Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
North Dakota Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing professional competency requirements for North Dakota-licensed professional land surveyors.
North Dakota Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in North Dakota statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. Licenses expire December 31, and renewal may be completed before or during December.
- Required hours 30 professional development hours (PDH) each biennium. North Dakota refers to this as continuing professional competency (CPC).
- Carryover A maximum of 15 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period.
- First-cycle proration The first-period requirement varies by when the license was issued, and may be 30 or 15 depending on the licensure month and year.
Mandatory subjects and limits
- Technical minimum At least 20 of the 30 PDH must be technical, in areas that directly safeguard the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
- Ethics At least 1 of the 30 PDH must be in ethics.
- Non-technical cap A maximum of 10 PDH may be in non-technical professional management subjects, such as ethics or administration-oriented courses.
- No fixed state-law course Beyond the ethics requirement, North Dakota does not mandate a separate state-specific statutes course for surveyors.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. There is no limit on the number of PDH that may be earned through online continuing education. All 30 PDH, including the ethics hour, may be earned online, provided the activity is relevant and meets the Board’s content requirements.
Practical interpretation. A North Dakota surveyor can satisfy the full requirement through qualifying online coursework, subject to the 20-hour technical minimum and the 10-hour non-technical cap.
Each activity must have a clear purpose and objective that maintains, improves, or expands the licensee’s skills and knowledge.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. North Dakota does not pre-approve courses or vendors. Each licensee determines whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements, and the Board retains authority over acceptance.
Comity for continuing education. Comity is allowed if the registrant is currently licensed in another jurisdiction that requires mandatory continuing professional competency and meets North Dakota’s minimum requirements. This helps surveyors who satisfy a home state’s requirement.
Registrants may earn up to 2 PDH for active participation in a professional organization, up to three organizations, not to exceed 6 PDH in a two-year reporting period.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention and reporting
Continuing education is not submitted at the time of renewal, but all renewals are subject to audit within four years from the date of the last biennial renewal. Recordkeeping is the registrant’s responsibility, and CPC materials must be maintained for at least four years.
If audited, the registrant submits the Board’s continuing education log rather than certificates; the Board does not substitute certificates in lieu of the required log.
Audit and late renewal
The Board audits a portion of renewals for compliance. A registrant selected for audit must provide the completed log documenting the claimed PDH.
A license lapsed for one year or more is no longer eligible for renewal, and the individual must submit a new application to reinstate the license.
Exemptions and Status Options
Exemptions. An exemption from the CPC requirement may be requested from the Board for military deployment, physical disability, or temporary leave from professional status. Supporting documentation is required.
Voluntary registrants. A professional engineer who is voluntarily registered under the applicable rule may seek an exemption from the CPC requirement by applying to the Board.
Inactive status. A registrant not renewing may request inactive status. An inactive registrant may not practice, and returning to active status is handled through the Board’s process.
Reinstatement. A reinstatement to active practice may be made to the Board at any time, subject to the applicable requirements, but a license lapsed a year or more requires a new application rather than a renewal.
Primary North Dakota 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.
NDPELS Continuing Education
The Board’s official continuing education page, covering PDH hours, qualifying activities, audits, comity, and recordkeeping.
NDAC 28-04-01
The administrative rules requiring professional development hours for North Dakota registrants, including the technical minimum and non-technical cap.
NDCC Chapter 43-19.1
The statute governing professional engineers and land surveyors in North Dakota, including registration and renewal.
NDPELS Renewal Instructions
The Board’s personal renewal instructions and online portal for North Dakota 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 North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is the controlling authority.