PDH in Atlanta: How Professional Development Hours Work for Local Engineers

If you’re an engineer in Atlanta, Georgia, the phrase “PDH Atlanta” usually refers to Professional Development Hours required to maintain your Professional Engineer (PE) license. These hours are tied to Georgia’s licensing rules, not just the city, but knowing how they work in the Atlanta area makes it much easier to stay compliant without scrambling at renewal time.

Below is a clear guide to how PDHs work for Atlanta engineers, where to find PDH opportunities locally, and how to track and document your hours.

What Are PDHs and Who Needs Them in Atlanta?

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are units of continuing education that many licensed professionals must complete to renew their license. In Georgia, this most often comes up for:

• Professional Engineers (PEs)
• Structural engineers and related specialties
• Occasionally other design professionals, depending on licensing rules

In Atlanta, PDHs are typically needed if you:

• Hold a Georgia PE license
• Live in Atlanta but are licensed in Georgia and other states
• Work for an Atlanta-based firm that requires ongoing training for quality or liability reasons

PDHs ensure engineers stay up to date on:

• Building codes and local ordinances
• Safety practices
• New technologies and methods
• Ethics and professional responsibility

Georgia PE PDH Requirements (What Applies if You’re in Atlanta)

Licensing rules are set by the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, which covers Atlanta.

While you should always verify current details with the Board, the typical pattern for Georgia PE renewal includes:

• A set number of PDHs per renewal cycle (often an annual or biennial requirement)
• Carryover limits on how many extra hours can roll into the next cycle
• Subject-matter rules, such as:
  • Technical content related to engineering practice
  • Ethics and professional conduct
  • Laws and rules applicable in Georgia

Common PDH-qualifying activities for Atlanta engineers include:

• Attending technical conferences, workshops, or seminars
• Completing online or in-person courses relevant to your discipline
• Participating in professional society meetings with technical content
• Teaching or presenting approved technical material
• Authoring technical papers or articles

Where Atlanta Engineers Commonly Earn PDHs

Atlanta is a major engineering hub, so there are many local options for fulfilling PDH requirements.

1. Professional Societies and Local Chapters

Several professional organizations with Atlanta-area chapters regularly offer PDH-bearing events:

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Georgia Section (Atlanta-based meetings)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – Atlanta Section
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) – Atlanta Section
• Georgia Society of Professional Engineers (GSPE)

These groups often hold:

• Monthly luncheons with technical talks (often 1 PDH)
• Half-day or full-day seminars
• Annual conferences in or near Atlanta

Events are frequently held in central areas such as Midtown, Downtown, or Perimeter, which are convenient if you work in major office corridors.

2. Universities and Continuing Education Centers

Atlanta’s universities often provide continuing education courses and short programs that can count toward PDHs, especially for engineers.

Common institutions offering relevant programs include:

• Major Atlanta-area universities with engineering or professional education divisions
• Technical and community colleges around the metro area with specialized courses

These may provide:

• Short, focused technical workshops
• Evening or weekend certificate programs
• Code update or building systems classes

Always verify that a course:

• Covers engineering-related content
• Provides documentation of completion (certificate, transcript, or letter)
• Meets Georgia Board expectations for professional development content

3. Industry Conferences and Trade Shows in Atlanta

Atlanta regularly hosts large conferences at venues such as:

• Georgia World Congress Center
• Hotels in Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead

Many industry conferences offer PDH certificates for attending:

• Technical sessions
• Panel discussions
• Workshops

If you attend:

• Check the event program to see which sessions are PDH-eligible
• Make sure you receive proof of attendance (certificate or email confirmation)

Typical PDH Activities vs. What May Not Count

Use the table below as a quick reference when planning your PDH activities in Atlanta.

How to Track and Document PDHs in Atlanta

The Georgia Board expects engineers to keep their own records. If your mailing or work address is in Atlanta, you should still follow the same state-level expectations.

Useful documentation includes:

• Certificates of completion
• Signed attendance sheets
• Agendas or course descriptions
• Receipts that show the event and date
• Notes or printed materials from seminars

Practical tips for Atlanta engineers:

1. Create a PDH folder
   Keep a dedicated digital folder (and optionally a physical one at home or at your office in Atlanta) labeled by renewal period.

2. Log hours right after each event
   Note the date, provider, topic, location (e.g., Midtown Atlanta lunch seminar), and number of PDHs earned.

3. Align PDHs with your discipline
   For example:

   • Civil engineers might focus on transportation, stormwater, structural design, or Georgia code updates.
   • Electrical engineers might prioritize power systems, renewable integration, or controls.

4. Prepare for possible audits
   Georgia engineers can be selected for documentation review. Keeping organized records avoids last-minute scrambling.

Atlanta-Specific Considerations for PDHs

Living or working in Atlanta shapes the kind of PDH topics that might be most relevant:

• Urban infrastructure: Transportation planning, transit-oriented development, and roadway design around I-285, Downtown Connector, and key corridors.
• High-rise and mixed-use development: Structural, mechanical, and electrical design related to tall buildings in Midtown, Buckhead, and Downtown.
• Stormwater and resilience: Flooding and drainage issues in metro Atlanta, watershed management, and green infrastructure.
• Energy and sustainability: Building performance, HVAC optimization, and energy codes applicable to Atlanta’s climate.
• Local codes and ordinances: Atlanta-specific zoning, permitting workflows, and interactions with city and county authorities.

Shaping your PDH plan around these local realities can make the training more useful for your day-to-day work in Atlanta.

Key Government and Licensing Contacts for Atlanta Engineers

If you are in Atlanta and need to confirm PDH rules or ask licensing questions, your main resource is the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
(Under the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Division)
Typical contact options include:

• Main office (Professional Licensing Division): Located in the Atlanta metro area
• Phone: General licensing assistance is available through the state’s professional licensing call center (listed on the Georgia Secretary of State’s official site)
• Mailing address: Provided by the Professional Licensing Division for the Board

Because addresses and phone numbers can be updated over time, it’s best to:

• Search for the Georgia Professional Licensing or Georgia PE Board contact page
• Confirm current mailing address, phone numbers, and office hours before visiting or sending documents

Practical Strategy for Managing PDHs in Atlanta

To stay on top of your PDH Atlanta obligations:

1. Know your renewal cycle and required hours
   Mark renewal dates on your calendar and set reminders 6–12 months in advance.

2. Spread PDHs throughout the year
   Take advantage of:

   • Local chapter meetings
   • Atlanta-based workshops and conferences
   • Occasional online courses between in-person events

3. Mix topics strategically
   Aim for a blend of:

   • Technical depth in your specialty
   • Local code or practice updates
   • Ethics and professional conduct

4. Stay plugged into local networks
   Joining Atlanta-area professional groups helps you:

   • Hear about upcoming PDH opportunities early
   • Find content that’s highly relevant to projects in the metro region

By understanding how PDHs work in Georgia and using the many Atlanta-based resources available, you can keep your license in good standing and your skills aligned with the demands of engineering practice in and around Atlanta.