Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Washington Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing professional development requirements for Washington-licensed professional land surveyors.
Washington Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Washington statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial, ending on the licensee’s birthday. Continuing professional development is tracked across the two-year period.
- Required hours 15 PDH each year, for a total of 30 PDH accumulated during the two-year renewal period.
- Carryover A maximum of 15 PDH may be carried over into the next renewal period.
- Surveyors, not engineers Continuing professional development applies to professional land surveyors under chapter 18.43 RCW; Washington does not impose the same requirement on professional engineers.
Mandatory attestation and content
- Required reading attestation At renewal, every professional land surveyor must attest to having read chapter 58.09 RCW (the Survey Recording Act) and chapter 332-130 WAC (minimum standards for land boundary and geodetic control surveys and guidelines for land descriptions).
- No fixed ethics hours Washington does not mandate a set number of ethics hours for surveyors; qualifying content must be relevant to the practice of land surveying.
- Relevance standard Each activity must have a clear purpose and objective to maintain, improve, or expand skills relevant to surveying and to safeguard the public.
- First biennium exempt The requirement does not apply to the biennium in which a license is first issued.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. There are no limitations on the number of PDHs earned online. All 30 PDH may be earned through qualifying online coursework relevant to the practice of land surveying.
Practical interpretation. A Washington surveyor may satisfy the full requirement online, provided each activity has a clear purpose and objective and is relevant to surveying. One CEU equals ten PDH.
The mandatory attestation to reading the Survey Recording Act and the minimum standards WAC is completed at renewal and is separate from the 30-PDH coursework.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. The Board does not pre-approve continuing education sponsors or providers. Each licensee determines whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements, and the Board retains authority over acceptance on audit.
Qualifying activities include courses, seminars, and other educational activities that maintain, improve, or expand the licensee’s skills and knowledge relevant to land surveying.
Licensee responsibility. Because there is no pre-approval, the licensee confirms that each activity qualifies and retains documentation.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention and reporting
At renewal, the surveyor verifies completion of the required continuing professional development and completes the mandatory attestation. The Board may not renew a professional land surveyor’s certificate unless the registrant verifies completion of the required hours.
The licensee maintains a Professional Development Log and supporting documentation. If selected for audit, the licensee uploads the log and documentation with the renewal.
Audit
The Board audits a portion of renewals. A licensee who receives an audit letter must provide the Professional Development Log and supporting documentation as directed in the renewal instructions.
Recent rule amendments updated the continuing professional development definitions, qualifying activities, and audit language, so surveyors should confirm current requirements with the Board.
Inactive Status and Exemptions
Inactive status. A professional land surveyor with an inactive license is not required to complete continuing professional development. To return to active status, the licensee must meet the Board’s reactivation requirements, including completing continuing professional development and paying the applicable renewal fee.
First biennium. The continuing professional development requirement does not apply to the biennium in which the license is first issued, easing the transition into active practice.
Engineer comparison. Washington regulates engineers and surveyors through one board, BRPELS, but the continuing professional development requirement applies to land surveyors; professional engineers are not subject to the same requirement.
Recent amendments. The Board adopted amendments in 2026 that update licensing and continuing professional development provisions, including decoupling the surveying exam from the experience requirement and clarifying continuing development rules.
Primary Washington 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.
Chapter 196-16 WAC
The Board’s continuing professional development rules for professional land surveyors, covering the PDH requirement, qualifying activities, carryover, and audits.
Chapter 18.43 RCW
The statute governing professional engineers and land surveyors, including the requirement that surveyors verify completion of continuing professional development for renewal.
BRPELS Land Surveyors License
The Board’s official land surveyor licensing and renewal pages, with continuing professional development and renewal instructions.
BRPELS Renewals
The Board’s renewal page, using the SecureAccess Washington (SAW) login to renew a professional land surveyor license.
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. Washington requires professional land surveyors to complete 30 PDH per biennium and to attest to reading the Survey Recording Act and minimum standards, and requirements can change. The Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is the controlling authority.