1. (1) Continuing education (CE) is education required in addition to the educational requirements for endorsement.
2. (2) The department will not pre-approve CE programs or sponsors. It is the responsibility of the endorsee to select quality programs that are related to the practice of installing or servicing fire protection equipment.
3. (3) Endorsees shall obtain a minimum of four hours (60 minutes per hour) annually and affirm an understanding of their recurring duty to comply with CE requirements as a part of license renewal. The CE requirement does not apply until an endorsee's first full year of endorsement.
4. (4) The department may randomly audit up to 50 percent of renewed endorsees.
5. (5) Endorsees shall retain documentation of CE completion for three years from the date of completion and provide such documentation to the department upon request.
6. (6) Continuing education hours or credits may not be carried over to any subsequent reporting period.
7. (7) Endorsees found to be in noncompliance with CE requirements may be subject to administrative suspension.

8. (8) The department accepts the following CE programs for CE credit:

   1. (a) workshops, seminars and educational conferences sponsored by fire protection equipment manufacturers or trade associations;
   2. (b) courses in specialized programs;
   3. (c) correspondence course work;
   4. (d) electronic or online instruction or course work;
   5. (e) any CE which has been obtained in another state that meets the requirements of Montana;

   6. (f) college or vocational school course work which is germane to the profession and contributes directly to the professional competence of the endorsed individual, subject to the following limitations:

      1. (i) the endorsed individual must pass the course;
      2. (ii) one semester credit shall equal 15 hours of CE; and
      3. (iii) one quarter credit shall equal 10 hours of CE.

   7. (g) teaching courses that are germane to the profession. Credit units may be applied in this category based on a report by the endorsed individual. For a one-hour presentation, the presenter will be awarded two hours of CE. The following limitations shall apply to credit under this section:

      1. (i) documentation must be submitted showing the endorsee as the instructor of the course;
      2. (ii) the course must be addressed to endorsed individuals in order to qualify for credit;
      3. (iii) a course outline must be provided to the department; and
      4. (iv) instruction of any course may be submitted for CE only once.

Authorizing statute(s): 50-39-107, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 37-1-141, 37-1-321, 37-1-420, 50-39-102, MCA

History: NEW, 1993 MAR p. 2953, Eff. 12/10/93; TRANS, AMD, 1996 MAR p. 748, Eff. 3/22/96; AMD, 1998 MAR p. 458, Eff. 2/13/98; TRANS, from Commerce, 2005 MAR p. 261; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 565, Eff. 5/15/21.