PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Click here)

ISPE REGISTERED PROVIDER PROGRAM  ( Click here)

ISPE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS
ISPE is committed to bringing engineers the finest professional development opportunities.  Below you will find descriptions of annual ISPE programs that offer professional development hours.  To see a chronological list that includes all courses offered by our Registered providers, please see our Calendar of Events. 

ISPE Annual Professional Engineering Convention - July 25-26, 2008 at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield, IL.

ISPE TREK 2008 - The 2008 ISPE Annual Convention - will kick off with NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Specialist and StarTrek fan Marc Rayman sharing his insights on how the technology of StarTrek plays out in the work he is doing with the JPL.  Keynote speaker former Governor Jim Edgar will shed light on the 2008 elections, and 12 professional develop hours will be availble. 

Read More  or Click here to head straight to the Convention Registration page.

ISPE Boot Camp - Boot Camp for Professional Engineers, October 7-10, 2008 in Springfield, IL

ISPE offers an annual "Boot Camp" for professional engineers needing to fulfill all or part of their 30 professional development hour requirement.  Structural Engineers will be the focus of this year's Boot Camp, as they are up for renewal in November of 2008. 

The Boot Camp, held over 4 days in October, provides a variety of topics for SEs and allows them to earn the required hours.  Registration is by the day, so SEs can register for just the number of days they needed to fulfill their needs, or all days if they need all 30 hours.

Boot Camp will be held October 7-10, 2008 in Springfield, IL at the Northfield Inn & Conference Center in Springfield.

ISPE/U OF I On-Line Video Seminars

The University of Illinois College of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering established a partnership with ISPE to bring you on-line 1-hour video seminars where you can earn professional development hours at the convenience of your own computer.

Click here to access the U of I On-Line Seminars Page.

ISPE/IDOT Technical Professional Development Series
The Illinois Department of Transportation and ISPE have partnered to offer a series of transportation-related technical training sessions.  The courses are taught by IDOT professionals, with the class registration slots divided between IDOT and ISPE.   

Information on the 2008 schedule will be posted as it is finalized.

Registered Provider Programs
ISPE partners with a variety of educational programs, universities, and industry professionals to sponsor professional development courses.

ISPE Registered Providers to Date Include:

American Power Conversion (APC) - Data Center University

Benchmark, Inc.
The Center for Professional Advancement (CfPA)

Corrosion College

Delta-Therm Corporation

Fibrwrap Construction, Inc.

General Physics Corporation (GPC)
ADS/Hancor, Inc.

Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Lorman Business Center, Inc.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
Northfield Block Company

Click here for a current listing of our ISPE Registered Providers’ programs on the calendar of events page.

Click here to learn more about the Registered Provider Program.

Professional Engineering Review Series
The ISPE PE Review Series (PERS) offers a comprehensive review of engineering fundamentals plus the latest technologies and practices.

Click here for the PERS 2007 schedule.

Asbestos Certification Course
ISPE in conjunction with Hinds Environmental each February presents an Asbestos Recertification Course.
Click here for more information.

On-Line Courses with Red Vector
ISPE partners with Red Vector, an on-line professional development provider, to offer discounted on-line professional development courses and PDH tracking as part of ISPE's comprehensive PDH program.
Click here to access the Red Vector Site.

Click here to view the ISPE Member Coupon number to receive the ISPE discount.

Chapter Professional Development Programs

As a part of ISPE, local chapters may offer their members and non-member engineers professional development opportunities by hosting educational speakers at chapter meetings or sponsoring seminars. Visit the ISPE Calendar of Events to see what programs Chapters are offering this month.

Is your local ISPE Chapter offering PDH's programs? Download a certification form to help your members document their hours. (Members Only)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Who is Subject to the Requirements?
Who are Qualified Providers?
How do I Report my PDHs?
What Counts?
ISPE Registered Provider Program

The State of Illinois implemented a new Professional Development (continuing education) requirement for all Illinois PE's in December, 2003.

All PE’s must earn 30 professional development hours within the current 2-year renewal period, with one Professional Development Hour equaling 50 minutes of presentation/classroom time. The hours must be earned during the renewal period (there are no “carry over” hours from one renewal period to the next).

Professional development activities must be conducted by an acceptable provider (ISPE is an acceptable provider named in the PE rules), and:

• Contribute to professional skills and/or scientific knowledge relevant to the practice of professional engineering;
• Enhance the practice and values of professional engineering, related sciences, and engineering ethics;
• Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program.

(Are you or your organization interested in partnering with ISPE to provide Professional Development Hours? Click here to learn how to become an ISPE Registered Provider)

Who is Subject to the Requirements?

All professional engineers licensed by the State of Illinois must meet the requirements. Exceptions include:

• A professional engineer is not required to fulfill the PDH requirements in the renewal period in which he becomes licensed.
  
• Professional engineers licensed by the State of Illinois but residing in another state may use the professional development requirements in his home state if they are substantially equivalent to those of Illinois.
  
• Individuals may seek a waiver of the PDH requirements prior to the renewal deadline for undo hardships, including full time service in the Armed Forces, extreme illness, or significant physical inability to travel.

Who are the Acceptable Providers Named in the PE Rules?

• Illinois Society of Professional Engineers
• National Society of Professional Engineers
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
• Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois
• Colleges, Universities or other Educational Institutions
• Technical or Professional Societies or Organizations Relating to Professional Engineering (i.e. ASCE)
• Other Technical or Professional Societies or Organizations (including Manufacturers)
  
  Please Note:  The PE Rules indicate that the list above are acceptable providers, but that acceptable providers are not limted to this group.

How do I report my PDH's?

Professional Engineers are required to certify on their renewal application that they are in compliance with the PDH requirements.

PE's are required to maintain a record of their professional development hours for a period of six years. Recommended formats include:

• Maintaining a record including the name and address of the provider, the hours for each program, the date and place of the program, and a certificate of attendance if available.
  
• Maintaining a log of activities that includes the date and number of hours claimed as PDH's, a statement on the subject matter, printed program schedules, agendas, and/or minutes, registration receipts or other proof of participation;
  
• Records of professional development hours maintained by an acceptable provider.

ISPE will help you track your professional development hours on-line. Simply register with www.redvector.com and begin your on-line tracking. Visit the ISPE “Members-only” section to learn about discounted professional development courses through Red Vector.

What Activities Qualify for how Many PDH's?

Unfortunately, the Department of Professional Regulation will not pre-certify courses as qualifying as appropriate PDH's, so use prudence when selecting your activities.

ISPE Registered Professional Development Provider Program

Look for the ISPE "Registered Provider" Stamp!

"Will this count?" is one of the most common questions we hear from members, referring to the new professional development requirements. In response to member concerns, ISPE developed a new "Registered Provider" program to help you feel confident that the courses and seminars you attend will stand up to IDPR PE Board review as appropriate professional development activities.

PE's can feel assured that any professional development course featuring the ISPE Registered Provider stamp has undergone a thorough review by our professional development committee and meets the standards laid out by the state PE Board.

Are you interested in becoming an ISPE Registered Provider? Click here for details how.