Continuing Professional Development For Renewal

The deadline for spring 2012 Recertifications is May 1.


To submit your D.WRE Renewal Application

You may renew online by clicking the link above or you may simply download the word version of renewal application and submit to AAWRE. However, we highly recommend that you utilize the online renewal application, as the form is easy to navigate and will only take about 10 minutes.

To download application click here.

To adhere to AAWRE's aim to encourage life-long learning and continued professional development, all Diplomates are to obtain continuing education unit hours annually.

As part of the annual certification renewal process, each Diplomate is required to earn a minimum of thirty (30) professional development hours, including two (2) professional development hours in ethics and two (2) professional development hours in sustainability, every year. The current fee for recertification is $125. Renewal period occurs every 12 months since being awarded the Diplomate credential.

A professional development hour (PDH) is a contact hour (CH) of instruction or presentation. It is the common denominator for other units of credit. A continuing education unit (CEU) is a unit of credit customarily used for formal continuing education courses. One CEU consisting of ten contact hours of instruction and presentation equals 10 PDHs in a qualifying continuing education course as defined by criteria of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training.

If you participate in any of the Items 1 thru 4 as an instructor, you receive double the number of PDHs the first time it is presented. That allows credit for developing the material and for presenting the material. For example, if you present a two-hour seminar (Item #2), you will receive 4 PDHs. Attending the two-hour seminar entitles the participant to 2 PDHs.

Any course or activity with a clear technical, professional, or ethical purpose and objective that will maintain, improve, or expand professional skills and knowledge relevant to the Diplomate's particular field of practice will qualify for professional development hours. PDH's may be earned as follows:

Item #ActivityPDHs
1Successful completion of continuing education courses that grant CEU's1 CEU = 10 PDHs
2Attending professional/technical seminars, in-house courses, workshops, professional/technical conventions and conferences 1 Contact hour = 1PDH
3Completing long distance seminars or courses 1 Contact hour = 1PDH
4Successful completion of college courses:
  1. 1 quarter credit for audit
  2. 1 quarter credit for grade
  3. 1 semester credit for audit
  4. 1 semester credit for grade
  1. 10 PDH
  2. 30 PDH
  3. 15 PDH
  4. 45 PDH
5Each published professional or technical paper, article, chapter or report:
  1. non-peer reviewed
  2. *Each peer reviewed professional or technical paper, article, chapter or report authored by others.
  1. 5 PDH
  2. 10 PDH
6Each professional or technical book or manual.30 PDH
7Active participation in a relevant professional or technical organization.2 PDH per organization - Maximum of 8 PDHs allowed.
8Self-study of professional or technical literature.1 contact hour = 1 PDH Maximum of 5 PDHs allowed.
9Each patent (during year patent is issued).10 PDH

* - Peer-Reviewed: Having undergone the process by which manuscripts submitted to water resources engineering related journals and other publications are evaluated by experts in appropriate fields (usually anonymous to the authors) to determine if the manuscripts are of adequate quality for publication. **If reviewing a paper/article, an hour spent on reviewing a paper/article should be considered as one PDH. Time spent on peer-reviewing articles receives 2 PDHs, per article.

Typical activities that do not qualify include personal self-improvement courses, service club meetings or activities, teaching or presenting as a regular part of employment, business meetings of any organization, equipment demonstrations, trade shows, and topics not relevant to water resources engineering or professional ethics.

Exempt from completing the continuing education professional development requirements are Diplomates in Honorary or Retired status. Also exempt are those Diplomates who were on active military duty for a minimum of six months during the calendar year, who were in foreign employment a minimum of six months during the calendar year, or who suffered serious illness or injury to themselves or an immediate family member. Those individuals will be provided additional years to complete the requirement commensurate with the years of exception.

The responsibility for maintaining records and documentation to support the PDHs claimed is solely the burden of the Diplomate. That documentation should include a description of the activity, sponsoring organization, location, dates, duration, instructors' name, appropriate certificates, paid receipts, and number of PDHs earned. The Annual Summary of PDHs Earned form provides a convenient format to record and keep track of one's continuing professional development. A sampling of certification renewal applications will be selected for detailed audits. Those selected for audits will be asked to provide detailed verification for all PDHs claimed.




American Academy of Water Resources Engineers
1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191 USA
Phone:703-295-6414 Fax:703-295-6415
E-mail:[email protected]