N.J. Admin. Code § 5:32-4.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 5:32-4.2 - Continuing education requirements

(a) Renewal of a qualified purchasing agent certificate shall be required every three years, subject to the applicant's fulfillment of continuing education requirements, the submission of an application for renewal, and payment of a $ 35.00 fee payable to the order of the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

1. For certificate renewal cycles commencing before August 1, 2022, applicants shall obtain 20 continuing education contact hours in the subject areas of procurement procedures, office administrative/general duties, ethics, and green purchasing. For certificate renewal cycles commencing on or after August 1, 2022, applicants shall obtain 25 continuing education contact hours in the subject areas of procurement procedures, office administrative/general duties, ethics, and green purchasing. Said credits shall be approved by the Director as relevant to the subject matter area and the duties of a QPA pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-9 and this chapter, with the following minimum contact hours for each subject area:

i. Two contact hours in the subject area of procurement procedures for certificate renewal cycles commencing before August 1, 2022, or for certificate renewal cycles commencing on or after August 1, 2022, five contact hours in the subject area of procurement procedures;

ii. Two contact hours in the subject area of office administrative/general duties;

iii. Three contact hours in the subject area of ethics; and

iv. Two contact hours in the subject area of green purchasing.

2. At the option of the applicant, contact hours in the subject areas of information technology and public works compliance, as approved by the Director for relevance to the subject matter area and the duties of a QPA pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-9 and this chapter, may be applied toward the number of continuing education contact hours required pursuant to (a)1 above, in addition to the required minimum contact hours.

3. If an applicant has earned at least the minimum number of continuing education contact hours required pursuant to (a)1 above within the renewal period but has not achieved the minimum number of contact hours in a given subject area, the Director has discretion to waive the required minimum upon application and good cause shown, provided that the applicant has earned at least one contact hour in the given subject area.

4. Qualified purchasing agent certificates shall expire and be due for renewal according to the following schedule:

i. All qualified purchasing agent certificates issued prior to January 1, 2005, shall first expire and be due for renewal as of June 30, 2015, and every three years thereafter.

ii. All qualified purchasing agent certificates issued on or after January 1, 2005, but prior to January 1, 2010, shall first expire and be due for renewal as of January 1, 2016, and every three years thereafter.

iii. All qualified purchasing agent certificates issued between January 1, 2010 and April 11, 2012, shall first expire and be due for renewal as of June 30, 2016, and every three years thereafter. All qualified purchasing agent certificates issued after April 11, 2012, shall first expire and be due for renewal either on June 30 or December 31, whichever is sooner, at least three years from when they are first issued, and every three years thereafter, except that no qualified purchasing agent certificate issued after April 11, 2012, shall expire sooner than June 30, 2016.

5. Renewal of qualified purchasing agent certificates shall be requested on a renewal form approved by and submitted to the Director.

6. An individual who holds a qualified purchasing agent certificate and allows such certificate to lapse by failing to renew shall be required to apply to take the qualifying examination and pay the requisite fee for such application in order to obtain a new qualified purchasing agent certification, except that, when an individual applies within six months after the expiration of the certificate, the application may be made in the same manner as a renewal.

7. Within 12 months after the expiration of the certificate, an application may be made in the same manner as renewal, only if the Director determines that a certificate holder is prevented from earning the required continuing education units within six months of the expiration of the certificate. The applicant must demonstrate a good faith effort to earn the required continuing education units within six months after the expiration of the certificate, and that either or both of the conditions in (a)7i and/or ii below made it impossible to obtain the requisite continuing education units. The circumstances preventing renewal that qualify under this paragraph are:

i. A flood, hurricane, superstorm, tornado, or other natural disaster, and a state of emergency has been declared as a result thereof by the Governor; or

ii. A medical event or condition.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:32-4.2

Amended and recodified from 5:34-5.2 by 49 N.J.R. 3671(a), effective 12/4/2017

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 1546(a), effective 8/1/2022