Dual license or certificate holders must meet the same PDH requirements as single license or certificate holders with the following exception: Dual holders must obtain in each profession a minimum of one-third of the total professional development hours required. The remaining one-third may be obtained in either profession at the sole discretion of the licensee or certificate holder.

For example: Someone with an architect license who is also a certified interior designer must earn:

• 8 hours that address their professional development as an architect
• 8 hours that address their professional development as a certified interior designer
• 8 additional hours divided in any manner between the professions
• Of the 24 total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics

New licensees and new certificate holders are exempt from continuing education reporting for their first biennial renewal. Simply stated, this means they do not need to earn or report CE for that first renewal. This exemption is automatic; if you are renewing for the first time, you do not need to apply to receive this exemption. Please note: You cannot carry over any professional development hours from an exempt period.

A licensee or certificate holder who has experienced during the biennial renewal a serious illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstance, or who has been called to active duty in the military services for a period exceeding 120 consecutive days may apply for exemption to continuing education reporting. The Board will review the request and, where such circumstances restrict compliance with the continuing education requirements (as supported by documentation furnished to the Board), the Board will approve an exemption and provide you with a "Letter of Exemption" that must be submitted with your renewal.

Note: If you need to apply for exemption, you must make that request before you send in your renewal. See the Forms section to select the Continuing Education Exemption Request Form for the proper period.

Continuing education must consist of learning experiences that enhance and expand the skills, knowledge, and abilities of practicing professionals to remain current and render competent professional services to the public. Practitioners may pursue technical, nontechnical, regulatory, ethical, and business practice needs for a well-rounded education provided the education directly benefits the health, safety, or welfare of the public. Continuing education activities that satisfy the professional development requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

• completing or auditing college-sponsored courses;
• completing self-study college or non-college-sponsored courses, ending with examination or other verification processes;
• participation in seminars, tutorials, televised or videotaped courses, or short courses;
• attending self-sponsored and prepared in-house educational programs;
• completing a study tour with a structured program resulting in a written or visual presentation by the licensee or certificate holder;
• presenting or instructing qualifying courses or seminars; preparation time for the first time you develop the presentation can also be counted as PDH;
• authoring published papers, articles, or books; preparation time for the first time you author or present (one or the other, but not both) a work can also be counted as PDH, but the hours can only be claimed following publication (not prior to publication);
• participating in professional examination grading or writing, with a maximum credit of five PDH per biennium (Note: This type of PDH cannot be carried over);
• serving on public boards, commissions, and committees that require your professional expertise, such as planning commissions, building code advisory boards, urban renewal boards, or non-work-related volunteer service. You can earn up to a maximum of ten PDH per biennium (Note: This type of PDH cannot be carried over); and
• patents, for a credit of ten PDH during the biennium in which the patent was granted (Note: This type of PDH cannot be carried over).

Continuing education courses and activities must meet the following criteria:

• Each must have a clear purpose and objective that will maintain, improve, or expand existing professional skills and knowledge or develop new and relevant skills and knowledge.
• The content must be well organized and presented in a sequential manner.
• There must be evidence of preplanning which must include the opportunity for input by the target group to be served.
• The person(s) presenting must be well qualified by education or experience.
• The course/activity creator must provide appropriate documentation of your participation, including information required for record keeping and reporting.

The Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design does not pre-approve any courses or activities for continuing education. The Continuing Education Assessment Form (see Forms section on this page) is a tool created by the Board for licensees and certificate holders to use to help determine which courses or activities will meet the statutory requirements. It is up to each licensee or certificate holder to become familiar with the statutory requirements and to determine for themselves whether a particular course or activity meets those requirements.

Sponsors of courses and activities are welcome to review the statutory requirements and state the following on their advertising, "The Minnesota Board does not pre-approve courses and activities, however to the best of our knowledge this course/activity meets the continuing education requirements outlined in MN Statute 326.107. Final discretion is up to the Board."