N.J. Admin. Code § 13:31A-1.12

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 13:31A-1.12 - Continuing education requirements

(a) A licensee shall satisfy the continuing education requirements in (b) and (c) below in each triennial registration period, except that a licensee shall not be required to complete any continuing education for the triennial registration period in which he or she is initially licensed.

(b) Each licensee shall obtain 10 continuing education credits in each triennial registration period in the following:

1. Two credits in the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7;

2. Two credits in the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, exclusive of the Barrier Free Subcode;

3. Two credits in the Americans with Disabilities Act Code, 36 CFR 1191;

4. Two credits in industrial safety; and

5. Two credits in New Jersey law and rules governing the provision of burglar alarm, fire alarm, and locksmithing services.

(c) In addition to the 10 continuing education credits set forth in (b) above, each licensee shall complete the following, as appropriate:

1. If a licensee holds one Committee-issued license, he or she shall complete 14 credits in courses relevant to the scope of practice of the license held, for a total of 24 credits. If a licensee holds a burglar alarm license, three of the 14 credits shall be in courses that concern smoke detection systems.

2. If a licensee holds two Committee-issued licenses, he or she shall complete 14 credits for each license held, in courses relevant to the scope of practice for each license, for a total of 38 credits. If a licensee holds a burglar alarm license, three of the 14 credits for that license shall be in courses that concern smoke detection systems.

3. If a licensee holds three Committee-issued licenses, he or she shall complete 14 credits for each license held, in courses relevant to the scope of practice for each license, for a total of 52 credits. Three of the 14 credits for the burglar alarm license shall be in courses that concern smoke detection systems.

(d) A licensee may obtain continuing education credits from the following activities, provided the subject matter is relevant to the scope of practice of the Committee-issued license held by the licensee:

1. Successful completion of continuing education courses or programs approved by the Committee following sponsor submission as provided in (f) below. The Committee shall maintain a list of all programs, courses, and lectures approved by the Committee following sponsor submission and shall furnish this information to licensees upon request;

2. Participation in instructional activities, such as developing curriculum for a new program or course and/or teaching a new program or course. "New" means that the licensee has never taught or developed curriculum for that course or program in any educational setting, except that:

i. A licensee shall receive continuing education credit for teaching Committee-approved continuing education courses on the Barrier Free Subcode, the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act Code, industrial safety, and New Jersey law and rules, irrespective of whether the licensee has previously taught the course; and

ii. A licensee who teaches such a course shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing education credit requirements set forth in (b) above regarding Barrier Free Subcode, New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, Americans with Disabilities Act Code, industrial safety, or New Jersey law and rules, as applicable to the course taught, for the triennial licensing period during which the course was taught;

3. Authorship of a textbook or manual provided the textbook or manual, as published, is at least 7,500 words in length; and

4. Authorship of a published article provided the article, as published, is at least 250 words in length.

(e) Credit for continuing education shall be granted as follows:

1. Attendance at continuing education programs and courses: one credit for each hour of attendance at an approved program or course. Credit shall not be granted for programs or courses that are less than one-instructional-hour long. Credit shall not be granted for more than eight instructional hours obtained in one day. Completion of an entire program or course or segment of program or course instruction shall be required in order to receive any continuing education credit. A licensee may obtain no more than 10 credits in each triennial registration period, for each Committee-issued license, for completing Committee-approved correspondence, self study, televised, videotaped, teleconference, or internet courses;

2. Participation in instructional activities: one credit per hour of program or course instruction to a maximum of 12 credits per triennial registration period for each Committee-issued license;

3. Authorship of a textbook or manual: five credits per textbook or manual, to a maximum of 10 credits per triennial registration period for each Committee-issued license; and

4. Authorship of a published article: two credits per published article, to a maximum of six credits per triennial registration period for each Committee-issued license;

(f) All sponsors of continuing education programs or courses seeking Committee-approval of a course or program shall:

1. Obtain Committee approval prior to representing that any course, seminar, or program fulfills the requirements of this section. All sponsors seeking approval who have received certification from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) shall be pre-approved by the Committee for courses related to the provision of fire alarm, burglar alarm, or locksmithing services and shall not be required to comply with the requirements of (f)2 and 6 below, except that such sponsors shall be required to submit a detailed description of course content and hours of instruction for each course, seminar, or program offered;

