1. (a) Before an applicant may take an examination for a Tradesman Plumber-Limited license or Journeyman Plumber license, the applicant must complete classroom training provided by a board-approved instructor in a board-approved training program in the areas of health and safety, the latest versions of plumbing codes adopted by the Board, and water conservation for at least:

   1. (1) 24 hours, if the applicant is applying to take a Tradesman Plumber-Limited License examination; or
   2. (2) 48 hours, if the applicant is applying to take a Journeyman Plumber examination.

2. (b) The classroom training shall include the following Continuing Professional Education (CPE) classes as provided by §365.14 of this title (relating to Continuing Professional Education Programs):

   1. (1) one six hour CPE class, if the applicant is applying for a Tradesman Plumber-Limited license; or
   2. (2) two six hour CPE classes, if the applicant is applying for a Journeyman Plumber license.

3. (c) In addition to the CPE classes required by subsection (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, applicants for a Tradesman Plumber-Limited License and Journeyman Plumber license must complete the OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training, including Construction Mandatory Topics Review, as set forth in paragraphs (1) - (9) of this subsection:

   1. (1) Introduction to OSHA (1 hour);

   2. (2) OSHA Focus on Four Hazards (2 hours), including:

      1. (A) Fall Protection;
      2. (B) Electrical;
      3. (C) Caught in Between; and
      4. (D) Struck By;
   3. (3) Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment (1 hour);

   4. (4) Health Hazards in Construction (1 hour), including:

      1. (A) Hazard Communication; and
      2. (B) Silica;

   5. (5) Tools (1 hour), including:

      1. (A) hand tools; and
      2. (B) power tools;
   6. (6) Excavations (1 hour);
   7. (7) Stairways and Ladders (1 hour);
   8. (8) Hazardous Materials (1 hour); and
   9. (9) Introduction to Industrial Hygiene and Blood Borne Pathogens (1 hour).

4. (d) In addition to the CPE classes and OSHA training required by subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (c) of this section, applicants for a Tradesman Plumber-Limited License and Journeyman Plumber license must complete eight hours of classroom training, as set forth in paragraphs (1) - (7) of this subsection:

   1. (1) two hours, to include:

      1. (A) reading and understanding residential construction drawings;
      2. (B) learning the basics of math for plumbing;
      3. (C) drawing rough in and riser diagrams;

   2. (2) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapter on Fuel Gas, including:

      1. (A) definitions;
      2. (B) pipe sizing and layout; and
      3. (C) testing and inspections;

   3. (3) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapter on General Plumbing Requirements, including:

      1. (A) individual water supply and sewage disposal;
      2. (B) structural and piping protection, including notching and boring;
      3. (C) trenching and backfilling;
      4. (D) workmanship and waterproofing penetrations; and
      5. (E) listed, labeled and approved materials;

   4. (4) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapters on Plumbing Fixtures and Water Heaters, including:

      1. (A) the installation of plumbing fixtures and accessories;
      2. (B) water heater installation and replacement, including hazards of improper installations; and
      3. (C) water heater safety devices and alternative methods of existing installations not to code;

   5. (5) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapter on Water Supply and Distribution, including:

      1. (A) understanding and principals of backflow protection for potable water systems;
      2. (B) water supply systems, including thermal expansion control and water hammer arrestors;
      3. (C) water conservation and maximum flow for plumbing fixtures;
      4. (D) sizing and pressures of potable water systems from the meter throughout distribution to fixture connections;
      5. (E) materials and installation of potable water piping;
      6. (F) demonstration of soldering and brazing according to B-828 standards;
      7. (G) hangers, anchors and supports; and
      8. (H) drinking water treatment units;

   6. (6) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapters on Sanitary Drainage and Vents, including:

      1. (A) materials and installation of drainage systems including proper grade and changes in direction of fittings;
      2. (B) preparation of piping;
      3. (C) standards for solvent cementing of pipe and fittings;
      4. (D) cast iron piping and fittings;
      5. (E) location and installation of cleanouts;
      6. (F) sumps and ejectors sizing and installation;
      7. (G) understanding the principals and physics of proper venting;
      8. (H) installation of different types of venting systems; and
      9. (I) improper connections and prohibited venting applications;

   7. (7) one hour to review the International Residential Code chapter on Traps, including:

      1. (A) design and prohibited traps;
      2. (B) sizing and installation of traps and trap arms; and
      3. (C) trap protection.

