion for the courses you have taken from "My Account" (on the top menu bar).

15. How can I retrieve my password?

You may retrieve your password by using the "Forgot Your Password?" feature on our home page or on the user login screen.

If you cannot access your email account anymore, you may log into your account with your security question if it has been set up previously.

16. How can I retrieve my password if I cannot access the previous email address or my previous email address has expired?

By entering your previous email address through the "Forgot Your Password?" feature on our website, you will receive a strong hint about your password. If that is still insufficient for you to recall your password, you may log into your account with your security question if it has been set up previously.

Another option is to email us at: PDHonline@Gmail.com by providing us your name and previous email address or call us at 571-295-4410. You may update your email address through "My Account" once you log into your old account.

As a last resort, you can sign up as a new user with your new email address.

17. How can I get a complete record of the courses I have taken from your website?

You may obtain a complete record of the courses you have taken with us from "My Account" (on the top menu bar).

18. How can I contact the instructor?

You may contact the instructor through email. In your email, please include the instructor's name and course number, and be specific about the issues you would like to discuss. Due to the large number of email inquiries we receive, our instructors will normally respond to paid users only.

You may also contact the instructor through the quiz end questionnaire or through "My Account" for courses you have completed.

19. How can I get a copy of the PDHonline course catalog?

We offer digital catalogs only. You may print a copy of the PDHonline course catalog from "Courses" on the top menu bar.

20. How can I update my personal profile or email address?

You may update your personal profile or email address through "My Account" or when you purchase a course.

21. How may I become a PDHonline course provider?

If you are interested in becoming a PDHonline course provider, you should submit a resume, a brief biography, and a list of proposed course topics to our email address. We will review your educational background and practical experience, and will notify you of our decision within three business days. For more information, please click "Provider" on the top menu bar.

22. How many questions are in each quiz?

The number of quiz questions varies from course to course. There are a minimum of 10 quiz questions in each course offering less than 5 PDH credits, and a minimum of 20 quiz questions in each course offering more than 4 PDH credits. For courses approved by the Texas Land Surveying Board, there are 50 quiz questions for each course to meet the TX PLS Board requirement.

23. Why can't I enter the PDHonline Course Library after I complete the registration?
Your web browser's cookie function may be disabled or your web browser is an old version. To access PDHonline's personalized web pages, you need to turn on the cookie function in your web browser per instructions below.

If you're using Google Chrome:
1. At the top right, click the menu icon (three dots) and then choose Settings.
2. In the left navigation pane, click Privacy and security.
3. In the "Privacy and security" section, click Cookies and other site data.
4. Under "Cookies and other site data," select Allow all cookies (recommended)

If you're using Micrsoft Edge:
1. At the top right, click the menu icon (three dots) and then choose Settings.
2. In the left navigation pane, click Cookies and site permissions.
3. In the "Cookies and site data" section, turn on Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended).

If you're using Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or higher
(you may find your browser's version in Help menu):
1. Choose Tools, then
2. Internet Options.
3. Click the Privacy tab,
4. Move the slider to the Medium level.
Note: You may also click the Advanced button to override automatic cookie handling.

If you're using Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later version:
On the browser menu bar, click
1. Tools, then
2. Options, then
3. Click the Privacy icon,
4. Select "Accept cookies from sites".

If enabling the cookie function in your browser does not eliminate the problem and your web browser is not the latest version, we recommend you to download the latest Google Chrome or download the latest Microsoft Edge or download the latest Mozilla Firefox.

24. Why can't I log in using my email address (user ID) and password?
This problem could be caused by one of the following reasons:

1. Your computer memorized a different password for the corresponding email address. In this case, do not use the password memorized by your computer. Instead, type in your password. Please note that the password is case-sensitive.

2. If you do not remember your password or are not sure what password you used before, you may request your password by using the "Forgot Your Password?" feature on our website. If you do not receive your password within five minutes, please check your junk or spam email folders. Sometimes, valid emails could land in these folders.

3. Maybe you are using an old version of a browser. If you used Firefox, you may want to try Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to see if you can log in using a different browser.

4. The other possible cause is that your web browser's cookie function may be disabled. To test if your computer can communicate with our server, you may try to log into our website using the following dummy account:

User Email Address (User ID): x@PDHonline.com
Password: 123

If you can log into Mr. X's account, your computer setting is correct. Otherwise, please see FAQ No. 23 for instructions on how to enable the cookie function.

25. Why can't I open the PDF files on your website?

This could be caused by one of the following reasons:

1. Your computer's resource is low. In other words, you may have several applications running, and your computer may not have sufficient RAM to open another PDF document. In this case, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse, choosing "Save Target As..." in Internet Explorer or "Save Link As..." in Chrome or Edge, and then opening the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

2. You may not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer or you may have an earlier version. Please click the button below to download the latest FREE version of Acrobat Reader.

