Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Minnesota Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for Minnesota-licensed professional land surveyors.
Minnesota Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Minnesota statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. All licenses and certificates expire on June 30 at the end of the two-year cycle, regardless of the date issued.
- Required hours 24 professional development hours (PDH) during the two-year period prior to renewal.
- Carryover Carryover from the previous renewal period is permitted but must not exceed 50 percent of the biennial requirement, which is 12 PDH.
- Ethics not carried over The 2 ethics hours must be earned within the biennium to which they are applied and cannot be used toward carryover.
Mandatory subject and content areas
- Ethics 2 of the 24 PDH must be dedicated to professional ethics, earned in the current period.
- Well-rounded content PDH may be earned across technical, non-technical, regulatory, ethical, and business practice activities.
- Public benefit The education must directly benefit the health, safety, or welfare of the public.
- No fixed state-law course Beyond the ethics requirement, Minnesota does not mandate a separate state-specific statutes course for surveyors.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. Minnesota does not impose a cap on the number of PDH earned online for surveyors. All 24 PDH, including the 2 ethics hours, may be earned through qualifying online coursework.
Practical interpretation. A Minnesota surveyor can satisfy the full requirement through structured online courses, provided each activity meets the statutory criteria and the licensee retains adequate documentation for a possible audit.
Each activity must have a clear purpose and objective that maintains, improves, or expands the skills and knowledge obtained before initial licensure, or develops new and relevant skills.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. The Board does not maintain a list of specific programs and does not pre-approve any continuing education providers or courses. Each licensee determines whether an activity meets the requirements in Minnesota Statutes section 326.107.
The Board advises selecting continuing education based on the knowledge of the presenter, the presenter’s ability to provide the documentation needed for an audit, and whether the content advances the licensee’s professional development.
Licensee responsibility. Because there is no pre-approval, the burden is on the licensee to confirm that each activity qualifies and to keep supporting records.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
At renewal the licensee reports completion of the required PDH, including the ethics hours, and certifies compliance. Documentation should be retained so it can be produced if the Board selects the licensee for audit.
The licensee should keep records that identify the activity, provider, date, hours earned, and content, with particular care to document the ethics activity separately.
Audit
The Board audits continuing education compliance. A licensee selected for audit must provide documentation supporting the PDH reported at renewal.
Because carryover is capped at 12 PDH and ethics hours cannot be carried over, audit review confirms both the total hours and that the ethics requirement was met within the applicable biennium.
Status Options and the AELSLAGID Board
Combined multi-profession board. Minnesota regulates architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, landscape architects, geoscientists, and interior designers through a single board, known as AELSLAGID. The 24-PDH requirement with 2 ethics hours applies to licensed land surveyors under Minnesota Statutes section 326.107.
Retired status. A licensee may change to retired status. A retired land surveyor may not practice, and returning to active status is handled through the Board’s process.
Carryover planning. Because up to 12 non-ethics PDH may carry forward, a surveyor who earns more than 24 in a biennium can bank up to half the requirement for the next period, but must still earn fresh ethics hours each biennium.
Dual licensees. A person licensed in more than one profession under the Board should confirm how the requirement applies across professions, since the Board sets the PDH requirement for each license held.
Primary Minnesota 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.
Minnesota Statutes Section 326.107
The statute establishing the continuing education requirement, the 24-PDH total, the 2 ethics hours, and the 50 percent carryover limit.
AELSLAGID Continuing Education
The Board’s official continuing education page, with the ethics reminder, no-pre-approval policy, and guidance on selecting activities.
AELSLAGID Land Surveying
The Board’s land surveying page, covering scope of practice, protected title, and renewal for Minnesota land surveyors.
Online Renewal Services
The Board’s portal for reporting continuing education and renewing a Minnesota license or certificate.
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 Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design is the controlling authority.