1. (1) Any course approved for credit towards certification, recertification, or reinstatement must be approved by the Department through one of the two methods provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) before the course is taken for credit. The courses must impart expertise in one of the following areas, as it relates to the professional designation of the requesting individual: professionally accepted appraisal practices, appropriate appraisal methodologies, cadastral mapping, tax administration, assessment, or collection in Florida. To be approved as a course for initial certification, the course must contain a monitored examination.

   1. (a) Any course that meets the requirements of the applicable program and is approved by the Department for credit towards certification, recertification, or reinstatment is published on the Department’s Certification and Training webpage https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/Cofficial_Training.aspx.

   2. (b) Any course not found in the Department’s list of approved courses will be approved for certification, recertification or reinstatement on a case-by-case basis by the Department’s training staff. Approval is contingent upon documentation showing the proposed course imparts expertise as it relates to the professional designation of the requesting individual in one of the areas in subsection (1).

      1. For CFA certifications, continuing education courses must address topics within the following areas as they relate specifically to the functions of property appraisers:

      a. Duties and role of property appraisers.

      b. Duties and role of the Department.

      c. State or federal appraisal law, including professionally accepted appraisal practices and appropriate appraisal methodologies.

      d. Management of technology information systems.

      e. Office management and personnel training as it relates to property appraiser offices.

      f. Public administration.

      g. Ethics training required by Section 112.3142, F.S.

      2. For CFC certifications, continuing education courses must address topics within the following areas as they relate specifically to the functions of tax collectors:

      a. Duties and role of tax collectors.

      b. Duties and role of the Department.

      c. Duties and roles of state agencies for which tax collectors serve as an agent.

      d. State or federal tax law.

      e. Management of technology information systems.

      f. Office management and personnel training as it relates to tax collector offices.

      g. Public administration.

      h. Ethics training required by Section 112.3142, F.S.

2. (2) (a) To obtain approval for a course, a completed Application for Approval of a Course or Continuing Education Credit Hours (Form DR-4002, incorporated by reference in Rule 12D-16.002, F.A.C.) must be submitted to the Department at least 20 days before the course start date. The application must include a detailed written description of the proposed course including course content, an agenda if available, number of hours of instruction and instructor’s qualifications.
3. (b) The agenda or course description submitted must show quantifiable subject matter. Starting and ending times must be listed for each topic to be assigned hours, and include break and meal times. To be approved as a course for initial certification, the course must contain a monitored examination. Continuing education hours are awarded based on an hour per 50 minutes of classroom time.
4. (c) The Department will notify the requestor in writing of the approved course, the Department’s course number, and the number of credit hours. This information will also be posted on the Department’s Certification and Training webpage https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/Cofficial_Training.aspx.
5. (d) The Department will consider and approve qualifying substitutions of course presentations and instructors when unavoidable circumstances arise that prevent the course presentation. Before the substitute course presentation, the course provider must submit a detailed written description of the circumstances and the proposed substitution which demonstrates the substitute presentation and instructor meets the criteria of subsection (1).

Rulemaking Authority 195.027(1) FS. Law Implemented 145.10, 145.11, 195.002 FS. History–New 10-26-21, Formerly 12-9.0031.