Virginia PE license renewal and CE requirements

Last checked September 29, 2026. Facts marked “checked against” were read in the rule text on that date. The rest come from the same rule tables and aren’t yet confirmed with the board. Confirm anything you act on with the board. Not legal advice.

Quick answer

Next deadline: no single statewide date; each license has its own, on the board’s license lookup.
Cycle: Licenses and business registrations are valid two years from the last day of the month of issue and renew for two years from the prior expiration date.
CE: 16 PDH every two years. Checked against Code of Virginia 54.1-404.2(A); 18VAC10-20-683(A), September 27, 2026
Firm: Firms need a firm registration (COA).
Renew with: Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA Board, DPOR). Fees: see the board’s renewal page.

Renewal cycle and late renewal

Licenses and business registrations are valid two years from the last day of the month of issue and renew for two years from the prior expiration date. Checked against 18VAC10-20-87(A); 18VAC10-20-670(B); 18VAC10-20-683(B), September 27, 2026

Look up each engineer’s current expiration date on the board’s license lookup rather than trusting an old spreadsheet. Our tables don’t record Virginia’s late-renewal or reinstatement rules, so check them with the board before a date passes.

Continuing education (PDH)

Hours: 16 PDH every two years. Individual two-year license period. A license is valid for two years from the last day of the month of issue and renews for two years from the prior expiration date. CE must be completed during the two-year license period immediately before the license's expiration date (18VAC10-20-87, -670, -683(B)). Checked against Code of Virginia 54.1-404.2(A); 18VAC10-20-683(A), September 27, 2026
Carryover: No carryover. CE is "valid for that renewal only; additional hours will not be valid for subsequent renewal" (18VAC10-20-683(B)). Checked against 18VAC10-20-683(B), September 27, 2026
New licensees: No first-renewal exemption: new licensees owe the full 16 hours. The rule requires CE "for any renewal or reinstatement" and lists no new-licensee exemption (18VAC10-20-683(A), -687) (not yet confirmed). Not yet confirmed
Reporting: By submitting the renewal fee the licensee certifies continued compliance (18VAC10-20-670(D)). The Board may periodically run a random audit of renewing licensees; selected licensees must send all CE documentation within 21 calendar days (18VAC10-20-683(G)). No NCEES CPC reporting requirement found. Checked against 18VAC10-20-670(D); 18VAC10-20-683(G), September 27, 2026
Records: 3 years from the date of expiration of the license the CE was used to renew (18VAC10-20-683(D)). Checked against 18VAC10-20-683(D), September 27, 2026

Firm rule

A firm offering engineering in Virginia needs its own credential from the board: business entity registration (PCs/PLLCs: certificate of authority). Any business entity offering engineering in Virginia must register with the board and name a responsible person for each profession (Code 54.1-411(B), 18VAC10-20-627). Exempt: professional corporations and PLLCs holding a board certificate of authority (Code 13.1-549 requires at least two-thirds of a PC's shares held by licensed professionals, the rest by employees), and sole proprietors with no other licensed-profession employees.

Checked against official sources, September 29, 2026 Code of Virginia 54.1-411 Organization for practice; registration; Code of Virginia 13.1-549 PC shareholders (two-thirds licensed) and board certificate of authority; 18VAC10-20-627 Business entity registration required.

See the Virginia guide’s firm section for qualifier and A/E rules, and what to do when your qualifying engineer gives notice.

What changed recently

Nothing recorded in our tables as of September 29, 2026. Boards change rules, so check the board’s news page before each renewal.

Virginia PE renewal questions

When do Virginia PE licenses renew?

Licenses and business registrations are valid two years from the last day of the month of issue and renew for two years from the prior expiration date. Check each engineer’s own date on the board’s license lookup.

How many PDH does a Virginia PE need?

16 PDH every two years.

Can extra PDH carry over in Virginia?

No carryover. CE is "valid for that renewal only; additional hours will not be valid for subsequent renewal" (18VAC10-20-683(B)).

Does an engineering firm need a COA in Virginia?

Yes. A firm offering engineering in Virginia needs its own credential from the board: business entity registration (PCs/PLLCs: certificate of authority). Any business entity offering engineering in Virginia must register with the board and name a responsible person for each profession (Code 54.1-411(B), 18VAC10-20-627). Exempt: professional corporations and PLLCs holding a board certificate of authority (Code 13.1-549 requires at least two-thirds of a PC's shares held by licensed professionals, the rest by employees), and sole proprietors with no other licensed-profession employees.

Does SealBench renew licenses or report PDH to the Virginia board?

No. SealBench tracks each engineer’s dates and PDH against this state’s rule and shows what’s due next. The engineer renews and certifies CE with the board.

Track Virginia PE renewals and CE for your whole team in SealBench

Every engineer’s Virginia license and PDH, counted against this rule, next to every other state they hold and your firm’s COAs. One license is free; firms pay $12 a month for each licensed person. Start with a free Set Check on your next permit set.

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Sources

Last checked September 29, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the current rule with the board before you rely on it.

SealBench suggests who may seal each sheet and shows why. The licensed professional takes responsible charge and applies the seal. SealBench is not a law firm, does not give legal advice, and does not file anything with any board. Questions or corrections: support@sealbench.com.