Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Alaska Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for Alaska-registered professional land surveyors.
Alaska Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Alaska statutes, administrative rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial, expiring December 31 of odd-numbered years.
- Required hours 24 PDH obtained during the 24 months immediately preceding the registration period.
- Carryover Up to 12 PDH earned in excess of the requirement may be carried forward into the next biennial period. Carry-forward hours must be indicated on the renewal form.
- Certification The registrant certifies on the renewal form, on a form provided by the department, that the continuing education requirement has been met.
Mandatory subjects
- No subject-specific minimums Alaska does not impose an ethics-hour requirement or a state-specific jurisprudence course for professional land surveyors.
- Relevance standard Activities must be in technical and professional subjects related to the registrant’s scope of practice and may include technical, ethical, or managerial content.
- Public protection purpose Board guidance states that subject matter should address the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
- Daily and format limits Credit is computed under 12 AAC 36.520, with the Board holding final authority over acceptance of courses, activities, and PDH values.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified requirement. Alaska expressly recognizes successful completion of short courses, tutorials, correspondence courses, web-based courses, and televised or videotaped courses, credited at 1 PDH per hour of attendance. There is no stated cap on hours earned through online coursework.
Not accepted. Board guidance lists courses in unstructured self-study or personal self-improvement among typical non-qualifying activities, along with regular employment, trade shows, and enrollment without attendance.
Practical interpretation. A structured online course with a defined instructional unit, a completion control, and a certificate of completion is materially different from undocumented personal self-study. Final credit authority remains with the Board.
Provider and course approval
Verified requirement. The Alaska Board does not pre-approve continuing education courses, activities, or providers. Each registrant is responsible for ensuring the activities claimed meet the requirements of 12 AAC 36.510 through 12 AAC 36.550.
A qualifying course or activity is a unit of instruction or study with a clear purpose and objective to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge relevant to the registrant’s professional practice. Qualifying activities may be sponsored by colleges, employers, government agencies, professional societies, or other organizations.
No blanket provider guarantee. Because Alaska does not pre-approve providers or courses, acceptance depends on the activity and the supporting record, with the Board retaining final authority over credit.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
The registrant must maintain a log showing each course or activity claimed, the sponsoring organization, the duration, and the activity title and description of content, along with supporting verification such as completion certificates, signed attendance receipts, tuition or fee receipts, or instructor-signed participant lists.
Board guidance directs that records of attendance and completion be maintained for four years for audit purposes. Documentation should not be submitted with the biennial renewal form and fee unless the registrant is selected for audit.
Audit procedure
The Board randomly audits five percent of all renewing registrants after renewals are complete. A selected registrant will be contacted and asked to submit the Board’s CE Development Report with supporting documentation.
If the Board determines during an audit that claimed credits are unacceptable, the registrant has 90 days to obtain acceptable continuing education. If the requisite hours are not obtained within that period, the registration is revoked until the required continuing education is completed.
Exemptions, Comity, and Extensions
New registrants. A registrant is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first biennial registration renewal period following initial issuance of the registration.
Retired status. A registrant in retired status under 12 AAC 36.115 is exempt from continuing education while retired. Reactivation of a retired registration generally requires 24 PDH earned during the 24 months preceding the reactivation application.
Military service. An exemption applies for the biennial period immediately following a period of active duty in the United States armed forces exceeding 120 consecutive days within a 12-month period.
Long-tenured registrants. Under a rule effective October 15, 2023, a registrant who has been registered for 30 or more years in an NCEES-, NCARB-, or CLARB-recognized jurisdiction qualifies for a reduced requirement of 8 PDH per biennial licensing period.
Hardship. An exemption may be granted to a registrant who submits documentation supporting a physical disability, serious illness, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstance.
Comity. A registrant also registered in another jurisdiction may satisfy Alaska’s requirement by establishing that the mandatory continuing education requirements of that jurisdiction, which must be substantially similar to or exceed Alaska’s, have been met. Logs of PDH activity from that jurisdiction must be retained and produced if audited.
CE extension. A registrant who has not completed the required hours by December 31 may request an extension by submitting the renewal application, paying the renewal and extension fees, completing the required PDH before January 31 of the new biennium, and submitting a continuing education audit form with documentation. The extension is not a license extension, and the registrant cannot practice during the extension period.
Primary Alaska Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Registrants should verify their own renewal date and current instructions with the AELS Board.
12 AAC 36.500 – 36.550 Continuing Education Regulations
Official continuing education rules covering required hours, credit computation, exemptions, records, and Board review, as filed effective October 15, 2023.
AELS Continuing Education Instructions
Board-published instructions explaining qualifying and non-qualifying activities, credit values, carry-forward, recordkeeping, and audit expectations.
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
The AELS Board’s official page with current licensing, renewal, and continuing education information.
Biennial Registration Renewal Application
Current renewal application, including the continuing education certification and the CE extension option.
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 Alaska State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors is the controlling authority.