1. (a) General requirements for Course Providers and Course Instructors

   1. (1) Any person who seeks to provide a training program as a prerequisite for qualifying to take an examination to obtain any endorsement issued by the Board may apply to the Board for approval as a Course Provider.

   2. (2) Any person who seeks to provide instruction of such training programs must be employed by an approved Course Provider. He or she may apply to the Board through an approved Course Provider to be approved as a Course Instructor.

      1. (A) Each Course Instructor must be:

         1. (i) a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber and hold the particular endorsement relevant to the training program that the Course Instructor will teach; or
         2. (ii) a licensed Plumbing Inspector who has completed the training and examination requirements required to obtain the particular endorsement relevant to the training program that the Course Instructor will teach.

      2. (B) Each Course Instructor will be required to successfully complete a Board approved instructor training program of 160 hours which meets the following criteria:

         1. (i) 40 hours to provide the instructor with the basic educational techniques and instructional strategies necessary to plan and conduct effective training programs;
         2. (ii) 40 hours to provide the instructor with the basic techniques and strategies necessary to analyze, select, develop, and organize instructional material for effective training programs;
         3. (iii) 40 hours to provide the instructor with the basic principles, techniques, theories, and strategies to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, co-workers, and other personnel in the classroom, industry, and community; and
         4. (iv) 40 hours to provide the instructor with the basic principles, techniques, theories, and strategies to communicate effectively with the use of instructional media.
      3. (C) To maintain status as an approved Course Instructor of an endorsement training program, the Course Instructor shall undergo one of the instructor training programs required under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph every twelve (12) months such that the entire training (160 hours) is completed within four years.
   3. (3) Course Providers and Course Instructors shall adhere to the instruction criteria approved by the Board in this section, and ensure that only students who receive the specified number of contact hours of instruction (excluding any time spent on breaks from instruction) receive credit for completing the training required by this section.

   4. (4) The training required by this section may be provided in increments, as appropriate, and the Course Provider or Course Instructor shall provide a certificate of completion to the student, upon completion of the training.

      1. (A) The certificate of completion shall state:

         1. (i) the title of the training program related to the particular endorsement;
         2. (ii) the names of the Course Provider and Course Instructor;
         3. (iii) the name and license number of the student; and
         4. (iv) the date that the instruction was completed.
      2. (B) The Course Provider shall maintain a record of the information contained on each certificate of completion for at least two years.
   5. (5) Each Course Provider shall notify the Board at least seven (7) days before conducting training programs or electronically post notice of the class schedule on the provider's website at least seven (7) days before conducting a class. The notice shall contain the date(s), time(s) and place(s) where the class(es) will occur.
   6. (6) Each Course Provider shall perform self-monitoring to ensure compliance with this section and reporting as required by the Board.
   7. (7) The Board may monitor endorsement training programs to ensure compliance with this section.
   8. (8) Any failure on the part of a Course Provider or Course Instructor to abide by the requirements of this section may result in the denial, probation, suspension, or revocation of Board approval as a Course Provider or Course Instructor.

2. (b) Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement training programs

   1. (1) Before a Plumbing Inspector, Journeyman, or Master Plumber may qualify to take the Medical Gas Piping Installation endorsement examination, the applicant must complete a training program approved by the Board which pertains to subject matter applicable to the installation of medical gas piping systems. As a minimum, the training course shall be based on the standards contained in the latest edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99 Health Care Facilities Code.

   2. (2) Course Providers shall provide lesson plans for Board approval. Approved Course Providers of medical gas training shall furnish a program consisting of a classroom presentation of course material, a test of the enrollee's comprehension of the matter, a shop demonstration of the proper brazing procedures by the Course Instructor, and the enrollee's final brazing evidence to the instructor of an accepted vertical and horizontal practice coupon.

      1. (A) A minimum of twenty four (24) hours shall be assigned for the classroom presentation and testing.
      2. (B) In addition, a minimum of four (4) hours shall be assigned to the brazing demonstrations. The student enrolled in medical gas training will have completed a minimum of eight hours of practice brazing coupons in an equipped shop. These coupons will be presented to the Course Instructor for grading.
      3. (C) The aforementioned hours represent the minimum requirements only; additional time may be included in each segment of the program.

