As most people clearly have commented already against this requirement, I would sum up the argument, as it is a very poor ‘cost-to-benefit ratio’.  Yes, the cost is high and I would suggest the costs are significantly higher than presented, but what is the benefit?  It is clearly not addressed in any detail by anyone.  The reason is that we already have professionally smart people, who have previously proven their ethics and engineering abilities by obtaining a professional license through a rather long and rigorous process.  The requirements are high and the few who later fail to meet the highest standards of conduct and design are not going to be improved by a few hours of “someone talking to them”.   That kind of person is already dealt with through the existing review board system and through lawsuits.  

The existing professional engineering class can be reliably trusted to be “smart enough” and “ethical enough” to obtain the latest data they need to do the job they are assigned.  Adding even 50 hours a year education will not improve the final product.  In fact, the more demanding the “educational requirements” become (and they are always increased as time goes on), the more likely that errors will be made because of time and financial pressures generated by the mandatory requirements themselves.  The easiest way to prove this is to ask why not have the license board write down all the important things that need to be told to its professionals to ensure public safety is at its very best?  They could simply raise the license renewal fee by $50, put the information on the net, and require all to review it.  The reason is that there is not a list of things you need to convey that is not conveyed in other ways!  What you will get is people wasting their time on areas of engineering and regulations that they do not work in. 

I suggest two things if the entire requirement cannot be eliminated. The State takes on the “education process” with an on-line course(s).  At least that way they can ensure the key safety concerns are taught and the most up-to-date information is provided.  They could charge a fee to take the class or raise the license fee.

The second suggestion is to at least provide an exception for anyone willing to sign a letter stating they will not do any professional work in the State (thus not expose the public to any risk at all) until they take the 16 hours of education, should they go past the 2 year requirement.  This takes care of those who want to keep their license active, but are not practicing for whatever reason (military, Government, temporary job, sick, living out of state, retired, etc.) and not generating income to justify such personal expense.  They certainly have earned that right and must pay the existing renewal fees, yet it gives the opportunity to come back to Virginia and work providing the public safe and competent services.