1.Authority and ScopePursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-11, continuing education is required for residential licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015. The Board adopts the rules and regulations for continuing education set forth herein.
2.Definitionsa. Continuing Education Committee: The continuing education committee shall be composed of three (3) members of the Standing Committee on Residential Builders and Remodelers and at least one (1) of those three (3) members must serve on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The continuing education committee shall have the power to make recommendations to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors regarding all matters related to continuing education for residential license holders.b. Continuing Education Course: A continuing education course is a training program that complies with the procedures, standards and minimum requirements established for continuing education and has been approved by the board.c. Continuing Education Credit: A continuing education credit is equal to a 50 minute credit hour of instruction.d. Continuing Education Instructor: A continuing education instructor is an individual that complies with the procedures, standards and minimum requirements established for continuing education and who has submitted a training program to MSBOC for continuing education credit review and been approved by the board.e. Continuing Education Provider: A continuing education provider is an institution or organization that complies with the procedures, standards and minimum requirements established for continuing education and who has submitted a training program to MSBOC for continuing education credit review and been approved by the board.3.Continuing Education CommitteeThe Board may form a Continuing Education Committee which will review, assess, approve, or deny applications for educational providers, instructors and courses according to the general standards and minimum requirement set forth herein and within the board's and committee's discretion. The committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Standing Committee on Residential Builders and Remodelers and at least one (1) of those three (3) members must serve on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Members will meet prior to the regularly scheduled board meetings or as often as necessary. Decisions and/or recommendations of the committee will be presented to the full board at scheduled board meetings for final approval or denial of a provider, instructor, course or related education issue.
4.Requirements for Residential License HoldersTwo (2) credit hours of continuing education taught by a board approved provider or instructor must be obtained each year in order to maintain a residential license pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-11. The continuing education requirement applies to all residential licenses issued on or after July 1,2015.
Since individual needs vary, each individual must exercise judgment in selecting courses that will advance that individual's knowledge. The Board will not mandate the specific courses to be taken by licensed contractors, unless continuing education has been ordered by the board as a result of a disciplinary hearing.
Credit shall be granted upon completion of an entire course. No credit shall be given for courses attended prior to becoming a licensed contractor with MSBOC.
To fulfill the continuing education requirements:
a.Residential License Holders: Each qualifying party for a residential license must complete two (2) credit hours of instruction taught by a board approved provider or instructor. In order to renew a license, proof of compliance with the continuing education requirement must be submitted by each qualifying party.b.Board Members: Service on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors or Mississippi State Board of Contractors Standing Committee on Residential Builders and Remodelers will satisfy the two (2) hour continuing education requirement, so long as the Board member or Standing Committee member remains in good standing with the Board and maintains the proper licensing requirements during his or her term of appointment.c.Continuing Education Instructor: Board approved continuing education instructors may use their course instruction to satisfy the continuing education requirement. Instructors must provide the Board with evidence of what Board approved courses he or she taught, when course(s) were taught, and how many credit hours were taught. Instructors will receive credit for each particular course only once.5.Reporting Procedures; Failure to Comply; Reinstatementa. The license holder is responsible for demonstrating compliance with and completion of the continuing education requirement. Proof of having completed two (2) credit hours of continuing education must be submitted each year with the renewal application. Providing false or fraudulent information or documentation to the Board will result in disciplinary action including assessment of fines and action taken against the license. No carryover of continuing education hours from one licensure period to another shall be allowed.b. License holders who are not able to demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirement will not be allowed to renew their license.6.Waiver of Continuing Education RequirementThe continuing education requirement shall be waived for residential licenses on inactive status; however, an inactive residential license holder must show proof of having completed two (2) credit hours of continuing education prior to returning to active status. Additionally, the board may defer or waive some or all of the continuing education requirements in the event of a state of emergency declared by the Governor or for good cause shown by the license holder.
7.Sources of Continuing EducationA list of approved continuing education providers, instructors and courses will be maintained on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors website at www.msboc.us.
8.Requests for Non-Traditional ApprovalLicensee holders seeking credit for non-traditional continuing education must complete the appropriate request form and submit it with the required fee to the board for review and approval. It is entirely within the Board's discretion whether or not a non-traditional approval request is granted.
9. Requirements for Providers and Instructorsa. Institutions, organizations and individuals wishing to become an approved provider or instructor must submit the required application(s) to the board for review. The board's continuing education committee will review the application and make its recommendation to the Board to approve or deny the application or request additional information from the applicant. The applicant will be informed in writing of the board's decision. Only those institutions, organizations, and individuals that meet or exceed the established standards and minimum requirements will be approved to award continuing education credit.b. The board may require prior teaching experience. Teaching experience may be either formal or informal. A college degree may or may not be required depending upon the course being taught. In lieu of a college degree, the board may accept proof of competency such as appropriate certification related to the area of specialty.c. All continuing education applications submitted to the board for review must be received by the Board at least 30 days prior to the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Board meets quarterly on the second Wednesday in January, the second Wednesday in April, the second Wednesday in July and the second Wednesday in October.d. All fees established by the board must be submitted with an application in order for the application to be processed. Fees are non-refundable and no part of any fee shall be returned.e. Upon approval of an application, each approved provider or instructor shall agree to conduct courses in accordance with the board requirements and shall indicate agreement by signing a continuing education provider/instructor agreement form provided by the board.f. The board may request that a provider or instructor reapply for approval if the provider or instructor has not held any classes for continuing education credit or submitted a roster to the board for a period of 2 years. The provider or instructor will be required to submit a new application along with all appropriate fees to the board for approval prior to holding a class for continuing education credit.10.Revocation of ApprovalThe Board shall have the authority to monitor approved courses, providers and/or instructors to determine whether they are in compliance with the terms of the agreement and the rules and regulations of the Board. The Board may suspend, revoke or terminate the agreement with any approved continuing education provider or instructor if the Board determines that either has failed to comply with the terms of the agreement or the rules and regulations of the Board.
11.Violation for Operating as Non-Approved ProviderAny institution, organization or individual who acts as a provider or instructor of continuing education without being properly certified or who provides the Board with falsified information or documentation may be subject to having their provider or instructor status revoked and/or prevented from obtaining future approval as a provider or instructor. A provider or instructor with a revoked status may petition the Board for reinstatement; such petition must be accompanied by a filing fee as determined by the Board.
30 Miss. Code. R. 803-1.4
Miss Code Ann. § 73-59-11(f)