MA Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Works on Continuing Education Regulations

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors: 

ACEC/MA supports implementing Mandatory Continuing Education for PE and PLS License renewal.  

Here are recent actions of the Board of Registration on this issue.

• Massachusetts Board of Registration of PEs and PLSs Votes for Continuing Professional Competency:
• August 17, 2017 Meeting - motion passed by a 5 - 3 vote, with one board member recused (ineligible to vote & out of room) & another board member arriving at the meeting after the vote.
• January 25, 2018 Meeting – motion on edited draft from November 6, 2017 passed 7 – 2 to move the regulations forward through several steps, with a future public hearing
• In 250 CMR, the relevant sections are 2.09, 5.02 and 7.02.
• Proposed: 18 PDHs every 2 years to maintain theoretical, technological and business proficiency for one’s scope of practice, unless exempt under 5.10(7).
• Programs or activities that satisfy the Board’s continuing education requirements are those that:
• Increase the Engineer’s knowledge and understanding of technical or professional subjects as defined by the “Practice of Engineering” per MGL c.112, §81D and contributes directly to improving his or her proficiency in the practice of Engineering.
• Increase the Surveyor’s knowledge and understanding of technical or professional subjects as defined by the “Practice of Land Surveying” per MGL c.112, §81D and contributes directly to improving his or her proficiency in the practice of Surveying.
• Improves the Registrant’s knowledge or understanding of ethics or managerial (business) practices associated with the Registrant’s practice.
• No audit requirement in current draft regulations: Uncertain how DPL will handle this as regulations are reviewed.

Additional steps on continuing professional competency regulations:

• Legal review by Board’s Legal Counsel, Sheila York – small business impacts
• Review by DPL Director Chuck Borstel
• Review by office of John Chapman, Undersecretary, Consumer Protection & Business Regulation
• Review by office of Jay Ash, Sec, Exec Office of Housing & Economic Development
• Review by office of Michael Heffernan, Sec, Exec Office of Administration & Finance – review of small business impacts
• Review by the office of Secretary of State Bill Galvin for technical and formatting issues – including DPL filed review on small business impacts
• Return to Board of Registration, which would then hold a public hearing and accept public written comments on the regulations after 30 days’ notice.
• The Board of Registration considers comments received and votes to modify or adopt.
• Then, if no issues, Regulations would be promulgated by the Secretary of State’s office - usually within 3 months.

The steps outlined will take some time.

Here is the draft schedule of future 2018 meetings of the Board of Registration of Professional Engineering and Professional Land Surveyors:

• October 25
• November 15
• December 20

New Members on the Board of Registration:

Joyce Hastings, PLS has been appointed a PLS member of the Board of Registration and attended her first board meeting on 12/21/17, replacing Scott Cameron, PLS, a former MALSCE President.  We thank Scott for his years of service on the Board of Registration on behalf of the profession and the public.

Joanne Linowes has been appointed the Public member of the Board of Registration and attended her first board meeting as a board member on 10/26/17, replacing Ed Englander.  We thank Ed for his service on the Board of Registration on behalf of the public. 

Erin Joyce, PE has been appointed as the PE – Civil member of the Board of Registration and attended her first board meeting on 1/25/18, replacing Joel Goodmonson, PE, a former ACEC/MA President and the Senior Vice Chair on the ACEC National Board.  We thank Joel for his years of service on the Board of Registration on behalf of the profession and the public.

Azu Etoniru, PE, PLS has been appointed a PLS member of the Board of Registration and  attended her first board meeting on 2/15/18, replacing Peter Hale, PLS, a former MALSCE President.  We thank Scott for his years of service on the Board of Registration on behalf of the profession and the public.