For those that hold Professional Engineer Licenses, there has been a recent change in the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Professional Engineers – General Rules (section 308 of 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.308) that became effective October 10, 2013.
For engineers that recently reviewed your license in October 2013, you are now required to obtain continuing education hours.
The new rule defines “continuing education” as an instructional course or activity designed to bring licensees up to date on a particular area of knowledge or skills relevant to a licensee’s area of professional practice.
According to the new rules, continuing education hours shall be relevant to the occupation and may be earned as follows:
(a) Successfully completing a college course.
(b) Successfully completing a continuing education course.
(c) Successfully completing a distance learning course.
(d) Presenting or attending a seminar, in-house course, workshop, or professional or technical presentation made at a meeting, convention, or conference.
(e) Teaching, instructing, or presenting an acceptable course or activity listed in (a) to (d).
(f) Publishing a peer-reviewed paper, article, or book in the licensee’s area of professional practice.
(g) Serving as a member of the state board of professional engineers or attending a state board of professional engineers meeting.
(h) Participating in a company sponsored seminar or training that is designed to enhance professional development in the licensee’s area of professional practice.
(i) Serving as a mentor to an engineering student in a school-sponsored program.
(j) Obtaining patents related to engineering.
For newly licensed engineers, that have held their license for more than 12 months but less than 24 months, they are required to obtain 15 hours of continuing education for their first renewal period. For those engineers renewing a license, they will be required to obtain 30 hours of continuing education over the 24-month renewal period.
A licensee shall maintain records of continuing education hours including the course name, date, duration, sponsoring organization, speaker’s name, verification of attendance, and the hours earned. The records shall be maintained for 4 years.
Unfortunately, there are still many unanswered questions relative to LARA’s implementation of this continuing education requirement. But be assured that MITA will report information as it becomes available. If you recently renewed your license, it is time to start pursuing and documenting your continuing education hours.
Opportunities for obtaining Continuing Education Hours
The good news is that MITA members have numerous opportunities to attend MITA events that we anticipate will provide continuing education hours. Two upcoming events that will provide continuing education hours are the 6th Annual Michigan Utility Coordination Conference (January 22, 2104) and the 2014 MITA Annual Conference (January 22-24, 2013) both held at the Mt. Pleasant Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.
Another upcoming event is the MDOT/ACEC Partnering Conference that is scheduled for January 30, 2014 at the Lansing Center (more details to follow).
MITA will continue to work with other industry and professional organizations for training opportunities and will issues bulletins as they become available.
Click here to view the recently published LARA General Rules for Professional Engineers.
If you have any questions or comments contact Glenn Bukoski at glennbukoski@mi-ita.com or Doug Needham at douglasneedham@mi-ita.com or call them at the MITA office at 517-347-8336.