2. Submit the following for each course or program offered, for evaluation by the Committee, at least 60 days prior to the date the course or program is scheduled to be offered:

i. A detailed description of course content and the hours of instruction; and

ii. The curriculum vitae of each lecturer, including specific background that qualifies the individual as a lecturer of repute in the area of instruction;

3. Monitor the attendance at each approved course and furnish, to each enrollee, a verification of attendance, which shall include at least the following information:

i. Title, date, and location of program or course offering;

ii. Name and license number of attendee;

iii. Number of hours attended;

iv. Name and signature of officer or responsible party; and

v. The Committee-assigned instructor number;

4. Maintain course attendance documentation for a period of six years following course presentation;

5. Solicit program or course evaluations from both the participants and the instructors; and

6. Submit a fee pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:31A-1.4 for each submission of course or program offering(s) for which Committee approval is sought.

(g) A sponsor of a course or program offering that has been previously approved by the Committee shall reapply to the Committee for approval of the course or program only if there are any changes to the course content, hours of instruction, or course lecturer. The sponsor shall resubmit to the Committee the documentation and continuing education sponsor fee set forth in (f)2 and 6 above, respectively. If there are no changes in course content, hours of instruction, or course lecturer for a previously approved course, or program, the sponsor shall not be required to reapply to the Committee for approval prior to offering the course or program in subsequent renewal periods.

(h) The Committee may perform audits on randomly selected licensees to determine compliance with the continuing education requirements of this section. A licensee shall maintain the following documentation for a period of six years after completion of the credits and shall submit such documentation to the Committee upon request:

1. For attendance at programs or courses approved by the Committee: a certificate of completion from the sponsor;

2. For publication of a manual, textbook, or article: the published item, including the date of publication; and

3. For developing curriculum or teaching a course or program: documentation, including a copy of the curriculum, location, date and time of course, duration of course by hour, and letter from the sponsor confirming that the licensee developed or taught the course or program.

(i) The Committee may waive the continuing education requirements of this section on an individual basis for reasons of hardship, such as severe illness, disability, or military service.

1. A licensee seeking a waiver of the continuing education requirements shall apply to the Committee in writing at least 90 days prior to license renewal and set forth in specific detail the reasons for requesting the waiver. The licensee shall provide the Committee with such supplemental materials as will support the request for waiver.

2. A waiver of continuing education requirements granted pursuant to this subsection shall only be effective for the triennial period in which such waiver is granted. If the condition(s) which necessitated the waiver persists into the next triennial period, a licensee shall apply to the Committee for the renewal of such waiver for the new triennial period.

(j) The Committee may direct or order a licensee to complete continuing education credits as a disciplinary or remedial measure or in order to correct a deficiency in the licensee's continuing education requirements. Any continuing education credits completed by the licensee in compliance with an order or directive from the Committee may not be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section.

(k) A licensee who obtains more than the required number of continuing education credits in any triennial registration period may carry over up to a total of eight credits, irrespective of the number of Committee-issued licenses held, into a succeeding triennial registration period.

(l) Upon triennial license renewal, a licensee shall attest that he or she has satisfied the continuing education requirements of this section. Falsification of any information submitted on the renewal application may require an appearance before the Committee and may result in penalties and/or suspension of the license pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21 et seq.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:31A-1.12

Amended by R.2009 d.300, effective 10/5/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 1940(a), 41 N.J.R. 3810(a).
In (b)3, substituted "second and third" for "other" and inserted ", if applicable"; rewrote (c); in the introductory paragraph of (d)2, inserted a comma following "activities" and inserted ", except as provided below"; added (d)2i and (d)2ii; and in (h)1, inserted ", except that such sponsors shall be required to submit a detailed description of course content and hours of instruction for each course, seminar or program offered".
Repeal and New Rule, R.2013 d.142, effective 12/16/2013.
See: 44 N.J.R. 2029(a), 45 N.J.R. 2603(b).
Section was "Continuing education requirements".