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State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects

Continuing Education

On October 6, 2022, Board staff gave a webinar discussing and explaining recent CE changes, the audit process, and other information related to continuing education. 

You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5VE4uXvEko


Every licensed professional engineer in Nebraska must meet the continuing education requirements (CE) as a condition for license renewal.

License reinstatement applicants are required to provide documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements during the two-year period prior to their application.

Effective January 1, 2022, a learning activity that is 1) non-technical in nature, and 2) addresses a topic that is not part of that profession’s body of knowledge as developed by the applicable national professional engineering society, is not an acceptable continuing education activity.

The Board has received numerous questions about what kind of courses are approved. Below are some key points to keep in mind when selecting a course for engineering CE hours.

  • The continuing education activity must be related to the practice of engineering.
  • The Board has final authority with respect to approval of courses and credits and does not pre-approve courses.
  • The Board does not require that architectural-related courses be AIA-approved.
  • Any web-based activity in which both the instructor and attendees have the ability to receive and discuss information in real-time is not restricted. A licensee can accrue all their hours this way.
  • Self-guided activities are separate and different from web-based activities. Self-guided continuing education learning is learning obtained during a self-guided educational activity. This activity may not have a sponsor or host; you did not receive a certificate for this educational time and you earned it under your own direction and guidance.  Any licensee who wants to self-guide should complete the Nebraska Continuing Education Self-Guided Reporting Form.  A licensee can gain credit for these activities in accordance with Rule 9.3.5 of The Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act. 

To learn more about the continuing education guidelines and restrictions, read Chapter 9 of The Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act Handbook. If you have any questions about continuing education or requirements and restrictions, please contact the Board at nbea.office@nebraska.gov.

 
Next Expiration Dates:  
Active licenses held by those whose last names begin with the initials A through K expire: December 31, 2023
Active licenses held by those whose last names begin with the initials L through Z expire: December 31, 2022

Engineering Continuing Education Requirements

Professional Engineers must complete 30 actual hours of engineering-related learning every biennial renewal period to meet the continuing education requirements. Of these, all must be either 1) technical in nature, or 2) part of the professional body of knowledge as developed by applicable national professional engineering societies (NSPE, ASCE, IEEE, etc.), and one must be directly related to ethical issues of professional practice.

One actual hour of learning means at least 50 minutes spent in verifiable educational pursuit. 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH/PDU = 1 actual hour

Newly licensed engineers are exempt from the continuing education requirements for their initial renewal period.


Course Information

The Board has final authority with respect to approval of courses and credit. The Board does not pre-approve ANY courses. 

Information regarding allowable web-based continuing education can be found here. More detailed information can be found in Chapter 9 of The Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act.


Recordkeeping

Maintenance of records used to support continuing education credits claimed is the responsibility of the licensee. Records must be maintained for a period of four years and copies may be requested by the Board for audit verification purposes. Please do not send records to the Board unless requested for an audit. Required records include, but are not limited to:

  1. A Continuing Education Log showing the type of activity claimed, sponsoring organization, location, duration, instructor's or speaker's name, and unit credits earned;
  2. Attendance verification records in the form of completion certificates, the Nebraska Continuing Education Self-Guided Reporting Form, or other documents supporting evidence of attendance; or
  3. Records of CE activities maintained by the licensee through the NCEES CPC Registry, the Professional Development Registry for Engineers and Surveyors (PDRES) or similar repositories.

Audits

The Board establishes a number of licensees to be selected at random for an audit of their continuing education. The selection of licensees typically occurs in October, when the renewal system is activated. Licensees are notified of their selection for an audit in the new year following their renewal.

If you receive an audit notice in the new year following your renewal, please email your records in one combined PDF that includes your Continuing Education log and supporting attendance verifications. Attendance verifications must be in the same order as they appear on the log. Forward your audit documentation to nbea.compliance@nebraska.gov. If you have questions, you can call (402) 471-9602.


Forms

 Continuing Education Log

Nebraska Continuing Education Self-Guided Reporting Form


If you have any questions about the continuing education requirements for engineers, please contact us.