| (a) Each registered code enforcement officer must complete
at least twelve continuing education hours as set forth in this section
within the 24 months preceding renewal of a registration, at least
one hour of which must be in legal or legislative issues as provided
in subsection (i)(12).
(b) Each registered code enforcement officer in training
must complete at least six continuing education hours as set forth
in this section within the twelve months preceding renewal of a registration,
at least one hour of which must be in legal or legislative issues
as provided in subsection (i)(12).
(c) A code enforcement officer in training who applies
to upgrade a registration pursuant to §62.20 is not required
to submit continuing education hours in order to upgrade.
(d) Only continuing education activities conducted
in accordance with this section shall be considered approved by the
department and may be represented to the public as acceptable for
registration renewal for registered code enforcement officers and
code enforcement officers in training in Texas.
(e) Department-approved continuing education activities
for registration renewal may include the following:
(1) conferences;
(2) home-study training modules (including professional
journals requiring successful completion of a test document);
(3) lectures;
(4) panel discussions;
(5) seminars;
(6) accredited college or university courses;
(7) video or film presentations with live instruction;
(8) field demonstrations;
(9) teleconferences; or
(10) other activities approved by the department.
(f) Only the following continuing education activities
shall serve as a basis for registration renewal:
(1) approved by the department or its designee in accordance
with this section; or
(2) approved by another professional regulatory agency
in the State of Texas as acceptable continuing education for registration
renewal; and
(3) covering one or more of the curriculum areas listed
in subsection (i).
(g) Continuing education activities must meet the following
criteria in order to be accepted for continuing education credit:
(1) the activity must cover one or more of the curriculum
areas listed in subsection (i);
(2) the activity must be conducted by an organization
which is:
(A) an accredited college or university;
(B) a governmental agency, including local, state or
federal agencies;
(C) an association with a membership of 25 or more
persons, or its affiliate; or
(D) a commercial education business;
(3) the activity must have a record-keeping procedure
which includes a register of who took the course and the number of
continuing education hours earned;
(4) the organization must implement procedures for
verifying participant attendance;
(5) the activity must be at least 50 minutes in length
of actual instruction time. Round-table discussions and more than
one speaker for the total of 50 minutes per activity is permissible.
No credit will be given for time used for other non-relevant activities;
and
(6) the activity must be conducted in compliance with
all applicable federal and state laws, including the Americans with
Disabilities Act requirements for access to activities.
(h) Commercial education businesses shall submit a
request for approval on department forms, and shall not represent
any course as approved until such approval is granted by the department
in writing.
(i) The curriculum of an approved activity must include
one or more of the following subjects:
(1) zoning and zoning ordinance enforcement;
(2) sign regulations;
(3) home occupations;
(4) housing codes and ordinances;
(5) building abatement;
(6) nuisance violations;
(7) abandoned vehicles;
(8) junk vehicles;
(9) health ordinances;
(10) basic processes of law related to code enforcement;
(11) professional, supervisory, or management training
related to the profession of code enforcement;
(12) legislative or legal updates related to the profession
of code enforcement; or
(13) principles and procedures to be followed when
possessing or carrying a bite stick.
(j) Documentation of continuing education activity
shall be maintained by the organization for five years, including:
(1) a roster which shall include the following:
(A) name, address, phone number, registration number,
and signature of the registrant; and
(B) number of continuing education hours earned by
each individual; and
(2) copies of all program materials sufficient to demonstrate
compliance with this section.
(k) At the conclusion of the activity the organization
shall distribute to those registered code enforcement officers and
code enforcement officers in training who have successfully completed
the activity a certificate of completion which shall include the name
of the registrant, the name of the organization providing the training,
the title of the activity, the date and location of the activity,
and the continuing education hours earned. The certificate shall include
a breakdown of the hours earned on each topic listed under subsection
(i).
(l) Each registered code enforcement officer and code
enforcement officer in training shall collect and keep certificates
of completion of approved courses. These certificates of completion
will be used to document the attendance of a registered code enforcement
officer or code enforcement officer in training at approved courses.
The department will conduct random audits for compliance with this
requirement.
(m) Failure to comply with continuing education requirements
may result in suspension of a code enforcement officer or code enforcement
officer in training registration until the necessary credits for continuing
education are successfully completed.
(n) The department may refuse to accept any or all
courses for registration renewal if an organization fails to retain
documentation related to the activity as required by this section,
or fails to comply with any other requirements that are a basis for
approval or that are a part of this chapter.
(o) Initial certification in the twelve months preceding
renewal will be accepted as proof of the continuing education required
by this section if the certification is listed as follows:
(1) International Code Council (ICC):
(A) residential building inspector;
(B) residential electrical inspector;
(C) residential mechanical inspector;
(D) residential plumbing inspector;
(E) commercial building inspector;
(F) commercial electrical inspector;
(G) commercial mechanical inspector;
(H) commercial plumbing inspector;
(I) fire inspector I;
(J) fire inspector II;
(K) residential combination inspector;
(L) commercial combination inspector;
(M) certified building official;
(N) accessibility inspector;
(O) zoning inspector;
(P) property maintenance and housing inspector; or
(Q) housing code official;
(2) International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials (IAPMO):
(A) voluntary plumbing inspector; or
(B) voluntary mechanical inspector;
(3) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
(A) certified fire protection specialist;
(B) fire inspector I;
(C) fire inspector II;
(D) certified building inspector;
(E) certified residential electrical inspector; or
(F) certified master electrical inspector;
(4) International Association of Electrical Inspectors
(IAEI):
(A) building 1 and 2 family dwelling;
(B) building general;
(C) electrical 1 and 2 family dwelling;
(D) electrical general;
(E) fire protection general;
(F) fire protection plan review;
(G) mechanical 1 and 2 family dwelling;
(H) mechanical general;
(I) plumbing 1 and 2 family dwelling; or
(J) plumbing general;
(5) National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) certified
pool-spa operator; or
(6) American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE):
(A) certified property maintenance and housing inspector;
(B) certified zoning enforcement officer;
(C) certified code enforcement officer; or
(D) code enforcement administrator.
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