3. (c) Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement training programs

   1. (1) Before a Journeyman or Master Plumber may qualify to take the Water Supply Protection Specialist endorsement examination, the applicant must complete a training program approved by the Board, which pertains to subject matter applicable to the protection of public and private potable water supplies, as required by the plumbing codes, laws and regulations of this state.
   2. (2) Any person wishing to offer a Board approved training program in Water Supply Protection Specialist Endorsement to the public must submit a course outline, together with the number of hours of instruction, to the Board for approval.
   3. (3) The Board may require resubmission for approval of any previously approved Water Supply Protection Specialist endorsement training program to ensure that the program meets current requirements of the plumbing codes, laws, and regulations of the state which pertain to the protection of public and private potable water supplies.

4. (d) Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement training programs

   1. (1) Before a Plumbing Inspector, Journeyman or Master Plumber may qualify to take the Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler System Inspector examination or Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist endorsement examination, the applicant must complete a training program which pertains to subject matter applicable to a multipurpose dwelling fire sprinkler system, as required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 13D.
   2. (2) The training program must incorporate the training criteria included in the American Society of Sanitary Engineering Series 7000, as it relates to plumbing-based residential fire protection systems installers for one and two family dwellings.

   3. (3) The training program must be at least 24 hours in length, using the following minimum guidelines:

      1. (A) 1 hour to review applicable standards, codes, and laws, including the Plumbing License Law, Board Rules and the fire sprinkler rules, 28 TAC §§34.701 et seq., and their integration and identifying the enforcing authorities;
      2. (B) 4 hours to study definitions, to identify as a minimum the various types, specific parts, specific terminology and concepts of the system;
      3. (C) 4 hours to learn the acceptable type, material, location, limitation and correct installation of equipment including but not limited to pipe, fittings, valves, types of sprinkler heads, supports, drains, test connections, automatic by-pass valve, smoke alarm devices, other appurtenances;
      4. (D) 2 hours to learn the acceptable type, configuration, and material which may or may not be required for a water supply including but not limited to backflow preventers, shut off valves, water meters, water flow detectors, tamper switches, test connections, pressure gages, minimum pipe sizes, storage tanks, and wells including the ability to perform a water flow test of a city water supply;
      5. (E) 8 hours to learn which rooms require sprinklers and the correct positioning of a sprinkler head based on its type, listing, temperature rating, and the building structure including but not limited to understanding the concepts of the area of coverage, spacing, distance from walls and ceilings, listing limitations, dead air pockets, manufacturer's requirements and obtaining knowledge of how structural features such as flat, sloped, pocket, or open joist ceilings, close proximity to heat sources and other obstructions such as ceiling fans, surface mounted lights, beams, and soffits may adversely influence the location of a sprinkler head;
      6. (F) 3 hours to learn critical hydraulic concepts for the installer that may adversely affect the original design plan due to field construction changes including but not limited to remote area sprinkler operation, flow versus pressure, elevation pressure loss, sprinkler K-factors, fixture units, minimum pipe diameters, additional pipe lengths and understand which household water appliances affect or do not affect the sprinkler hydraulics/performance; and
      7. (G) 2 hours to learn the required testing, maintenance and documentation including but not limited to the final inspection and tests normally required by the local fire official (AHJ), when permits, working plans, as-built plans or hydraulic calculations are required and who provides for the system maintenance and instructions.
   4. (4) Any person who holds a valid Master or Journeyman Plumber license issued by the Board and a valid RME-General or RME-Dwelling license issued by the State Fire Marshal's Office, Texas Department of Insurance, is exempted from completing the Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist Endorsement training program described by this section prior to taking the Multipurpose Residential Fire Protection Sprinkler Specialist endorsement examination.

Source Note:The provisions of this §363.11 adopted to be effective December 8, 1993, 18 TexReg 8785; amended to be effective April 15, 1994, 19 TexReg 2279; amended to be effective June 2, 1994, 19 TexReg 3930; amended to be effective August 8, 1994, 19 TexReg 5710; amended to be effective October 12, 1994, 19 TexReg 7793; amended to be effective August 7, 1995, 20 TexReg 5502; amended to be effective June 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 4687; amended to be effective April 9, 1998, 23 TexReg 3446; amended to be effective January 30, 2001, 26 TexReg 975; amended to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 643; amended to be effective February 6, 2012, 37 TexReg 486; amended to be effective February 14, 2013, 38 TexReg 641.