Continuing Professional Development For Renewal

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

NEW in 2012:

As part of the new annual certification renewal process, each Diplomate is required to earn a minimum of twenty (20) professional development hours in geo-professional engineering, including two (2) professional development hours in ethics, each year and beginning in 2012 and one (1) professional development hours in sustainability, each year. The first renewal is due September 30th at least twelve (12) months after being awarded the credential. For example, all Diplomates that received the credential in March 2011 will receive their first renewal notice in November (or later) of 2011 that is due before September 30, 2012. If the credential is received in November 2011, the Diplomate will receive their first renewal notice the following November due the following September. The current fee for renewal is $150 ($50 for retired Diplomates*) and is due by September 30(ABOVE APPROVED AUGUST 6, 2011 BY THE AGP BOARD OF TRUSTEES)

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 a presentation equals 10 PDHs in a qualifying continuing education course as defined by criteria of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training.

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 shown here.

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 geo-professional 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 a serious illness or injury 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.

* - retired Diplomates - D.GE(Ret.) are Diplomates who are not actively practicing geotechnical engineering full time (more than 30 hours/week)

Recertify Online Here

 

You can alternatively download the application, fill it out and either fax, email or mail the completed form.

Recertification Application (.pdf)

Recertification Application (Word)

 

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Academy of Geo-Professional Engineers Code of Ethics

Fundamental Principles

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering profession by:

  1. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare and the environment;
  2. being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the public, their employers and clients;
  3. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and
  4. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

Fundamental Canons

  1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties.
  2. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
  3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
  4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
  5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
  6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the engineering profession.
  7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.

 

The Academy of Geo-Professionals
1801 Alexander Bell Dr.
Reston, VA 20191
Fax: 703-295-6415
E-mail: bsien@asce.org