5. (e) In addition to the training required by subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (c) of this section, applicants for a Journeyman Plumber license must complete 18 hours of classroom training in certain chapters of the Uniform Plumbing Code, International Plumbing Code, or the International Fuel Gas Code (as appropriate); the Texas Accessibility Standards, the Americans with Disabilities Act; and water conservation, as set forth in paragraphs (1) - (12) of this subsection:

   1. (1) 1 hour to review the chapters on General Regulations;

   2. (2) 1 hour to review the chapters on Plumbing Fixtures and Fixture Fittings, including:

      1. (A) general requirements and water conservation information for plumbing fixtures;
      2. (B) commercial plumbing fixtures; and
      3. (C) location and installation requirements for fixtures and fixture fittings;

   3. (3) 2 hours to review the chapters on Water Heaters, including:

      1. (A) general regulations for water heater installation and replacement, including hazards of improper installations;
      2. (B) safety requirements for commercial water heaters;
      3. (C) different types of water heaters available, including installations; and
      4. (D) safety devices and alternative methods to bring existing installations into compliance with plumbing codes;

   4. (4) 2 hours to review the chapters on Water Supply and Distribution, including:

      1. (A) installation of potable water systems;
      2. (B) pipe sizing of water supply and distribution;

   5. (5) 2 hours to review the chapters on Sanitary Drainage, including:

      1. (A) understanding commercial plumbing; and
      2. (B) pipe sizing of sanitary waste;

   6. (6) 1 hour to review the chapters on Indirect Wastes, including:

      1. (A) applications accepted for indirect waste systems, both air-gap and air-break; and
      2. (B) understanding the reason for indirect waste systems;

   7. (7) 2 hours to review the chapters on Vents, including:

      1. (A) physics and importance of proper venting;
      2. (B) different venting methods, including vent termination;
      3. (C) special venting for island fixtures, and combination waste and vent systems; and
      4. (D) pipe sizing of vents;

   8. (8) 1 hour to review the chapters on Traps and Interceptors, including:

      1. (A) physics and importance of trap protection;
      2. (B) grease interceptor design, installation and maintenance according to Plumbing Drainage Institute; and
      3. (C) different types of interceptors and applications according to code;

   9. (9) 1 hour to review the chapters on Storm Drainage, including:

      1. (A) basic design, materials and installation of storm water systems;
      2. (B) hazards of improper installations; and
      3. (C) testing procedures for storm drainage systems;

   10. (10) 2 hours to review the chapters on Fuel Gas Piping, including:

       1. (A) hazards of improperly designed or installed fuel gas piping and appliances;
       2. (B) approved materials and methods, including pipe and fittings; and
       3. (C) combustion air requirements;
   11. (11) 1 hour to review the basic installation of handicapped plumbing fixtures for commercial projects, as required by the Texas Accessibility Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
   12. (12) 2 hours to review new technology which promotes water and energy conservation, including rain water harvesting, solar energy, and water smart applications.

6. (f) The Board will approve only Course Providers and Course Instructors who are approved to provide and instruct Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses, under §365.14 of this title, to provide and instruct the classroom training required by this section, with the following exception:

   1. (1) an instructor must be certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to provide the training required under subsection (c) of this section; and
   2. (2) any person who is not approved to teach CPE under §365.14 of this title, but is certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, may provide training through a Course Provider, for the OSHA training course referenced in subsection (c) of this section.

7. (g) Course Providers and Course Instructors may be approved to provide the classroom training required under this section without submitting a separate application in addition to the application required to be approved to provide and instruct CPE, under §365.14 of this title.

   1. (1) Any Course Provider or Course Instructor whose approval to provide or instruct CPE courses under §365.14 of this title is suspended or revoked for any reason, is not approved to provide or instruct the classroom training required under this section.
   2. (2) Course Providers and Course Instructors shall adhere to the instruction criteria in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 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.
   3. (3) Course Providers or Course instructors shall provide notice of intent to conduct training required by this section, in the same manner required by §365.14(b)(10) of this title.
   4. (4) Course Instructors shall abide by the same standards of conduct described in §365.14(c) of this title, when providing the training required by this section.

8. (h) 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 for each increment completed.

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

      1. (A) the names of the Course Provider and Course Instructor;
      2. (B) the name and registration or license number of the student;
      3. (C) the specific instruction and number of hours completed; and
      4. (D) the date that the increment of instruction was completed.
   2. (2) The Course Provider shall maintain a record of the information contained on each certificate of completion for at least six years.

9. (i) The applicant for examination is responsible for the safe keeping of each original certificate of completion earned by the applicant, until such time that the applicant:

   1. (1) has completed the training required under this section;
   2. (2) has met all other requirements under §363.1 of this chapter (relating to Qualifications), to qualify to take a Tradesman Plumber-Limited or Journeyman Plumber examination; and
   3. (3) submits the original certificates of completion along with the appropriate examination application and other required documentation to the Board.
10. (j) Providing false certificates of completion or any other false information to the Board may result in denial of the applicant's examination application and may result in additional disciplinary action, as provided by the Plumbing License Law, Board Rules or other laws of this state.

Source Note:The provisions of this §363.12 adopted to be effective February 4, 2010, 35 TexReg 646.