HB140.html

To amend Code Section 43-15-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the general powers of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, so as to provide for an exemption for certain eligible engineers and land surveyors from continuing education requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Code Section 43-15-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the general powers of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof a new subsection to read as follows:
"(b) In addition to other powers conferred upon the board under this chapter, the board shall through rules and regulations require each person seeking renewal of a certificate of registration as a professional engineer or a land surveyor to complete board approved continuing education of not more than 30 hours biennially for professional engineers and not more than 15 hours biennially for land surveyors. The board shall be authorized to approve courses offered by institutions of higher learning or offered by other institutions or organizations. The board shall randomly audit some applications for renewal of a certificate of registration to enforce compliance with this subsection. The continuing education requirements adopted by the board shall recognize the continuing education requirements imposed by other states to the extent that such continuing education courses meet the requirements imposed by the board. The board shall be authorized to waive the continuing education requirements in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board deems appropriate. The board shall waive the continuing education requirement for individuals over the age of 65 who have retired from active practice and who apply for an inactive license and for individuals over the age of 65 who are engaged in the active practice of their profession who have had a valid active license for the previous 25 consecutive years. The requirement for continuing education including the exemptions provided for in this subsection shall apply to each licensing renewal cycle which begins after the 1996 renewal cycle."