Home/By state/Virginia

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

Virginia Professional Engineer (PE) licenses renew every two years (biennial). Virginia requires 16 PDH per 2-year cycle (about 8 per year). Carryover is not permitted. The approximate renewal fee is $160 per cycle. Online renewal is available through the state board portal. 16 PDH per biennium. Excess hours do not carry over.

Renewal deadline:The last day of the month, two years after your original issuance date
Renew your Virginia PE licenseState board site
Renewal cycle
Biennial
PDH required
16 per cycle
Ethics required
Not required
Approximate fee
$160

Virginia engineering compliance at a glance

Everything it takes to legally practice engineering in Virginia: 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~$160BiennialEarn 16 PDH, then renew on the board portal · open
Firm Certificate of AuthorizationIf you practice through a firm$90BiennialApply / renew with the engineering board · open
Secretary of State annual reportIf the firm is a registered entity$50AnnualFile with the Secretary of State · open
Franchise / entity taxIf the firm is a registered entityVariesAnnualFile with the state tax agency · open
Look up an entity Foreign qualification

CE / PDH requirements in Virginia

Virginia requires 16 PDH per 2-year renewal cycle (about 8 hours per year).

Virginia does not allow PDH hours to carry over between renewal cycles. Earn the required hours each cycle.

How to renew your Virginia PE license

  1. 1
    Confirm your renewal date

    16 PDH per biennium. Excess hours do not carry over.

  2. 2
    Verify your PDH balance

    Confirm you have at least 16 PDH for this cycle. Save certificates as PDFs in case the board audits you.

  3. 3
    Pay the renewal fee

    About $160. Virginia 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

Virginia renewal gotchas

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

  • Fee increase effective August 1, 2025 - check current fee schedule
  • Rolling expiration date based on original license issuance date (not a fixed statewide date)
  • Renewal accepted no earlier than 60 days prior to expiration
  • Late fee of $50 if not renewed within 30 days after expiration
  • Renewals CANNOT be processed over the phone
  • Also available by mail using form A415-04REN with check/money order payable to 'Treasurer of Virginia'
Practicing through a firm in Virginia?

Virginia requires firms to hold a Certificate of Authorization (about $90, every two years (biennial)) 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 Virginia firm CoA portal
Need a new Virginia PE license? Open the Virginia application page

Virginia PE renewal FAQ

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

Virginia PE licenses are renewed every two years (biennial). 16 PDH per biennium. Excess hours do not carry over.

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

Virginia PE license renewal deadline: The last day of the month, two years after your original issuance date. Dates and cycles can change, so confirm the exact date on the Virginia 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 Virginia require for PE renewal?+

Virginia requires 16 PDH per 2-year cycle.

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

The approximate renewal fee is $160 per cycle. Fees can change; confirm the current amount on the Virginia board portal.

Where do I renew my Virginia PE license?+

Virginia renewals are handled by the state's licensing board. The current portal is at https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/APELS.

Does Virginia allow PDH carryover?+

No. Virginia does not allow PDH hours to carry over between renewal cycles.

Stop tracking Virginia renewals in your head.

Get email reminders before your Virginia license expires, and any other state you hold. Free for your first license.

Start freeSee other states