Illinois PE and architect license renewal: what firms need to track

Last checked September 29, 2026. The engineering firm rules here were checked against official sources on that date. CE and architect rules come from our rule tables and aren’t yet confirmed with the Illinois boards. Not legal advice.

Engineers: the Illinois PE license renewal and CE page has the next deadline, every CE rule with its source, and what changed recently.

Illinois uses fixed statewide dates: engineers, structural engineers, architects and design firms each renew on one date for everyone. The work is in the topics, the managing agents and the structural line. Everything runs through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), with separate boards for engineers and architects.

PE license renewal in Illinois

All Illinois PE licenses expire on November 30 of odd-numbered years and renew every two years. The next deadline is November 30, 2027. Structural engineer licenses are a separate license and expire November 30 of even-numbered years. Check each license on the IDFPR license lookup.

License numbers: IDFPR shows the profession code “062.” plus 6 digits (062.012345). Firms often write “062-012345” or just the digits. That’s how SealBench reads numbers on an imported roster, not a board rule.

PE continuing education (PDH)

• Hours: 30 PDH in the 24 months before each November 30 deadline (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.325).
• Laws and rules: at least 1 hour on the Illinois statutes and rules that regulate PEs.
• Ethics: at least 1 hour in professional conduct or ethics.
• Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hour that meets 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400, counted within the 30.
• Carryover: up to 15 PDH earned in the last six months before the deadline, and not used for that renewal. Carryover can’t cover the laws and rules, ethics or harassment hours, and must be documented on the Department’s form.
• Limits: at most 8 PDH per period for serving on a PE board or committee or holding office in a society (2 PDH each), and at most 12 PDH in any 24 hours. Self-study counts only with a sponsor-graded exam.
• Structural courses: count only if the engineer can show they enhance the PE license. IDFPR doesn’t pre-approve courses.
• New licensees: no CE report for the first renewal period in which they were licensed in Illinois.
• Reporting: each engineer certifies compliance on the renewal. IDFPR runs random audits.
• Records: keep certificates or provider transcripts for 6 years, showing sponsor, hours, date, place and subject. A log alone isn’t accepted.

Our rule tables don’t record CE rules for the separate structural engineer license. Ask IDFPR.

Architect license renewal and CE in Illinois

The architect rules on this page come from our rule tables and haven’t been checked against the architecture board’s rules yet. Check with the board before you rely on them.

Illinois architect licenses expire November 30 of even-numbered years and renew every two years. The CE period runs December 1 of one even year to November 30 of the next. Check each architect on the IDFPR license lookup.

• Hours: 24 per two-year period.
• HSW: at least 16 hours in public protection (HSW) subjects. No more than 8 in related practice subjects (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1150.105(b)).
• High winds or natural disasters: since the November 30, 2024 renewal, at least 1 HSW hour on design for high winds or natural disasters.
• Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hour per renewal, counted within the 24.
• Carryover: the rule says hours can’t carry over to a later period. But the IDFPR architect page links a “CE Carryover Form”, so the two sources disagree. Ask IDFPR before relying on carryover.
• New licensees: no CE report for the first renewal period in which they were licensed in Illinois.
• Reporting: certify on the renewal. IDFPR may audit at random.
• Records: keep them at least 6 years after the renewal period. One AIA learning unit (LU) counts as one hour.

Firm registration (COA) and qualifier rules

Engineering firms

A firm offering engineering in Illinois needs a firm credential from the board: Professional Design Firm (PDF) registration. Any business that practices or offers engineering must register as a Professional Design Firm. A sole proprietor PE working under his or her own real name is exempt; one using an assumed name must register. The firm must designate one or more managing agents who hold an active Illinois PE license and, for corporations, are regular full-time employees named by board resolution; one person may be managing agent for only one firm. The firm must report a managing agent's departure within 10 business days (the statute allows regular mail or email; the rule still says certified mail) and name a new one within 30 days (the Department may extend this for good cause), or the registration is terminated without a hearing. Board, member or partner changes must be reported within 30 days. Design firm registrations expire April 30 of odd-numbered years. Section 23 of the Act is scheduled for repeal on January 1, 2030.

Engineering firm renewal: Professional Design Firm registrations expire April 30 of odd-numbered years (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.310(c)).