26. Why can't I access the course or quiz after online payment?

Occasionally, our server may miss communication from our payment gateway. If you cannot access the quiz or course materials after online payment, please notify us through "Contact Us" or call us at 571-295-4410. Once we receive your notification, we will activate the quiz or course for you, and send you an email confirmation about the quiz or course activation.

27. Why do you have several almost identical websites?

To provide the highest quality service with the least interruption, we operate several mirror sites for the convenience of our valued customers. PDHonline.com, PDHonline.org, PDHcenter.com, and PDHcenter.org are just some of the websites maintained by our organization. If you have difficulty accessing one of our websites, please try to access another one. All of our online courses are available through any of the above websites. You may use the same user ID and password on any of our websites.

28. What are the advantages of taking online courses?

Taking a PDHonline course is

  • Convenient - You can study the course materials and complete the quiz at your own pace in the comfort of your own home or office.
  • Efficient - You save a lot of time because you do not need to travel to remote locations.
  • Economical - You save a lot of money because there are no traveling and lodging costs.
  • Beneficial - You benefit from the feedback of your peers which is incorporated in our courses periodically.

In short, taking online courses is more convenient, more efficient, and more economical than attending seminars or conferences. In addition, we offer live interactive webinars to help licensees in New York, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio meet their continuing education needs.

29. What happens if I miss a live webinar session?

You will be automatically enrolled in the next session. Most of our webinars are offered once every three to four months. Please check our website for specific webinar schedules.

30. What computer system and software do I need to view online courses?
You need the following computer system and software to view online courses:

Computer: PC with Windows, Apple Mac, tablets, and smartphones
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 10, Android or Mac OS/OS X
Web Browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later is required because most of our course materials are provided in PDF format. Click the button below to download the latest version of FREE Acrobat Reader if you don't have one.

31. What is the passing score for PDHonline quizzes?

40. Do you offer group discounts?

Yes. Group discounts are available to any company with four or more engineers and/or surveyors who must meet the continuing education requirements. To receive a special group discount, please contact us through email or at 571-295-4410 for details.

41. Do you share my contact information with anyone?

No. Information about you is required to process your orders and will only be used to provide a more personalized experience during your learning sessions. PDHonline.com/PDHonline.org/PDHcenter.com/PDHcenter.org respects your personal privacy. We will not release your name, address, telephone number or email address to anyone without your consent.

42. Do you accept all major credit cards?

Yes. We accept all major credit cards through Express Checkout or PayPal.com. You need to choose Express Checkout if you want to use American Express corporate cards or Discover Cards.

43. Do you offer correspondence courses?

Yes. You may call 571-295-4410 to place your order. There is a shipping and handling fee for each correspondence course. So it is more cost-effective if you can download/print the course materials directly from our website on your end.

44. Do you offer live seminars?

Yes, we offer live web seminars (webinars) through the Internet for certain topics. You can attend our webinars from your home or office using a computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

Our live webinar program has been approved by the New York State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying, and is acceptable to all other state boards. Please click "Live Courses & Web Seminars" for the upcoming webinar schedule.

45. Do you offer courses on Florida Board Laws and Ethics?

For FL PE: Yes. Please check out our Florida Approved Courses for PE.

For FL LS: You no longer need to take the course in SOP (standard of practice) or MTS (minimum technical standard) after 2017.

46. Do you offer audio courses?

Yes. We have several audio courses available under Electrical Engineering and Ethics Categories. You may download them for your personal use only. We do not offer audio courses for rental.

47. Do you offer video courses?

Yes. We offer video courses through streaming. Please click "On-Demand Video Courses" for details.

48. Which states have mandatory Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) requirements?

Currently, forty-three states and the District of Columbia require evidence of Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) or Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) as a condition for renewal of the individual's professional license. Most other states are expected to follow suit in the near future.

49. Is one PDH unit equal to one hour of continuing education (one contact hour)?

Yes, one PDH (Professional Development Hour) is equal to one hour of continuing education or one contact hour. See the table below for typical conversion from other continuing education activities to PDH:

CONVERSION TABLE

One college semester hour.................................. 45 PDH
One college quarter hour..................................... 30 PDH
One continuing education unit (CEU)..................... 10 PDH
One contact hour of teaching for the first time ........ 2 PDH
Each published paper, article, or book.................... 10 PDH
Each patent..................................................... 10 PDH

50. Where can I get answers to other questions about continuing education?

The following state boards of registration for PE and PLS provide answers to FAQs or supply detailed information regarding continuing education on their websites:

Florida Board of Professional Engineers
Georgia Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Kansas State Board of Technical Professions
Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board
Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID

The following Canadian provincial boards of registration for PEng also provide detailed information regarding continuing education on their websites:

Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of Newfoundland
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick

51. Can I access online courses from any computer after the purchase?

Yes. As a matter of fact, you may access your courses using any computer or smartphone from anywhere around the world.

