61G6-9.006. Approval of Continuing Education Courses

(1)(a) Any registered course provider may submit an application, on a form provided by the Department, for approval of a continuing education course. Copies of which may be obtained from the Board office.

(b) Those courses offered by a university or college which is regionally accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDOE); and which university or college offers courses in the contracting areas specified in Chapter 489, Part II, F.S., and pursuant to rule Chapter 61G6-9, F.A.C., shall be approved upon receipt of a completed course application and the Board shall not charge a fee for such approval.

(2) Upon receipt of a course application and the appropriate fee, the Board shall approve any, seminar or conference in the electrical or alarm system contracting area provided by any university, community college, vocational-technical center, public or private school, firm, association, organization, person, corporation, or entity which meets the criteria provided in this rule.

(3) Any course approved for the continuing education requirements for persons certified under Chapter 468, Part XII, F.S., shall be accepted for continuing education for renewal under this rule, for persons who are certified under Part XII and who are certified or registered under this part.

(4) The application shall include the total number of classroom hours, the course syllabus, a detailed outline of the contents of the course, including the amount of time planned for each topic, the name and qualifications of all instructors known at the time of the application and the minimum qualifications of any instructors not known at the time of application.

(5) The Board shall approve continuing education courses which appropriately relate to the general business skills or the technical skills required of certificateholders or registrants, and which is taught by qualified instructors.

(6) A continuing education course which addresses specific technical materials or trade knowledge shall be approved if applicable to a specific category or categories of contractor as defined in Section 489.505, F.S.

(7) Continuing education course approval is valid until May 31st of odd numbered years, provided no substantial change is made in the course.

(8) The Board shall approve or deny any application for a continuing education course at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, provided the application is filed with the agency within forty five (45) days of that meeting. If the application is denied, the Board shall identify the specific reasons for the denial in writing.

(9) A course which has been denied may be resubmitted to the Board with modifications.

(10) The Board shall not deny nor withdraw approval for any course on the basis that another course provider is conducting the same or similar course approved by the Board.

(11) A licensee may earn one (1) laws and rules hour credit and one (1) business hour credit by attending a meeting of the Board wherein disciplinary cases are considered. Licensees must attend the meeting for at least two (2) hours and be present for the complete disciplinary case agenda to receive the continuing education hours. The licensee must check in with the Board staff prior to the beginning of disciplinary proceedings. A licensee may receive continuing education credit for attending the Board meeting only if he or she is attending on that date solely for continuing education credit; he or she may not receive continuing education credit if appearing at the Board meeting for any other purpose, including as a party to a disciplinary action.

(12) The Board shall grant a maximum of seven (7) continuing education credits to any licensee who participates in examination development with the approval of the Board upon submission of documentation of such participation by the Department or a testing provider under contract with the Department. The licensee shall use such credits for the current renewal cycle and provide documentation of participation at least ninety days prior to the end of the renewal cycle.

(13) Providers shall use the following prefixes to designate the number of approved hours in each of the four statutorily mandated categories: “T” for technical subjects, “C” for workers’ compensation, “S” for workplace safety, and “B” for business practices.

(14) The Board shall grant a maximum of four (4) continuing education credits to any licensee who participates as a member of any technical advisory committee to the Florida Building Code Commission. The licensee shall use such credits for the current renewal cycle and provide documentation of participation at least ninety days prior to the end of the renewal cycle.

(15) Board members may receive three (3) hours of continuing education credit per biennium for participation at Board meetings.

Rulemaking Authority 489.507(3), 489.517(3) FS. Law Implemented 489.517(3) FS. History–New 11-30-94, Amended 6-13-96, 10-20-96, 12-25-96, 10-6-97, 3-24-99, 5-6-99, 11-2-00, 9-4-01, 10-17-05, 7-17-11, 4-30-19, 4-29-21, 12-5-21.