Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) To be approved
as a training provider, the provider must first apply to the department for
approval and demonstrate in writing, using the department's form, that:
(a) training is one of the provider's
principal programs;
(b) the
provider offers training appropriate for water and wastewater treatment
operators; and
(c) that the
provider does not have a vested interest in selling or marketing any product or
service related to water or wastewater treatment other than training.
(2) Based on the written
submittal, the department may, in writing, approve the provider for educational
offerings under this rule for up to two years. The department may revoke its
approval of the training provider, in writing, for good cause, after notice and
an opportunity for an informal conference with the department.
(3) An approved training provider shall
provide the following documentation, maintain the following records, and make
such information available to the department upon request:
(a) Attendance registration forms must be
maintained. The provider shall keep registration forms on file for at least two
years. The registration forms must state:
(i)
the provider's name;
(ii) the title
of the course;
(iii) the date and
location of the course;
(iv) the
name of the person monitoring attendance at each course;
(v) each attendee's name and operator
number;
(vi) the water or
wastewater treatment system where each attendee is employed;
(vii) the number of continuing education
credits (credits) earned by each attendee; and
(viii) whether the course is facility-based
training.
(b) A notice
of a course sponsored by an approved training provider must be sent to the
department two weeks before the course begins, along with the training
announcement required under (3) (c) of this rule. The provider shall keep a
copy of this notice on file for at least two years. The notice must be on the
department's form or an equivalent form requiring the same information. The
notice must include:
(i) the name of the
training provider;
(ii) the title
of the course;
(iii) the number of
contact hours;
(iv) the class(es)
of certificate(s) for which the course is approved;
(v) any prerequisites;
(vi) the name(s) of the instructor(s) and
their qualifications for teaching the course as provided in (4) of this
rule;
(vii) location and date of
the course;
(viii) fee or
membership required; and
(ix) the
provider's contact person for the course.
(c) The provider shall prepare a training
announcement for each course announcing the availability of the course. The
provider shall send a copy of the training announcement to the department along
with the notice required in (3) (b) of this rule and shall keep the training
announcement on file for at least two years. The training announcement must
state:
(i) the classes of certification for
which the course is approved;
(ii)
the number of credits available;
(iii) a specific agenda;
(iv) identity and qualifications of the
instructor(s) ; and
(v) date(s) ,
location(s) , and fee.
(vi) In
addition, the training announcement must clearly inform attendees that they
will receive credit only if the attendee holds the class of certificate for
which the course is approved.
(d) The training provider shall provide each
attendee with a form on which attendees can evaluate the course. The course
evaluation form must, at a minimum, provide attendees with the opportunity to
state how the course might be improved, whether the course imparts knowledge
that is useful to attendees and attendee's evaluation of instructor(s) . The
training provider shall keep course evaluations on file for at least two
years.
(e) The training provider
shall distribute to each attendee a continuing education credit report form
provided by the department to be filled out by the attendee.
(i) Attendees shall fill out the form by
providing:
(A) their name;
(B) certification class and type;
(C) system operated;
(D) address; and
(E) instructions for applying credits
earned.
(ii) Attendees
shall return the credit report form to the training provider. The provider
shall complete the form adding information concerning:
(A) course title, location and
date;
(B) subject of training
including whether credits are available for more than one class of
certificate;
(C) number of credits
earned by each attendee; and
(D)
whether the course is facility-based training.
(iii) The provider shall verify the
information by signing the form and shall send the completed and signed form to
the department within two weeks after the end of the course.
(iv) The department shall count continuing
education credits taken by a certified operator in the month of June of each
even-numbered year toward satisfying the operator's continuing education
requirements for the next continuing education two-year period only.
(v) For continuing education credits taken
during a continuing education two-year period to count toward satisfying a
certified operator's continuing education requirements, those credits must be
reported on credit report forms received by the department by June 15 of each
even-numbered year. If credits sufficient to satisfy the continuing education
requirements are not so reported, the certificate of the operator may be
suspended or revoked as set forth in ARM
17.40.213.
(vi) The department shall keep the credit
report forms on file for at least two years.
(f) The provider shall keep copies on file of
any written instructional materials or exams used in the course for at least
two years.
(4) In order
for a course to qualify for credits, all instructors must:
(a) have at least four years' practical
experience in the subject matter to be presented;
(b) have experience as a professional trainer
in the subject matter to be presented;
(c) be selected or recommended as an
instructor by a nationally known water or wastewater organization;
(d) be professional or technical staff of the
department or another Montana state or federal agency with expertise in the
subject matter to be presented; or
(e) be approved by the department based on
instructor's education and experience in the subject matter to be
presented.
(5) The
training provider shall determine, subject to department approval, the number
of credits available and to what class(es) of certificate(s) credits apply in
accordance with ARM 17.40.213. The provider shall include this information in
the training announcement as required in (3) (c) of this rule.