52. Why can't I find my previous PDH course purchase or completed course records in My Account?

This may be because you have more than one account with us. If your email address has changed, you should still use the old email address and the associated password to access your previous account information. If you would like to combine your records from two accounts, please provide us with your old and new email addresses through "Contact Us" or call us at 571-295-4410.

53. Why can't I receive the password I requested through your website?

Our server sends out your password immediately upon your online request. If you have not received your password through email, please check your junk or spam email folder if applicable. If it is not there or you do not have a junk email folder, please check your email filter setting. Some email systems may block emails from senders not listed in the contact list (whitelist).

As an alternative, you may try to log in using your security question if it has been set up previously.

54. Can I receive credits if I forgot to enter the coupon code at the time of online purchase?

No. Our office policy requires that all coupon codes be entered at the time of online purchase because we do revenue sharing with our course providers in real-time. Thank you for your understanding.

55. Can I get a refund for my purchase?

As a registered user, you may preview almost all of our courses prior to the purchase. To protect the interest of our course authors, we'll refund your payment only if the course is not accepted by your state board. If you have not completed the quiz, you may request a course exchange if you find the course is not suitable for you. In this case, please send your request through "Contact Us" or call us at 571-295-4410.

56. Can I use the coupon code for multiple courses?

Yes. You may apply the coupon code to all of your purchases as long as the code has not expired. You need to enter the coupon code in Step 2 of the payment process for each course.

57. Can I share my discount coupon code with my colleagues?

Yes. You may share the coupon code with your colleagues and friends.

58. Do you have an introductory promotional offer for the first time PDHonline users?

Yes. As part of our ongoing 22nd Anniversary celebrations, first-time users may receive a 25% discount on their purchase. Just enter the following coupon code in Step 2 of the payment process at the time of online purchase:

PDH2015

This offer cannot be applied to prior sales. The coupon code must be entered at the time of online purchase to receive the discount.

59. Are your courses acceptable to the Pennsylvania PE & LS Board?

Yes, our courses are acceptable to PA Board as long as they maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of your professional practice. You need to complete 24 credits (PDHs) by the September 30 renewal date (odd year).

To eliminate any confusion about continuing education requirements for PE & LS licensed in PA, we have posted below the latest notice from the Pennsylvania Board.

** Special Notice: Continuing Education Requirements **
PA State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists eNewsletter (June 9, 2010)

BOARD CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) GOES INTO EFFECT FOR 2009-2011 RENEWAL CYCLE 24 CREDITS MUST BE COMPLETED BY SEPT. 30, 2011

THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO GRANT A MORATORIUM FROM DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROVIDED ANY CE CREDIT DEFICIENCIES ARE COMPLETED BY APRIL 1, 2012.

In its e-newsletter sent May 14, the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists attempted to update licensees on the upcoming requirements for mandatory continuing education (CE) to be set forth in regulations of the Board. THAT INFORMATION IS NOW OUT OF DATE AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED.

This special mailing is intended to provide licensees with the most current information concerning mandatory continuing education. Please accept our apologies for any confusion that may have resulted.

On May 12, the legislature enacted and Governor Rendell signed into law Act 25 which amended the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law (the Law) to clarify the requirements for mandatory continuing education and to make it easier to meet your requirements and to provide more choice in CE courses, seminars, workshops and conferences.

Act 25 specifically eliminated the need for the board to pre-approve CE courses. Now, the board CE requirements are based upon the provision of the model law and rules of the National Council of Examiners in Engineer and Surveying (NCEES), which is the national organization of licensing boards. This change in the Law expands the number of CE courses and activities that will be acceptable for credit.

In addition, Act 25 specifies that the first CE cycle of 24 credits must be completed, no ifs, ands or buts, by the Sept. 30, 2011 renewal cycle. This is a change from the prior directive. But the board has come up with a way to smooth the transition for you so that no one is disadvantaged or is unfairly disciplined for any CE deficiencies that may result from confusion over the CE deadline.

In order to accommodate licensees who are just now learning of this deadline, the board has decided to grant a moratorium from disciplinary action for anyone who has not completed the 24 CE credits by the Sept. 30, 2011, renewal date provided any and all CE credits short of the mandatory 24 are completed by April 1, 2012. If you fail to make up the CE deficit by the April 2012 deadline, you will be facing disciplinary action and you will not be permitted to double count CE earned after the September deadline for the following renewal cycle.

The best course of action is to begin doing your CE today. Any CE credits that you have earned as far back as Oct. 1, 2009, will be acceptable at the time of renewal.

