Section 327IAC5-22-16. Continuing education credit; criteria for approval

   (a) Continuing education contact hour credit shall be given only for completed course work that has been approved by the commissioner according to the following:

(1) A training provider has submitted an application and received continuing education course approval from the commissioner before publicly offering a wastewater treatment continuing education course. The application:

(A) must be submitted on a form approved by the commissioner;

(B) should be submitted for advance approval not less than sixty (60) days before the first date when the course is conducted, but must be submitted not later than ninety (90) days after training completion in order to be considered for approval;

(C) must be accompanied by a written course outline or brochure; and

(D) must contain:

(i) the name, address, and telephone number of a course sponsor, training provider, or other contact person;

(ii) the name of the course;

(iii) specific topics that are included in the course presentations;

(iv) the amount of time devoted to each topic;

(v) the instructor's name and qualifications, including:

(AA) educational background;

(BB) professional experience; and

(CC) current professional affiliation;

(vi) the schedule, anticipated locations, and number of times the training is anticipated to be offered;

(vii) the method of training delivery, such as on-site lecture, electronic means, or other means as specified by the training course provider; and

(viii) the method of attendance verification for record keeping and reporting, such as the following:

(AA) Sign in and sign out sheets.

(BB) Electronic tracking.

(CC) Date stamping.

(DD) Other means as specified by the training course provider.

(2) The wastewater treatment continuing education course meets the following requirements:

(A) The course deals with one (1) or more of the following as determined by the commissioner:

(i) Technical matters related directly to wastewater treatment plant and sewer system operations, maintenance, management, or supervision.

(ii) General matters that enhance the performance of the certified operator's responsibilities but are not directly related to wastewater treatment plant and sewer system operations, maintenance, management, or supervision.

(B) Each instructor and speaker is qualified by academic work or practical experience to teach the proposed wastewater treatment continuing education course.

  (b) A certified wastewater treatment operator may petition the commissioner for approval of a wastewater treatment continuing education course if the following procedures are met:

(1) An application of petition is submitted to the commissioner prior to course completion or as soon as practical afterwards but not later than ninety (90) days after training completion in order to be considered for approval.

(2) The application must contain the information required by subsection (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(C), and (a)(1)(D).

(3) The certified operator must supply written proof of attendance at the wastewater treatment continuing education course within ninety (90) days following course completion.

  (c) Credit will not be granted for repeating the same training course within a renewal period.

  (d) A certified operator who is an instructor or speaker at a wastewater treatment continuing education course shall be credited the same number of contact hours as the students of the course for not more than one (1) presentation of the training.

  (e) Partial credit shall not be given to:

(1) instructors;

(2) speakers; or

(3) students;

participating in less than a complete wastewater treatment continuing education course. (Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-22-16; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:07 p.m.: 24 IR 971; readopted filed Aug 17, 2006, 10:31 a.m.: 20060830-IR-327060183BFA; filed Mar 18, 2008, 2:55 p.m.: 20080416-IR-327060179FRA; readopted filed Jul 30, 2014, 4:04 p.m.: 20140827-IR-327140189BFA)