Section 6512 - Approval of Continuing Education Courses(a) The Director may approve requests for evaluation and approval of any course submitted for continuing education hours for a period of up to one calendar year (beginning January 1 and ending December 31).(b) Except as provided in (d), courses may be approved by the Director for continuing education hours in one or more of the following categories: (1) "Pesticide Laws and Regulations" continuing education course time must be focused on: (A) Current California pesticide laws as detailed in the Food and Agricultural Code Divisions 6 and 7;(B) Current California pesticide regulations as detailed in Title 3 Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations;(C) Current federal pesticide laws and regulations including specific pesticide product labeling requirements; or(D) Other current California pesticide regulations, including local pesticide requirements adopted by the County Agricultural Commissioner pertaining to the safe and effective use of pesticides pursuant to section 11503 of the Food and Agriculture Code. 1. Courses on the Business and Professions Code Division 3, Chapter 14 or Chapter 14.5; the California Code of Regulations Title 16, Division 19; or federal maximum residue levels do not qualify for pesticide laws and regulations hours.(2) "Aerial Pest Control Equipment and Application Techniques" continuing education course time must be focused on: (A) Aerial pesticide application equipment, such as: aerial dispersal system components, aerial application guidance systems, and proper use of aerial application equipment;(B) Aerial application techniques, such as: swath marking, flight patterns, and assessing meteorological conditions and their effect on aerial pest control.(3) "Other" continuing education course time must be focused on: (A) Pesticides and pest management as specified in Food and Agricultural Code section 11502.5, such topics may include: 1. Safe pesticide use, such as: maximum residue levels, water and air pesticide monitoring, residue mitigation, chemical formulations, application equipment; and2. Effective pest management, such as: pest identification, integrated pest management, quarantine practices, sustainable agricultural pest management practices, cultural pest control practices, and biological control methods.(c) The continuing education course shall be administered or developed by course instructors who are competent and knowledgeable in the subject matter and must contain at least one hour of approvable course time meeting the topic requirements in (b) for course approval.(d) Courses will not be approved for more than 8 hours of continuing education per day. Courses will not be approved for continuing education hours during break periods.(e) Poster or vendor displays, question and answer sessions (excluding review questions included as part of a presentation), or panel discussions may be approved for up to 30 minutes of combined credit per application. Only courses that contain a minimum of 4 hours of approvable course time meeting the topic requirements in (b) may request this additional 30 minutes of credit.(f) Quiz and final examination questions are approved at one minute of credit per question. Each hour of approved course time may include up to 10 minutes of questions.(g) Before making the determination as to whether the course meets the criteria for approval, the Director may request more information about how the content of the course meets the provisions of Division 6 of the Food and Agricultural Code or regulations adopted pursuant to that Division. If the Director determines the course does not meet the criteria for approval the Director may deny the course or approve the course for fewer continuing education hours than requested.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 6512
Note: Authority cited: Sections 11456 and 11502.5, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Section 11502.5, Food and Agricultural Code.
1. New section filed 6-4-90; operative 7-4-90 (Register 90, No. 29).
2. Change without regulatory effect amending Note filed 6-20-2001 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2001, No. 25).
3. Amendment of section and Note filed 11-3-2003 as an emergency; operative 1-1-2004 (Register 2003, No. 45). This action is a permanent emergency change for which no Certificate Compliance is needed pursuant to Food and Agricultural Code section 11502.5.
4. Editorial correction of History 3 (Register 2004, No. 37).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b) and (c) filed 11-10-2011 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2011, No. 45).
6. Amendment of section heading and section filed 11-7-2013; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 45).
7. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a), (b) and (c) filed 4-16-2015 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2015, No. 16).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (e)(1) filed 5-15-2023 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2023, No. 20).
9. Amendment of section heading and repealer and new section filed 6-30-2023; operative 1/1/2024 (Register 2023, No. 26).