815 KAR 20:034. Requirements for approval of continuing edu-cation courses and providers.

815 KAR 20:034. Requirements for approval of continuing education courses and providers.

RELATES TO: KRS 318.054

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 318.134

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 318.054 authorizes the office, after review by the State Plumbing Code Committee, to adopt continuing education requirements for plumbers. This administrative regulation establishes the process by which providers of continuing education courses are registered with the office and their courses approved.

Section 1. Provider Registration. (1) The office shall maintain a list of approved continuing education course providers. An approved provider shall meet the criteria established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.

(2) Each continuing education course provider shall register with the office as required by subsection (3) of this section before submitting course materials for approval by the office. Registration shall be valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance.

(3) Course providers shall register on Form PLB-3 provided by the Office and shall include the following:

(a) The name, mailing address, email address, telephone, and fax numbers of the provider;

(b) The names and addresses of any persons who have received or will receive any portion of revenues generated from the course; and

(4) The course provider shall report to the Office any change to the information submitted in the initial registration within thirty (30) days after the change takes effect.

Section 2. Continuing Education Course Approval. (1) A separate application for approval shall be submitted to the office on Form PLB-4 provided by the office for each course offered by a course provider.

(2) An application for approval of a continuing education course shall be submitted only by approved providers registered with the office.

(3) A continuing education course shall provide instruction in at least one of the subject areas specified in Section 3 of this administrative regulation.

(4) The course application shall include the following:

(a) A course syllabus;

(b) Name of the course;

(d) Name of the instructor or presenter along with his or her qualifications;

(e) The amount of actual time needed to present the course; and

(f) The objectives of the course.

(5) Content changes made to the course shall require resubmission to the office.

(6) Course approval shall be valid for two (2) years from the date approved by the office.

(7) The office shall issue a course number for each approved course. The course number and the provider’s number shall appear on all advertisements for the course.

(8) Providers shall submit to the office dates and locations of courses ninety (90) days in advance, and the office shall be notified at least thirty (30) days prior of changes made to scheduled courses.

(9) Providers shall provide at least one (1) course in each of the congressional districts within each quarter of the year.

(10) Cancellations.

(a) Except for a cancellation due to an emergency, a notification of cancellation shall be made no less than five (5) working days prior to the scheduled class;

(b) If the class is canceled, providers shall, at the option of the registrant, issue a full refund or reschedule the course;

(c) A registrant who notifies a provider of cancellation prior to five (5) working days of a scheduled course shall be allowed the choice of a full refund or to attend a subsequent course; and

(d) Providers shall not cancel a course with ten (10) or more registrants.

Section 3. Continuing Education Course Content. (1) All courses shall contain information beneficial in the day-to-day operation of a plumbing business.

(2) Courses relating to business shall include one (1) or more of the following:

(a) Business law;

(b) Accounting practices; or

(3) Courses relating to job safety shall directly relate to the construction trade.

(4) Courses related to the Kentucky state plumbing code shall include one or more of the following:

(a) KRS Chapter 318;

(b) Basic plumbing principles;

(d) Kentucky Building Code; or

(e) Kentucky Residential Code.

(5) Providers requesting approval of courses for topics not listed in this section shall demonstrate the relevancy of the topic to the plumbing trade.

Section 4. Continuing Education Course Records. (1) Each registered course provider shall establish and maintain the following records for each course for three (3) years following the date of the course:

(a) Certificates of completion as provided in subsection (2) of this section;

(b) An attendance sign-in and sign-out sheet; and

(2) Certificates of completion.

(a) Each registered course provider shall complete a certificate of completion for each participant enrolled and completing an approved continuing education course.

(b) Certificates of completion shall contain at a minimum include the following information about the participant:

1. Name;

2. Address;

3. License number;

4. Date of attendance; and

5. Courses completed.

1. Sent to the office electronically;

2. Retained on file by the provider; and

3. Given to the participant upon completion of the course.

Section 5. Course Audits. (1) Records of the provider shall be provided to the office within ten (10) days upon written request.

(2) Representatives of the office may, at any time, attend a course to ensure that the course is meeting its stated objectives and that applicable requirements are being followed.

Section 6. Disciplinary Action. The office may deny, suspend or revoke approval of any course provider or may issue a fine to any course provider who:

(1) Obtains or attempts to obtain registration or course approval through fraud, false statements, or misrepresentation;

(2) Does not provide complete and accurate information in either the initial registration or in any notification of changes to the information;

(3) Advertises a course as being approved by the office before the approval is received; or

(4) Fails to comply with the requirements of this administrative regulation.

Section 7. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) Form PLB-3, "Application for Approval as a Continuing Education Course Provider for Plumbing Licensure", October, 2007; and

(b) Form PLB-4, "Application for Continuing Education Course for Plumbing Licensure", October, 2007.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing, 101 Sea Hero Road, Suite 100, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-5405, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (34 Ky.R. 1331; Am. 1749; eff. 2-1-2008.)