I'll echo @Hamilton_PE above.
I'm not aware of any State that requires that requires active work for a renewal. I sort of doubt the requirement exists as engineers go in and out of active engineering work for lots of reasons: family; health; military service; career progression i.e. management...
One doesn't simply roll out of bed one morning and decide to get a PE license. It's a years long path that requires full time attention and dedication to the profession. The four year experience requirement is working full time under a PE or similarly qualified engineer, and doing actual...