Continuing Education

Continuing Education. A. All licensees are required to complete a minimum of four (4) hours of continuing education annually and submit proof as required by MDEQ. Every two (2) years, one (1) of the hours of continuing education must be on state rules and regulations as presented by MDEQ. B. A licensee may be exempted from the continuing education requirements one of the following reasons: (1) New licensees who have obtained their license less than one (1) year before the June 30th renewal deadline. (2) Licensees who have experienced physical disability, serious illness, or other extenuating circumstances that prevent work for more than 180 days in a year. Supporting documentation must be furnished to MDEQ upon request. (3) Licensees serving on temporary active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 180 days in a year. Supporting documentation must be furnished to MDEQ upon request. C. Acceptable continuing education programs shall be designed to improve the license holder’s professional skills and knowledge in the ground water industry. Course content shall be related to subjects such as well and pump standards, geologic characteristics of the state, state groundwater laws and related regulations, well construction and pump installation practices and techniques, drilling and job site safety, protection of public health related to drinking water, environmental protection, technological advances, and business management. D. Continuing education hours may be earned as follows: (1) Attending conferences or training hosted by regional or national associations of the ground water industry. (2) Successful completion of correspondence, video, or electronic short courses/tutorials presented by approved education providers. (3) Instruction of approved continuing education courses. (4) Successful completion of courses, seminars, workshops, or lectures given by accredited educational institutions E. Approval of Continuing Education Programs (1) Continuing education programs must be approved by MDEQ. (2) Applications to approve continuing education programs must contain the following minimum information: (a) Description of course(s) (b) Length of course(s) in actual training hours (c) Name and qualifications of instructor(s) (3) Upon receiving approval of a continuing education course or program, the provider is entitled to state that the course has been approved by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality – Office of Land and Water Resources for continuing education credit under the Licensing of Water Well Contractors Title 11, Part 7, Chapter 2, Rule 2.1, et seq.; or, if the program is approved then the provider is entitled to state that they are an approved educational provider by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality – Office of Land and Water Resources for continuing education under the Licensing of Water Well Contractors Title 11, Part 7, Chapter 2, Rule 2.1, et seq. F. Proof of Continuing Education (1) The license holder is responsible for the submission of proof of all approved training. Inability of the applicant to substantiate credit hours submitted is grounds for disallowance of the credits in question. (2) Proof of continuing education will consist of: (a) Official transcripts from an accredited educational institution (b) A certificate of completion signed by the instructor or approved educational provider, containing the license holder’s name, date of training, name of course and number of hours of actual training