(a) Except as provided in subsections (f) and (j) of
this section, as a requirement of annual license renewal, each certified
applicator must certify that they have completed department-approved
CEUs that cover the applicator's category(ies) of certification for
the preceding calendar year. This certification must be completed
each calendar year for renewal of the certified applicator's license.
Certified applicators who do not meet the re-certification requirements
shall not be eligible to renew their licenses and will be subject
to enforcement action. Licensees must obtain the appropriate number
of CEUs in each calendar year as specified in this section. Changing
employers or moving to an inactive status does not eliminate, defer
or extend the CEU requirement.
(b) Each certified applicator is required to obtain
two (2) CEUs in general training and one (1) unit in each category
in which the applicator is certified. General training is defined
to include the topics in §1951.351(c) of the SPCA. At least one
(1) of the two (2) general training units required for recertification,
must be in either federal and state laws, pesticide safety, environmental
protection, or integrated pest management. The other may be in any
general topic.
(c) No approved course may be repeated for credit within
the same calendar year.
(d) No certified applicator who is also a presenter
can satisfy their CEU requirements through a course the certified
applicator presents.
(e) CEUs may only be obtained through an approved self-study
course every other year. Self-study courses will not be accepted two
(2) years in a row and will result in deficiency upon review.
(f) Applicators will not be required to obtain CEUs
during the first calendar year in which their license is issued. Applicators
that become certified in additional categories during any calendar
year will not be required to obtain units in those categories for
that period.
(g) Each certified applicator must keep a certificate
of completion for each course attended for a period of two (2) calendar
years after the calendar year in which it was obtained, and submit
such records to the department upon request. These records are subject
to inspection by the department at any time. Continuing education
certificates must be made available to the licensee within twenty
(20) days of the written request to a training provider. A copy of
a current or former employee's continuing education certificates shall
be made available to a licensee within twenty (20) days upon written
request to the employer.
(h) The business licensee, responsible certified commercial
applicator, and certified noncommercial applicator shall be responsible
for the proper certification and maintenance of employee continuing
education records in accordance with this subchapter.
(i) Certified applicators who are unable to certify
their required continuing education requirements at renewal or during
inspection will have twenty (20) days to submit the verifiable training
records for training previously obtained prior to the initiation of
enforcement proceedings. Certified applicators who do not meet the
recertification requirements may have their licenses suspended in
all deficient categories.
(j) Upon written request, the Commissioner may grant
a hardship extension for completion of training requirements due to
extenuating circumstances. The length of the extension is at the discretion
of the Commissioner. All requests are subject to review and may require
additional documentation.
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