CHAPTER 30
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PLUMBING AND
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALS
641—30.1(105) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Approved program/activity” means a continuing education program/activity meeting the standard set forth in these rules.
“Audit” means the selection of licensees for verification of satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements during a specified time period.
“Board” means the plumbing and mechanical systems board as established pursuant to Iowa Code section 105.3.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts acquired during licensure designed to maintain, improve, or expand a licensee’s knowledge and skills relevant to the enhancement of practice, education, or theory development to improve the safety and welfare of the public.
“Hour of continuing education” means at least 50 minutes spent in one sitting by a licensee in actual attendance at and in completion of an approved continuing education activity.
“License” means a license to work in a specific discipline covered under Iowa Code chapter 105.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to work in a specific discipline covered under Iowa Code chapter 105.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.2(105) Continuing education requirements.
	30.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall begin on the license issue date and end two years later on the license expiration date.
	30.2(2) Each biennium:
	a. 	A master or journey licensee shall be required to complete a minimum of 8 hours of board-approved continuing education, of which 4 hours shall be in the prescribed practice discipline. A minimum of 2 hours of the 8 hours shall be in the content area of the applicable Iowa plumbing or mechanical codes, and 2 hours of the 8 hours shall be in the content area of the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Act.
	b. 	A master or journey licensee holding licenses in multiple disciplines shall obtain a minimum of 14 hours of board-approved continuing education, of which 8 hours shall be in any of the prescribed practice disciplines. A minimum of 2 hours of the 14 hours shall be in each of the content areas of the applicable Iowa plumbing code, Iowa mechanical code, or both, and 4 hours of the 14 hours shall be in the content area of the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Act.
	30.2(3) Up to 2 hours of board-approved continuing education required by subrule 30.2(2) each biennium may be obtained through completion of computer-based continuing education programs/activities approved by the board.
	30.2(4) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
	30.2(5) A licensee who is a presenter of a board-approved continuing education program may receive credit once per biennium for the presentation of the program. The licensee may receive the same number of hours granted the attendees.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.3(105) Continuing education programs/activities.
	30.3(1) Standards for continuing education programs/activities. A program/activity is appropriate for continuing education credit if the program/activity meets all of the following criteria:
	a. 	Is board-approved;
	b. 	Constitutes an organized program of learning that contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;
	c. 	Pertains to subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of the discipline;
	d. 	Is conducted by individuals who have obtained board approval as required under subrule 30.4(1). This criterion shall not be required for computer-based continuing education programs/activities conducted pursuant to subrule 30.2(3);
	e. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	f. 	Covers product knowledge, methods, and systems of one or more of the following:
	(1)	The theory and technique for a specific discipline;
	(2)	The current Iowa plumbing code, Iowa mechanical code, or both;
	(3)	The standards comprising the current Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Act.
	30.3(2) Board approval. Board approval for specific programs/activities under paragraph 30.3(1)“a” shall be valid for one year.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.4(105) Course instructor(s).
	30.4(1) Standards for instructor approval. An individual is deemed qualified to instruct continuing education programs/activities if the individual meets all of the following criteria:
	a. 	Is board-approved to instruct continuing education programs/activities in one or more of the educational content areas set forth in paragraphs 30.2(2)“a” and “b” (i.e., prescribed practice discipline, plumbing or mechanical code or both, or the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Act); and
	b. 	Demonstrates appropriate competency to instruct continuing education programs/activities by meeting one or both of the following:
	(1)	If seeking approval to instruct in the content areas of the plumbing or mechanical code or both or the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Act, the individual must possess specialized education or training relevant to the subject matter; or
	(2)	If seeking approval to instruct in the content area of a prescribed practice discipline, the individual must possess specialized education, training, or experience relevant to the subject matter.
	30.4(2) Board approval. Board approval for an instructor under paragraph 30.4(1)“a” shall be valid for three years.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.5(105) Audit of continuing education requirements. The board may conduct an audit of a licensee’s license renewal application to review compliance with continuing education requirements.
	30.5(1) Upon board request, the licensee must submit to the board an individual certificate of completion issued to the licensee or evidence of successful completion of the course from the course sponsor or course instructor. These documents must contain the course title, date(s), contact hours, sponsor’s name, and licensee’s name. In some instances, licensees will be requested to provide to the board additional information including, but not limited to, program content, objectives, presenters, location, and schedule. An inclusive brochure may meet this requirement.
	30.5(2) Upon board request, a licensee must submit all information set forth in subrule 30.5(1) within 30 calendar days following the board’s request. The board may grant extensions on an individual basis.
