Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Arkansas Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing professional competency requirements for Arkansas-licensed professional surveyors.
Arkansas Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Arkansas statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. Professional Surveyor licenses expire June 30, with even-numbered licenses renewing in even-numbered years and odd-numbered licenses in odd-numbered years.
- Required hours 30 PDH reported for each renewal period. Renewal is completed through the Board’s PELS online portal.
- Dual PE and PS licensees 40 PDH minimum per period, with at least 10 PDH earned in each profession and the remaining 20 in either. Dual licenses expire September 30, with the PE license number determining the renewal year.
- Carryover Up to 30 PDH may be carried forward into the next renewal period. Dual licensees may carry forward up to 40 PDH, with no more than 30 attributable to either profession.
Mandatory subjects
- Arkansas standards Every Professional Surveyor, including a dual licensee, must earn at least 2 PDH on the Arkansas Standards of Practice No. 1 for Property Boundary Surveys and Plats each renewal period, a requirement effective September 1, 2020.
- No ethics minimum Arkansas does not prescribe a separate ethics-hour requirement, though ethical content qualifies toward the 30-PDH total.
- Relevance standard Qualifying activity must have a clear purpose and objective to maintain, improve, or expand skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s field of practice, and may include technical, ethical, or managerial content.
- Included in total The Arkansas standards hours count toward the 30-PDH total and do not increase it.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. Arkansas places no stated limit on the number of PDH earned through online or correspondence coursework. Structured online courses qualify under the same relevance standard as classroom activity, credited on a contact-hour basis.
Practical interpretation. A structured online course with a defined instructional objective, a completion control, and a certificate documents the credit in the manner the Board’s recordkeeping rules contemplate. Unstructured, undocumented reading or study does not produce the records needed to support a claimed credit.
Final authority over the acceptance of any claimed activity remains with the Board.
Provider and course approval
Verified requirement. The Arkansas Board does not pre-approve continuing education providers or specific courses. Each licensee is responsible for determining whether an activity meets the requirements of Article 19 of the Board’s Rules.
Qualifying activities may include structured courses, seminars, presentations, and similar organized instruction relevant to the practice of surveying, sponsored by professional organizations, educational institutions, employers, or other providers.
Non-resident comity. The continuing professional competency requirement is deemed satisfied when a non-resident licensee certifies to being licensed in, and having met the mandatory CPC requirements of, a jurisdiction approved and listed by Arkansas. The Arkansas-standards PDH obligation should be confirmed with the Board when relying on this pathway.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
The maintenance of records supporting claimed credits is the licensee’s responsibility. Required records include a log showing the type of activity, sponsoring organization, duration, and PDH earned, together with completion certificates or comparable verification.
PDH completion records must be maintained for a minimum of three years. At renewal, the licensee reports the number of PDH earned during the two-year period, or claims a qualifying exemption, through the PELS portal.
Reporting and verification
Renewal is completed online through the PELS system, where the licensee enters PDH earned, any carryover shown in the online roster, and the required Arkansas-standards hours. Supporting documentation is retained by the licensee and produced when the Board requests verification of claimed credits.
Credit conversion follows the customary equivalences, with 1 PDH equal to one contact hour of instruction and 1 CEU equal to 10 PDH. Article 19 of the Board’s Rules governs credit determination, record storage, and exemptions.
Exemptions and Status Options
Military service. The renewal application allows a licensee to claim an exemption from the PDH requirement based on active duty in the United States armed forces during the renewal period.
Exempt status. Arkansas provides a longevity-based exempt status for licensees meeting specified age and original-licensure-date criteria stated on the Board’s renewal forms. Licensees near retirement should confirm their eligibility with the Board, as the qualifying dates are fixed rather than rolling.
Inactive and non-renewed status. A licensee may request inactive status at renewal rather than certifying PDH, or may allow the license to move to non-renewed status. Neither status permits the practice of surveying in Arkansas, and reinstatement requirements under the Board’s Rules apply when returning to active practice.
Hardship. Article 19 of the Board’s Rules addresses additional exemption circumstances. A licensee experiencing disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances should contact the Board before the renewal deadline to determine available relief.
Primary Arkansas Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the PELS portal.
Board Rules and Laws Handbook
The Board’s compiled statutes and rules, including Article 19 governing continuing professional competency, credit determination, records, and exemptions.
License Renewal Information
The Board’s official renewal page covering PDH requirements, the Arkansas-standards surveyor requirement, dual-licensee rules, and portal renewal windows.
State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors
The Board’s official page within the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, with current contact and licensing information.
PELS Online Licensing System
The online portal where Arkansas licensees complete biennial renewal, report PDH, and view license expiration dates.
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 Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors is the controlling authority.