178 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 10, § 007

Current through September 17, 2024

Section 178-10-007 - APPROVAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Board will evaluate applications from licensees or providers for approval of continuing education programs. The Board will grant approval for a specific number of hours of continuing education and will indicate to which occupational activities the program applies.

007.01 General Requirements for Approval

To be approved for hours of continuing education all continuing education programs must meet the following general requirements:

1. Content must relate directly to ground water or the water well industry and must include but is not limited to, water well and water well pump standards, geologic characteristics of the State, state groundwater laws and regulations, water well construction and pump installation practices and techniques; water well monitoring; inspection of chemigation devices; and inspection or repair of flow meters;

2. Presenters of programs must be qualified by education, experience or training; and

3. The program provider agrees to provide each attendee a certificate of attendance and to submit a complete attendance record to the Board no later than 30 days after the occurrence of each program provided and must include the following information and assurances:

a. The name and address of licensed individuals in attendance,

b. Program title,

c. Program date(s), and

d. Number of hours each individual was in attendance.

007.02 Application

To obtain approval of a continuing education program, a provider or a licensee must submit a written application, which must include the following information:

1. The applicant's name, address and telephone number;

2. The name, address, and telephone number of the provider;

3. The name, location and date(s) of the program;

4. A description in detail of program content;

5. A description of program objectives;

6. A description of the qualifications of each presenter;

7. The number of hours of continuing education credit for which approval is requested;

8. In the case of application by a provider, a description of the process the provider uses to verify attendance; a sample of the document required in 178 NAC 10007.01 item 3 which the provider must issue to attendees; and, the means by which and the time the provider intends to maintain records of attendance.

9. In the case of application by a licensee a copy of any written evidence or certification of attendance of the program from the provider showing attendance and completion of the program and properly executed affidavit of completion of continuing education programs as required in 178 NAC 10-006.01B.

007.03 Additional Information

An applicant may submit additional documents or information as the applicant may consider relevant to the application and compliance with the provisions of these regulations.

007.04 Applications for CEUs

The Board will consider only applications which are complete. In the event that the Board determines an application is incomplete, the Department will notify the applicant of the information necessary to complete the application. The Board may accept alternative sources of evidence from that required under 178 NAC 10-007.

007.05 Continuing Approval

Once the Board has approved an application for any continuing education program, reapproval is not required for each occasion on which the program is presented provided the program is not changed, or program requirements are not changed by law or regulation. If the program, or any portion of a program is changed, or requirements are changed by statute or regulations, reapplication must be made. The program provider must notify the Department in writing each time an approved continuing education program is presented. The notification must include the date, number of hours presented, and a statement that the program presented was not changed from the program approved previously by the Department.

007.06 Advertisement of Approvals

After the Board has granted its written approval of an application, the provider is entitled to state upon its publications: "This program is approved for _______(number of credit hours approved) hours of continuing education credit (on water well construction licenses, pump installation licenses, water well monitoring technician licenses, or natural resources ground water technician licenses) (or any combination) under the Nebraska Water Well Standards and Contractors' Practice Act".

007.07 Prior Approval

The Board must receive an application that contains all the required information at least 65 days prior to the date on which the program is to be presented in order for the Board to issue prior approval. Board action on applications received less than 65 days prior to the date on which the program is to be presented may be deferred until the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

007.08 Post-Program Approval

Applications for approval of a continuing education program made after the program has occurred must be submitted to the Board within 1 year from the date the program was presented.

007.09 Provider Record Keeping

In order for the Board to approve a continuing education program, the provider must maintain the records of all certificates of completion issued for the most recent 3 years. The records must identify the following:

1. Full name of each recipient;

2. License number;

3. Program title;

4. Date(s) of program;

5. Program description; and

6. Number of hours of continuing education credit earned.

007.10 List of Approved Continuing Education Activities

The Board must provide, upon request, a list of all approved continuing education activities currently available to the public. The list must include but need not be limited to information on the location where the activity is to be held, the number of credit hours assigned, and program description.

007.11 Approved Continuing Education Activity - Loss of Approval

10-007.11A The Board may withdraw or suspend approval of a program if the Board determines that:

1. The provider changed the program teaching method or program content without notice to the Board and the Board's approval of the program as changed;

2. The provider issued a certificate of completion to an individual who did not attend or complete the approved program in accordance with the provisions under which the program was approved;

3. The provider did not give certificates of completion to all individuals who have satisfactorily completed the approved activity in accordance with the provisions under which the program was approved;

4. The provider does not maintain records for certificates of completion issued; or

5. Fraud or misrepresentation has occurred with the application for program approval, maintenance of records, teaching method, program content, or issuance of certificates for a particular course or program.

007.12 Appeal

If the Board proposes to deny, suspend or withdraw approval of a continuing education program, it must send notice and provide opportunity for hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and its rules of procedure 184 NAC 1.

178 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 10, § 007