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STATE OF
BOARD OF
LICENSURE OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
DIVISION OF HEALTH
ENGINEERING
11 STATE HOUSE STATION
POLICY
FOR RENEWAL TRAINING COURSES
FOR
WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR RECERTIFICATION
This policy establishes criteria for renewal training to ensure that the training is under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instructors. The criteria established are the minimum requirements and are meant to assure that operators will receive professional development opportunities needed to complete their job duties and responsibilities, which is to supply safe drinking water to the public. An effort has been made to be consistent with the intent of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training Council (IACET). This document outlines the requirements and procedures for conducting training acceptable for awarding continuing education credits or similar training contact hours for operator certification renewal. The Certification Officer acting for the Board of Licensure of Water Treatment Plant Operators (the Board) will assist with review and approval of courses and will assure that all criteria are met.
Training may be approved by the Board by the
following methods:
1. The organization conducting
training issues Continuing Education Units (CEU) and meets the criteria for the
use of the CEU as established by IACET or issues college credits meeting the
requirements of a college accrediting association.
2. The organization conducting
the training has had their training program approved by the Board.
3. The individual(s) or
organization conducting training has been approved by the Board to conduct
specific training for issuance of Training Contact Hours.
4. The training program or
specific training is cosponsored or sanctioned by an organization that has had
its training approved by the Board for issuance of Training Contact Hours.
II.
CRITERIA FOR APPROVING TRAINING PROGRAMS, INSTITUTIONS, COLLEGES,
ASSOCIATIONS, COMPANIES, OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ISSUING CEUs.
(1)Training programs or organizations having direct application to the water works field and meeting the criteria of the IACET, formally the Council on the Continuing Education Unit, for the use of Continuing Education Units (CEU) will not need approval of the board for issuing CEUs to be credited towards meeting the renewal training requirements. All other renewal training programs must be approved by the Board except for cosponsored or sanctioned training which issue CEUs.
III.
CRITERIA FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS
(1) National, regional,
state or other organizations, institutions, associations, corporations,
etc. (governmental or private) involved
in a drinking water supply related field conducting, cosponsoring, or
sanctioning training, seminars, workshops, or meetings but not presently
issuing CEUs may apply to the Board for approval of their training program. To obtain training program approval, the
organization must submit to the Board for review their training criteria which
should, at a minimum, include the following information:
(a) the standards by which the
organization plans to meet the criteria of this policy
especially, to all intents
and purposes, the criteria for individual training approval;
(b) criteria for cosponsoring
and sanctioning training;
(c) a written policy on
maintaining records; and
(d) a mission statement that
outlines the functions, structure, processes,
and philosophy which guides
the operations of the continuing education or training
program.
(1)If granted, this approval will allow the organization to issue TCHs and course numbers for training courses without individual course pre-approval. These TCHs can be used towards meeting the renewal training requirements of the Board, provided that the training criteria is strictly enforced and/or not substantially modified.
(2) An annual training curriculum and/or agenda and course syllabi must be submitted to the Board by the end of each calendar year.
(3) Any changes or modifications to the information submitted to Board for training program approval shall be submitting to the Board for review and approval 45 days before the date of the training.
1. The date and location of
training and brief description of the facility
2. The course outline showing
the topic(s) to be presented and time allotted for each (including beginning and
ending times). The outline must include
the training course or session objective(s)
3. A list of all instructional
material, if applicable
4. A list of any audiovisual
materials to be used such as videotape, slides, slide/tape presentation, films
and overheads
5. The name, address telephone
number and background information or resume of the instructor(s) which details
competence in the subject matter, understanding of the purpose and intended
learning outcome of the program and the ability to communicate the program
content at the appropriate level
6. A copy of the certificate of
completion to be issued to the attendees containing but not limited to the
following:
a. Attendees’ names
b. Name of course
c. Renewal credits or hours
issued
d. Date course was held
e. Name of cosponsoring or
sanctioning organization, if applicable
f.
Name of responsible individual within the organization
g. Name of organization issuing
certificate and keeping records
7. A copy of the attendance
roster containing but not limited to the following:
a. Name of course
b. Renewal credits issued
c. Date and time course was
held
d. Location of course
e. Name of course instructor
f.
Names of attendees
g. Morning and afternoon
section for sign in/out, if applicable.
If the course is for more than one day the roster must show each day of
attendance
8. A copy of the evaluation
form which measures the quality of the training
9. Requirements for
satisfactory completion of the training, in writing. Participants must be informed of the
requirements for satisfactory completion prior to their participation. The requirements should be based on a
combination of performance and attendance
10. Attendance rosters or
sign-in/out sheets documenting that attendees were present
11. The name and title of the
individual within the organization responsible for the quality and development
of training programs
12. A written policy on
maintaining records showing record keeping criteria of the organization
conducting training and issuing credits toward operator certification renewal
B. Renewal credit is based on
actual contact time in training. All
breaks and meal times must be noted on the agenda and will not count toward
contact time. Excessive time allotted
for introductions or welcomes will not count toward contact time
C. No credit will be given
prior to the completion of any training course.
Participants must attend the entire session and satisfactorily complete
the program. The completion date of a
multi-day course is the last day of the course
D. The minimum credit issued
will be 1.0 Training Contact Hour.
Renewal credit will be issued in increments of 0.5 Training Contact
Hours. Training Contact Hours are
equivalent to the following:
1. 1.0 Continuing Education
Unit (CEU) equals 10 Training Contact Units
2. 1 College credit for
applicable courses equals 10 Training Contact Hours
E. A record of participation
must be maintained for each individual to whom continuing education or training
contact hours are awarded. The maintenance of records is the responsibility of
the organization conducting, sponsoring or sanctioning the program and awarding
training credits. All records must be
maintained for a period of five years from the date the training is offered
F. Only training related to
water system operations, treatment, distribution, safety or management or
related fields will be creditable toward meeting the renewal training
requirement
All advertisements that state that the training has approved education credits for water operator certification renewal must include the type and amount of renewal credit hours issued. Those courses advertised offering education credits must have prior approval.