Professional Surveyor Renewal Guide
West Virginia Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for West Virginia-licensed professional surveyors.
West Virginia Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in West Virginia statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Annual. Licenses renew each year, and the continuing education requirement is measured annually.
- Required hours 8 professional development hour (PDH) units each year, for a total of 32 PDH units over a four-year period.
- Carryover A maximum of 8 PDH units may be carried forward into the subsequent renewal period.
- Dedicated surveyor board West Virginia regulates surveyors through a dedicated Board of Professional Surveyors, separate from the engineers board.
Mandatory four-year courses
- Minimum Technical Standards Every four years, as part of the required 32 PDH units, a licensee must complete a minimum of 2 PDH units on minimum technical standards, in courses or activities sponsored or approved by the Board.
- Professional Ethics Every four years, a minimum of 2 PDH units on professional ethics for land surveyors, at a seminar sponsored or approved by the Board.
- Classroom setting required These mandatory courses must be taken in a classroom setting and are not permitted online.
- Out-of-state exception Out-of-state licensees may request a CD-ROM from the Board as an alternative to the classroom setting for the mandatory courses.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and classroom study
Verified distinction. The general PDH units may be earned online, but the mandatory 2-hour Minimum Technical Standards and 2-hour Professional Ethics courses required every four years must be completed in a classroom setting, and are not allowed online.
Practical interpretation. A West Virginia surveyor can complete most of the annual 8-hour requirement through qualifying online courses, but must attend the Board-sponsored or Board-approved classroom seminars for the four-year Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics components. Out-of-state licensees may request a CD-ROM alternative from the Board.
This classroom requirement for the mandatory components is the key constraint for surveyors relying on online study.
Provider and course approval
Verified structure. The mandatory Minimum Technical Standards and Professional Ethics courses must be sponsored or approved by the Board. For the general PDH units, the licensee is responsible for ensuring activities are relevant to the practice of surveying.
The Board sponsors continuing education workshops and provides registration for them, and approves seminars for the mandatory components.
Licensee responsibility. A licensee should confirm that the mandatory components are taken through Board-sponsored or Board-approved offerings and retain documentation of all PDH claimed.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention and reporting
At renewal, the licensee reports the PDH units earned during the year and certifies compliance. The licensee should retain documentation of all activities, including proof of the mandatory four-year Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics courses.
Because the mandatory components run on a four-year cycle while the base requirement is annual, a licensee should track both the yearly 8-hour totals and the four-year mandatory courses.
Audit
The Board may audit continuing education compliance and request documentation supporting the PDH claimed. A licensee selected for audit must demonstrate both the annual hours and the four-year mandatory components.
Failure to meet the continuing education requirements may result in non-renewal or other action by the Board.
Status Options and the Board
Out-of-state licensees. A licensee residing out of state may request a CD-ROM from the Board to complete the mandatory Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics courses, as an alternative to attending in a classroom setting.
New licensees. A person receiving an initial license completes the continuing education requirements on the schedule established by the Board; a new licensee should confirm how the annual and four-year requirements apply to their first period.
West Virginia State Specific Exam. The Board administers a West Virginia state-specific examination as part of licensure, reflecting the state’s emphasis on West Virginia surveying standards and law.
Board sponsorship. Because the Board sponsors or approves the mandatory courses and offers continuing education workshops, the Board office and its event calendar are the primary sources for scheduling the required classroom components.
Primary West Virginia 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.
WV Board of Professional Surveyors
The dedicated West Virginia board that licenses and regulates professional surveyors, with continuing education workshop registration and renewals.
WVBPS Law and Rules
The Board’s law and legislative rules, including continuing education requirements for professional surveyors.
W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 13A
The statute establishing the Board of Professional Surveyors and its authority over licensure, renewal, and continuing education.
WVBPS Online Services
The Board’s online system for license renewals, firm renewals, and continuing education workshop registration.
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. West Virginia requires 8 PDH annually and mandatory classroom Minimum Technical Standards and Ethics courses every four years, and requirements can change. The West Virginia Board of Professional Surveyors is the controlling authority.