Checked against official sources, September 29, 2026 225 ILCS 325/23 (professional design firm registration; sole proprietor rule; managing agent; 10 business days notice and 30 days to replace); 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.290 (managing agent must be a regular full-time employee; one firm per managing agent); 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.300 (do not seal work outside competence).

See what to do when your qualifying engineer gives notice.

Architecture firms

Any business that practices or offers architecture also registers with IDFPR as a Professional Design Firm (225 ILCS 305/21). A sole proprietor architect working under their real name is exempt; one using an assumed name must register. Registrations are biennial and expire April 30 of each odd-numbered year, whatever the issue date.

• Managing agent: an Illinois architect who is a director, partner or member and a full-time employee, named by board resolution. One firm at a time per profession.
• Every office: each Illinois location offering architecture needs a resident architect in responsible charge.
• Ownership: the current Act sets no ownership percentage. The firm files the names and license numbers of its directors, members or partners.
• When the agent leaves: notify IDFPR within 10 business days and name a new one within 30 days, or the registration is terminated.

Firms that offer both

One registration. A single Professional Design Firm registration can cover architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering and land surveying. The firm names a managing agent for each profession it offers. If any managing agent’s license lapses, the registration stops working for every profession until that agent is replaced.

Professional Design Firm registrations expire April 30 of odd-numbered years (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.310(c)), checked against the rule text on Sep 29, 2026. The IDFPR Professional Design Firm page has the forms.

Who can seal drawings in Illinois

An Illinois PE license isn’t split by discipline. Engineers seal only work within their competence, and your firm has to judge that (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1380.300). The big exception is structural.

• Structural work: Illinois licenses structural engineers separately, and a PE can’t perform or offer structural engineering services.
• PEs on architectural sheets: a PE may not prepare, seal or sign architectural drawings (225 ILCS 325/47).
• Structural engineers on architectural sheets: a licensed SE may prepare, seal and sign technical submissions for buildings, including site plans, floor plans and elevations, within structural engineering scope. An SE may not use the title architect (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1480.210).
• No architect needed: for farm buildings outside city limits, detached single-family homes, or wood-frame two-family homes up to 2 stories plus a basement, unless a local ordinance requires one (305/3).
• Architect’s seal: must be reproducible and show the name, license number and “Licensed Architect, State of Illinois”. No size or shape is set, and an embossed-only seal doesn’t qualify. Seal, signature, date and license expiration date go on the first sheet of a set, which says what the seal covers. Firm submissions also show the firm name and its Professional Design Firm number.

Before a set goes out, every sheet has to pass four checks: an Illinois license, the right discipline, a license still active on the issue date, and the firm’s registration. Compare other states on who can seal drawings, by state.

Common mistakes

• Letting a PE seal structural or architectural sheets. In Illinois those need a structural engineer or an architect.
• Missing the managing agent clock. When a managing agent leaves, you have 10 business days to tell IDFPR and 30 days to name a new one. See what to do the day someone gives notice.
• Mixing up the November 30 years. PEs expire in odd years, while architects and structural engineers expire in even years.
• Enough hours, wrong mix. A PE’s 30 hours must include laws and rules, ethics and harassment prevention. An architect needs 16 HSW hours, including the high winds or natural disasters hour.
• Using carryover for the required topics. PE carryover can’t cover laws and rules, ethics or harassment hours.
• Keeping only a CE log. Engineers need certificates or transcripts. A log alone isn’t accepted.

Where to file

SealBench never files anything with a board for you. Renewals, CE certifications and firm registrations go to IDFPR directly:

• IDFPR Professional Engineer page
• IDFPR Architect page
• IDFPR Professional Design Firm page (engineering and architecture firms)
• IDFPR license lookup

How SealBench helps

SealBench keeps every PE and architect license and every firm registration on your roster in one list, soonest expiration first. Reminders at 90, 60 and 30 days before each date are coming soon. It counts each person’s CE hours and required topics against Illinois’s rules, per person. It doesn’t count the sexual harassment prevention hour, or the architects’ high winds or natural disasters hour, so check those yourself. Set Check shows who can seal each sheet in an Illinois permit set, and why anyone can’t. One license is free to track; see pricing.