The Board does not send confidential documents or private information by email, fax, text, or social media. Notice of a complaint/possible disciplinary action, for instance, is by mail. Also, no staff person will ever ask you for bank account or credit card information. The only instance when you would provide credit card information is directly through the Online Renewals website (again, no staff intermediary).
If you have concerns about the validity of an email or other communication that claims to come from the Board, please call the office (651-296-2388). Ask to be connected with whomever handles the matter the email claims to be about.
Right click on the link and click "Save Target As" or "Save As" and save it to your computer. Then open the saved file from wherever you saved it on your computer using Adobe Reader.
Always download and save PDF forms, then open them using Adobe Reader, as working on PDF forms in web browsers or using other software may result in lost data on saving or printing and other issues. Right click on the form link and click "Save Target As" or "Save As" and save the form to your computer. Then open the saved file using Adobe Reader.
Renewal
(Note: Renewals open approximately April 1 of every even-numbered year.
For most issues, you will need to wait 24 hours for the system to clear your previous renewal attempt before trying again. Note: You may also need to clear the cookies from your browser or use a different one.
“Renewal in Progress,” but haven't renewed it. If you log in and go through several of the renewal screens then back out of the system before completing the renewal, the system will lock you out for 24 hours to prevent a duplicate renewal.
“This Page Can't Be Displayed” message after selecting “Proceed to Checkout.” If you have more than one browser switch to a different one or update your browser to the latest version.
“Transaction time out.” The system will clear itself in 24 hours. Wait, then try to log in again. Close any open Board website pages first.
Inability to get to the payment/next screen. Be sure you have completed all the required questions on the current page. Look for red messages indicating missing information.
Make sure you have entered your complete license number or certificate number (certificate holders: include the "C"; "C0" is "C zero") AND the last four digits of your ID number (usually your Social Security number, ITIN, or MN Tax ID number). Confirm that you are using the correct license or certificate number by checking on the Licensee Lookup. Note that you cannot renew online if your license expired two or more license periods ago.
Also note that if you were licensed during the current period (have yet to ever renew) you will also receive this message until the renewal window opens.
If you still get the message, and none of the above applies to you, contact the Board office for assistance.
See the My License tab for additional information. Please submit the name change and required documentation and wait for email confirmation from Board staff before starting the Online Renewal process.
Go to Online Renewals, then select the “License/Certificate Card" tab, then sign in as you would if renewing your license. You can download a copy of your card with the information current as to the day you print it. If you recently submitted a renewal application, wait 2-3 business days before expecting to see updated expiration dates.
Visit the License Lookup page. For renewals, wait 1-2 business days to see your updated license or certificate expiration date. (The database is refreshed daily and is not real-time.) Please refer to the instructions on that page.
Licensees and certificate holders are required to have 24 PDHs, including 2 hours in ethics, by June 30 of even numbered years in order to renew their license or certificate.
CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit. A CEU is a unit of credit equal to ten hours of participation in an accredited program designed for professionals with certificates or licenses to practice various professions. One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is generally equivalent to 10 PDHs.
No. You must obtain 2 hours of ethics training during each reporting period; however, you may use the extra 2 hours toward your 12 PDH carryover allowance.
No. Dual licensees or certificate holders need a total of 24 PDH, included 2 hours in ethics, to renew both licenses/certificates. One-third of the hours in the first profession, one-third in the second, and one-third can be in either. See Dual Licensure on the Continuing Education page..
There are many different programs and activities that count toward the continuing education requirements such as: seminars, classes, presentations, publishing articles, etc. Please see MN Statute 326.107, Subd. 2 or Qualifying Programs and Activities for a complete list.
The Board does not pre-approve courses or activities so the Board office does not have a listing of continuing education opportunities. The Board does have links to professional societies and national councils from its web site. These are good places to begin your search. You can also contact your local colleges and universities.
The Board does not pre-approve continuing education courses or activities, including ethics, so the Board office does not have a listing of ethics continuing education opportunities. The Board does have links to the professional societies and national councils. Many of these offer ethics courses (and membership is not necessarily required). As with all other continuing education activities, it is up to licensees/certificate holders to use their judgment to determine whether a particular course or activity meets the statutory requirements for continuing education.
Many organizations also require continuing education for their members and some of the organizations pre-approve courses. These requirements may be different from the State’s requirements. The Board has final discretion on whether or not a course or activity meets the State’s requirements.
Non-work-related is the conducting of services drawing upon your professional expertise to organizations outside of your place of employment (i.e. community service, nonprofit organizations, etc.).
If you are no longer practicing and no longer holding out in that profession and you let your license/certificate expire (or you retire from your profession), you do not need to obtain continuing education. However, in order to reinstate your license/certificate and return to practice, you will need to obtain up to 48 PDH (depending on how long your license was expired/retired) in the 4 years immediately prior to reinstatement, including up to 4 PDH in professional ethics. See Reinstatement.
Note that Minnesota Board does not have an “inactive” status. In order to continue to practice OR through use of your credential imply you are currently licened/certified in Minnesota, you will need to renew your license/certificate every two years and comply with the continuing education requirements. If you have retired, inform the Board in writing. Then you may continue to use your professional title preceded by the term “retired” (i.e. John Doe, Retired Architect), but you may not practice.
Yes, in order to reinstate your license or certificate you will need to do everything you would have done had you kept your license/certificate current during the time of your lapse (i.e. pay all back fees, late fees, and provide proof of continuing education). You will need to report up to 48 hours of continuing education, including up to 4 hours of ethics, depending on how many years your license has lapsed.
If you are selected for audit, the Board will contact you by mail and ask you to submit supporting documentation of your reported continuing education activities.
