S.C. Code Regs. § § 108-5

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 11, November 22, 2024

Section 108-5 - Continuing Education

A. Basic Requirements

1. Each soil classifier shall have completed thirty (30) continuing education hours of acceptable continuing education requirements during the two (2) year period immediately preceding each biennial renewal date as a condition for license renewal. Effective January 31, 2013, completion of six (6) hours will be required for license renewal; this includes a minimum of one (1) continuing education hour in the area of professional ethics roles, responsibilities, and conduct of professional soil classifiers, or review of the South Carolina Statute and Regulations. Effective January 31, 2015, and thereafter, completion of thirty (30) hours will be required for license renewal.

2. All continuing education hours shall be earned by completing structured educational activities that directly address the health, safety, and welfare issues of the public as related to the practice of soil classifying. A minimum of one (1) continuing education hour must be in the area of professional ethics roles, responsibilities, and conduct of professional soil classifiers, or review of the South Carolina Statute and Regulations.

3. Self directed study may count toward a maximum of ten (10) continuing education hours.

4. If a licensee exceeds the total continuing education requirement in any renewal period, the licensee may carry a maximum of fifteen (15) continuing education hours forward into the next renewal period.

B. Records

1. Responsibility for documenting the fulfillment of the continuing education requirements provided for in this section rests with the licensee and the licensee must retain for a period of four (4) years the evidence to support fulfillment of the requirements.

a. Such evidence shall include evidence of completion of each course or program, a description of the contents of each course or program, and verification of the number of hours of each course or program; or, for other activities which meet the requirements, such documentation as to ascertain their completion; or

b. a copy of fulfillment of SSSA requirements for continuing education under the Soils Certifying Board.

2. Each licensee shall submit, on a form provided by the council, an affidavit attesting to the fulfillment of continuing education requirements during the preceding period.

3. Each affidavit may be subject to audit for verification of compliance with requirements. Licensees must comply with audit deadlines and requirements.

4. The council may disallow claimed credit for continuing education hours. The licensee shall have one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after notification of disallowance of credit to substantiate the original claimed credit or earn other continuing education credit which fulfills minimum requirements. These hours will be credited to the delinquent renewal period.

5. Failure to fulfill the continuing education requirements, to file the required report or to comply with audit and verification requests shall be considered a violation of the Soil Classifiers Licensure Law.

C. Approved Programs

1. Activities and field days organized or sponsored by SSSA, NSCSS, SSSSC or similar organizations acceptable to the board qualify to fulfill the continuing education requirement.

2. The following types of activities are acceptable:

a. Attendance at technical presentations or workshops on soil classifying subjects which are provided by independent sponsors or held in conjunction with colleges, universities, conventions or seminars and are related to materials use and function;

b. Self directed study may include:

i. Webinars on practice related topics.

ii. Public service activities that draw upon the soil classifier's expertise.

iii. Articles or other study materials that the soil classifier has not previously utilized for self directed study.

iv. Hours spent in soil classifying self directed study programs such as those organized or sponsored by SSSA, NSCSS, SSSSC, or similar organizations acceptable to the council.

c. Teaching soil classifying courses or seminars:

i. A maximum of one (1) CE credit may be claimed per class hour spent teaching soil classifying courses or seminars.

ii. Licensees may not claim credit for teaching the same course or seminar more than once. Teaching credit does not apply to full-time faculty.

iii. Each semester hour of credit from a college or university shall be deemed to be fifteen (15) hours and each quarter hour of credit shall be deemed to be ten (10) hours. University and college courses offered in a degree program are permitted so long as the course is not taken to meet the education requirements for licensure as a professional soil classifier.

D. Exemptions

1. Continuing education requirements may be waived for the following reasons:

a. New licensees shall be exempt for their first renewal period, not to exceed two (2) years.

b. A licensee serving on temporary active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days in a year shall be exempt from obtaining the continuing education hours required during that year.

c. Licensees experiencing physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the council may be exempt. Supporting documentation must be furnished with any such exemption request made to the council.

S.C. Code Regs. § 108-5

Added by State Register Volume 36, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 2012.