	30.5(3) If the submitted materials are incomplete or unsatisfactory and the board determines that the deficiency was the result of good-faith conduct on the part of the licensee, the licensee may be given the opportunity to submit make-up credit to cover the deficit found through the audit. A licensee must complete the continuing education hours and submit documentation establishing completion of the required make-up continuing education hours to the board within 120 calendar days from the date of the board’s finding of good-faith conduct.
	30.5(4) A licensee’s failure to provide the board with an accurate mailing address shall not be an excuse for noncompliance with any requirement set forth in this rule.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.6(105) Continuing education exemptions.
	30.6(1) Automatic exemptions. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement during the license biennium when that person:
	a. 	Served honorably on active duty in the military service; or
	b. 	Resided in another state or district having continuing education requirements for the discipline and met all requirements of that state or district for practice therein; or
	c. 	Was a government employee working in the licensee’s specialty and assigned to duty outside the United States; or
	d. 	Was absent from the state but engaged in active practice under circumstances which are approved by the board.
	30.6(2) Permissive exemptions. The board may, in cases involving exceptional hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant an exemption from some or all of the continuing education requirements.
	a. 	A licensee seeking a permissive exemption shall apply to the board, in such form as the board may prescribe.
	b. 	A licensee seeking a permissive exemption shall be required to provide all such documentary evidence as the board may request to establish the exceptional hardship or extenuating circumstances.
	c. 	In the event of a claimed physical or mental disability or illness, the board may request information from a licensed health care professional who can attest to the existence of any such disability or illness.
	d. 	A licensee who applies for a permissive exemption shall be notified in writing of the board’s decision.
	e. 	In granting an exemption, the board may impose any such additional conditions on the exemption including, but not limited to, the requirement that the licensee make up a portion of the continuing education requirements.
	f. 	In lieu of granting a full or partial exemption, the board may grant the licensee an extension of time in which to complete the continuing education requirements.
	g. 	The granting of an exemption shall not prohibit a licensee from seeking, or the board from granting, an exemption in a subsequent biennial continuing education compliance period(s).
	h. 	Permissive exemptions shall only be granted in the most exceptional and extraordinary of circumstances.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.7(105) Continuing education extensions. The board may, in individual cases involving hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant an extension of time within which to fulfill the minimum continuing education requirements.
	30.7(1) Hardship or extenuating circumstances include documented circumstances beyond the control of the licensee which prevent attendance at required activities.
	30.7(2) All requests for extension must be made prior to the license expiration date.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
641—30.8(105) Continuing education reporting requirements.
	30.8(1) Non-computer-based continuing education programs/activities.  For non-computer-based continuing education programs/activities, at the conclusion of each continuing education course, the course instructor shall:
	a. 	Inform each attending licensee that a survey of the course and instructor may be completed and submitted by the licensee to the board through either a board-approved written evaluation form or an Internet-based form.
	b. 	Provide a certificate of completion to each licensee who attends the course. The certificate of completion shall include the following information:
	(1)	The licensee’s full name and board-issued license number;
	(2)	The course name or title;
	(3)	The board-approved course identification number;
	(4)	The date of the course;
	(5)	The number of program contact hours;
	(6)	The instructor’s full name and board-approved identification number; and
	(7)	The instructor’s signature.
	c. 	Submit to the board a typed or electronic course completion roster within 30 days following the completion of the course. The course completion roster shall contain the following information:
	(1)	The full name and board-issued license number of each attending licensee;
	(2)	The course name or title;
	(3)	The board-approved course identification number;
	(4)	The date of the course;
	(5)	The location of the course;
	(6)	The number of program contact hours;
	(7)	The instructor’s full name and board-approved identification number; and
	(8)	The instructor’s signature.
	30.8(2) Computer-based continuing education programs/activities. For computer-based continuing education programs/activities under subrule 30.2(3), at the conclusion of each computer-based continuing education course, the person authorized to monitor and verify attendance/course completion shall:
	a. 	Provide a certificate of completion to each licensee who completes the course. The certificate of completion shall include the following information:
	(1)	The licensee’s full name and board-issued license number;
	(2)	The course name or title;
	(3)	The board-approved course identification number;
	(4)	The date the course was completed; and
	(5)	The number of program contact hours.
	b. 	Submit to the board a typed or electronic course completion roster within 30 days following a licensee’s completion of a computer-based continuing education course. The course completion roster shall contain the following information:
	(1)	The full name and board-issued license number of each attending licensee;
	(2)	The course name or title;
	(3)	The board-approved course identification number;
	(4)	The date of the course;
	(5)	The location of the course; and
	(6)	The number of program contact hours.
[ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09; ARC 8475B, IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 105 and 272C.
[Filed Emergency ARC 8270B, IAB 11/4/09, effective 10/16/09]
[Filed ARC 8475B (Notice ARC 8268B, IAB 11/4/09), IAB 1/13/10, effective 2/17/10]