Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Kentucky Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing professional development requirements for Kentucky-licensed professional land surveyors.
Kentucky Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Kentucky statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial by June 30. Licensees with last names A through K renew in odd years; L through Z renew in even years.
- Required hours A minimum of 16 PDH of qualifying activities per reporting period. This is lower than the 30 PDH required of Kentucky professional engineers.
- Reporting period The two calendar years (January 1 to December 31) preceding the June 30 renewal.
- Carryover Up to 8 PDH earned in excess of the 16 may be carried forward to the next reporting period.
Mandatory subject requirement
- Pre-approved course A 4 PDH pre-approved course on the Standards of Practice, Ethics, and the Code of Conduct is required.
- Frequency That course must be taken once every four years and counts toward the 16 PDH in the reporting period in which it is taken.
- Approved providers only The 4 PDH course must come from a provider the Board has pre-approved to offer it.
- Remaining hours The balance of the 16 PDH may be met with other qualifying activities directly related to the professional growth of a land surveyor.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. Short courses, tutorials, webinars, and distance-education courses qualify, whether delivered as live face-to-face programs, live internet-based programs, or archived prerecorded or correspondence programs. Kentucky does not impose a general cap on online PDH for the elective portion.
Practical interpretation. A land surveyor can meet most of the 16 PDH through qualifying online coursework. The 4 PDH Standards of Practice, Ethics, and Code of Conduct course is the exception, since it must come from a Board pre-approved provider.
Activities must be directly related to the professional growth and development of the professional land surveyor.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. For general PDH, the Board does not pre-approve providers or courses; the licensee determines whether an activity qualifies. The single exception is the 4 PDH Standards of Practice, Ethics, and Code of Conduct course, which must be taken from a provider on the Board’s pre-approved list.
The Board maintains a published list of providers approved to offer the Standards of Practice, Ethics, and Code of Conduct course.
NCEES tracking. Licensees may use the free NCEES CPC tracking system to log activities and generate attendance certificates, transmitted to the Board only if selected for audit.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
The licensee is responsible for maintaining records supporting attendance, including a log showing the date, sponsoring organization, location, activity title, description, presenter’s name, and PDH earned, together with completion certificates or other attendance documentation.
Licensees certify on the renewal application whether they have met the CPD requirement. Falsely answering may result in disciplinary action.
Audit and cure period
Four percent of licensees who renew before September 1 are selected for audit, and all who renew on or after September 1 are subject to audit. A licensee selected for audit must respond within 30 days of the Board’s request.
If a PDH claim is disallowed, the licensee has 60 calendar days after notification to substantiate the original claim or earn replacement PDH. A licensee who fails to comply is automatically audited in each subsequent reporting period until an audit finds compliance.
Exemptions and Status Options
Initial licensure. A licensee is exempt from the CPD requirement for the calendar year in which the license is first issued by the Board.
Active-duty military. A licensee on active duty is exempt from the CPD requirement for those calendar years in which the licensee is on active duty.
Inactive and retired status. A licensee who selects inactive or retired status is exempt from the CPD requirement while in that status and may not practice.
Disability or hardship. A licensee unable to satisfy the CPD requirement because of physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstance may be granted an extension for the calendar year in which the circumstance occurs, on written request with supporting documentation submitted during that year.
Reinstatement. A former licensee seeking reinstatement must earn the PDH required for each reporting period the license was revoked, suspended, expired, or in inactive or retired status, up to a maximum of 32 PDH.
Primary Kentucky Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the Board.
KBOELS Continuing Professional Development
The Board’s official CPD page, with the 16 PDH surveyor requirement, the 4 PDH pre-approved course, carryover, exemptions, and audit rules.
201 KAR 18:192
The administrative regulation governing continuing professional development for Kentucky professional land surveyors.
Standards, Ethics, and Conduct Course Providers
The Board’s list of providers pre-approved to offer the required 4 PDH Standards of Practice, Ethics, and Code of Conduct course.
KBOELS License Renewal
The Board’s online renewal system for Kentucky professional land surveyors.
SurveyorCE offers a growing library of surveyor-focused PDH courses through a simple one-time $135 membership. Visit the homepage to see how the program works and decide whether it fits your renewal needs.
Important Notice
This page is an educational summary, not legal advice or a determination that any particular course will be accepted. Requirements, Board interpretations, and renewal procedures can change. The Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is the controlling authority.