** End of Special Notice **

60. Where can I enter the coupon code?

You need to first click on "Buy Now" or "Proceed to Checkout" and then enter the coupon code in Step 2 of the payment process at the time of online purchase. You may use the coupon code multiple times before its expiration unless noted otherwise.

61. Do you report to the Florida Board?

Yes, we currently submit periodic reports to the Florida Professional Engineers (PE) Board for the Florida Laws and Rules course and to the Florida Professional Land Surveyors (PLS) Board for courses with numbers ending in the suffix “F.”

To ensure your PDH credits are reported, please provide your Florida PE or PLS license number in your profile. If your credits are not reflected within one month, reach out via our “Contact Us” page. Be sure to include the course number and your Florida PE or PLS license number in your message so we can promptly address the issue.

62. Are all PDHonline courses acceptable to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS)?

Although we are a NCBELS-approved sponsor for continuing education of engineers and land surveyors, NC Board does not automatically accept all of our courses. As an NC licensee, you must choose courses that will result in the maintenance, improvement, or expansion of skills and knowledge relevant to your field of practice. In particular, the following types of courses or activities are not acceptable for CPC credit in North Carolina:

• Executive Coaching
• Estate or financial planning
• Basic computer/software (e.g. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Sight-seeing and tours
• Visiting vendor/exhibitor displays
• Sales presentations or sales seminars (e.g. increasing sales, maximizing profitability, marketing, etc.)
• Self-study
• Personal improvement
• General business meetings
• Regular employment activities
• Research
• Company procedure and policy workshops

In addition, the Board has final authority with respect to the approval of courses, credit, PDH value for courses, and methods for licensees to earn credit.

63. How can I buy multiple courses in one transaction?

You may use our shopping cart to purchase multiple courses in one transaction. Another option is to combine your courses and purchase a PDH Course Package (Z-Course), which enables you to make one payment for all of your courses and receive a volume discount. You may find PDH Course Package Deals in the right-hand side column of the PDH Online Course Library table or through the following link:

PDH Course Package Deals


64. How long does it take for you to activate my course after payment?

Usually, our course activation is instant upon your online payment. Occasionally, our server may miss communication with our payment gateway, and you may not be able to access the quiz immediately after the payment. In this case, please email us your payment receipt, and we will activate your quiz manually. If time is of the essence, you may go ahead to make the same purchase again and notify us that you have made duplicated payments. We will issue a full refund to your credit card for your duplicated payment on the following business day.


65. How do you determine the date of completion?

The date of completion for a course is the date you successfully complete the quiz, and is based on your time zone. Our server clock follows Eastern Time. If you are located in another time zone and you completed your course before midnight your local time, we can adjust the date of completion for you upon your request.


66. Can I view your sample certificate?

Yes, please click the sample certificate of completion for details.

67. What can I do if I cannot make a payment through your Express Checkout?

If you experienced a problem with our Express Checkout, you may do one of the following:
1. Use a different credit card;
2. Use a different computer;
3. Send your payment to PDHonline@Gmail.com through PayPal;
4. Send us a check; or
5. Place your order over the phone at 571-295-4410

68. Do you offer Timed & Monitored Online Courses for Ohio PE & LS?

Yes, please click Ohio Approved Courses for PE & LS for details. The following notice is posted for your information so that you know the difference between a Correspondence Course (e.g. an online course) and a Timed & Monitored Course (e.g. a live webinar):

OHIO BOARD CPD ADVISORY (10/1/2015)

Registrants are reminded that Board policy allows up to a maximum of three (3) hours of continuing professional development per year for the completion of correspondence courses (paper, online, or other formats) provided the course and course provider meet the requirements of R.C. 4733.151.

Important- Do not confuse correspondence courses and online courses. Correspondence courses are courses that involve reading articles or other texts and can be received by mail or online. Correspondence courses are typically self-paced and participation is not monitored by the provider. These types of courses are acceptable for up to three hours per year.

69. I am taking a Timed & Monitored Course, but the on-screen clock stopped. How do I restart the clock?

You may resume your clock by pressing F5 key on your keyboard or by refreshing your screen. Please note that for T&M courses, You need to actively view course content online - at least click your mouse once in a while. The on-screen tracking clock will stop if there is no activity for 10 minutes at your end.


70. Are you an AIA/CES Registered Provider?

Currently, PDHonline.com / PDHonline.org is NOT an AIA/CES Registered Provider.

PDHonline.com / PDHonline.org was an AIA/CES Registered Provider between August 1, 2004 and December 31, 2020. Our AIA/CES Registered Provider Number was J681.

71. Do you offer discounted course packages?

Yes, we offer many course packages of different sizes. You may find them (Z-courses) in the PDH Course Package Deals.

Our course packages are very flexible because you may customize your own course selection.


If you could not find the answer to your question, please send your question through "Contact Us".