Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-81.14

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

Rule 567-81.14 - Continuing education

(1)CEU requirements. Continuing education must be earned during two-year periods between April 1 and March 31 of odd-numbered years. A Grade III or IV certified operator must earn two units or 20 contact hours per certificate during each two-year period. All other certified operators must earn one unit or 10 contact hours per certificate during each two-year period. Newly certified operators (previously uncertified) who become certified after April 1 of a two-year period will not be required to earn CEUs until the next two-year period. If an operator upgrades a certificate after April 1 of a two-year period and that upgrade increases the CEU requirement, the operator will not be required to meet the higher CEU requirement until the next two-year period but must fulfill the lower CEU requirement for that period. For those certified operators holding both a water treatment and a water distribution certification, no less than 25 percent of the required CEUs may be earned in any one area.

(2)Certificate renewal. Only those operators fulfilling the continuing education requirements before the end of each two-year period (March 31) will be allowed to renew their certificate(s). The certificate(s) of operators not fulfilling the continuing education requirements shall expire on June 30 of each odd-numbered year.

(3)CEU approval. All activities for which continuing education credit will be granted must be approved by an accredited college, university, technical institute, or issuing agency, or by the department, and must be directly related to the subject matter of the particular certificate to which the credit is being applied. Any entity holding courses in Iowa for which continuing education credit is offered for water treatment, water distribution, or wastewater operator certification must provide at no cost to the department the opportunity for one staff member to audit the training and receive all training materials.

(4)CEU extensions. The director may, in individual cases involving hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant an extension of up to three months within which the certified operator may fulfill the minimum continuing education requirements. Hardship or extenuating circumstances include documented health-related confinement or other circumstances beyond the control of the certified operator which prevent attendance at the required activities. All requests for extensions must be made prior to March 31 of each biennium.

(5)CEU reporting. It is the certified operator's personal responsibility to maintain a written record and to notify the department of the continuing education credit earned during the period. The continuing education credits earned during the period shall be listed on the application for renewal.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-81.14