Texas PE License Renewal: CE hours, deadlines, and portal.

Texas Professional Engineer (PE) licenses renew every two years (biennial). Texas requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle (about 15 per year). Of the 30 hours, 2 must be in professional ethics. Up to 15 excess PDH may carry over to the next cycle. The approximate renewal fee is $100 per cycle. Online renewal is available through the state board portal. Biennial renewal (effective 2026). 30 PDH per cycle including 2 ethics hours.

Renewal deadline:End of January or July, every two years
Renewal cycle
Biennial
PDH required
30 per cycle
Ethics required
2 hours
Approximate fee
$100

Texas engineering compliance at a glance

Everything it takes to legally practice engineering in Texas: your individual PE license, your firm's Certificate of Authorization, and the Secretary-of-State / tax filings that keep the entity in good standing. Costs and cadence are estimates, confirm on the official portals before relying on them.

RequirementApplies toCostRenewsWhat you do
PE license (individual)Always required to practice~$100BiennialEarn 30 PDH, then renew on the board portal · open
Firm Certificate of AuthorizationIf you practice through a firm$150AnnualApply / renew with the engineering board · open
Franchise / entity taxIf the firm is a registered entityVariesAnnualFile with the state tax agency · open

CE / PDH requirements in Texas

Texas requires 30 PDH per 2-year renewal cycle (about 15 hours per year). Of that total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.

Texas allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

How to renew your Texas PE license

  1. 1
    Confirm your renewal date

    Biennial renewal (effective 2026). 30 PDH per cycle including 2 ethics hours.

  2. 2
    Verify your PDH balance

    Confirm you have at least 30 PDH for this cycle, including 2 ethics hours. Save certificates as PDFs in case the board audits you.

  3. 3
    Pay the renewal fee

    About $100. Texas accepts online renewal through the board portal.

  4. 4
    Save your new pocket card

    Once renewed, save your updated wall certificate or pocket card. If your firm needs a copy for project files, send it the same day.

What trips people up

Texas renewal gotchas

Field notes from mapping the Texas renewal flow. Specifics change, so confirm anything time-sensitive on the board portal before you rely on it.

  • Major transition happening in 2026: moving from annual to biennial renewal cycle (Senate Bill 681)
  • March 2026 renewal is a special 16-month period (expires July 2027) at no extra cost
  • All renewal dates being standardized to end of January or July only
  • Board only accepts electronic payments through ECHO — no mail/phone payments
  • Licenses expired 90+ days incur additional late fees ($50 + $50 stacked)
  • Licenses expired 2+ years CANNOT be renewed — must reapply as new candidate
Practicing through a firm in Texas?

Texas requires firms to hold a Certificate of Authorization (about $150, annually) to offer engineering services. It renews on its own cycle, separate from your individual PE license. PE License Pro tracks individual PE licenses, firm CoAs, and entity filings side by side.

Open the Texas firm CoA portal
Need a new Texas PE license? Open the Texas application page

Texas PE renewal FAQ

How often does a Texas PE license need to be renewed?+

Texas PE licenses are renewed every two years (biennial). Biennial renewal (effective 2026). 30 PDH per cycle including 2 ethics hours.

When is the deadline to renew a Texas PE license?+

Texas PE license renewal deadline: End of January or July, every two years. Dates and cycles can change, so confirm the exact date on the Texas board portal and renew before it. A missed deadline usually means a late fee, and in some states the license lapses and has to be reinstated.

How many PDH hours does Texas require for PE renewal?+

Texas requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle, including 2 ethics hours.

How much does it cost to renew a Texas PE license?+

The approximate renewal fee is $100 per cycle. Fees can change; confirm the current amount on the Texas board portal.

Where do I renew my Texas PE license?+

Texas renewals are handled by the state's licensing board. The current portal is at https://pels.texas.gov/.

Does Texas allow PDH carryover?+

Yes. Texas allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

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