TCEQ Occupational Licensing Approved Training Provider Responsibilities and

TCEQ Occupational Licensing Approved Training Provider Responsibilities and Audit Preparation Linda Saladino Section Manager Occupational Licensing

Overview and Purpose TCEQ • TCEQ Training Rules & Regulations • TCEQ Regulatory Guidance RG-373: Approval of Training For Occupational Licensing • Provider’s Responsibilities • TCEQ Training Program Audit – Selection Criteria – Desktop, Online, On-Site • Summary and Recap

TCEQ Rules and Regulations TCEQ Title 30, Part 1, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § Definitions – 30 TAC § 30. 7 § Approval of Training – 30 TAC § 30. 28 o Added to Rules in 2007 Image: screenshot of TAC code

Regulatory Guidance TCEQ RG-373: TCEQ Regulatory Guidance Updated 2017 • Image: cover of RG

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Providers Shall… Follow the requirements listed in 30 TAC § 30. 28 (q). Start with— Be responsible for content and delivery of the training.

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Content Updates • Keep manuals and training content updated to reflect rule changes. • Resubmit updated training to TCEQ for review within 180 days of a new rule adoption. • If substantial changes are made - submit to the TCEQ the following items. o o o Summary list Highlight changes Other method showing what was changed

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Records Retention Retain training records for a minimum of 5 years. § Can be electronic § Must be able to verify student completion of training

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Approval Records Maintain records of approval for the entire time actively providing training! • TCEQ approval letters • Instructor/proctor qualifications • Training materials developed for the training • Lesson plans, manuals, agendas Image: filing cabinet

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training References • Obtain permission to use copyrighted materials & information. • Reference sources of material/information used in training. • Modify to apply to the target audience and mode of training.

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Fees Notify students of all fees up front before enrollment! Fee for…. • Certificate? Image: dollar sign • Reporting? • Retesting? • Membership? • Software?

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Qualified Instructors Ensure classroom instructors are qualified: • Current Notice of Instructor Qualification • 1990’s instructor “approvals” should be re-evaluated • Meet current requirements 1. Valid, appropriate license 2. 60 hours of instructional experience 3. 3 years of hands-on experience Contact TCEQ for instructor qualification applications

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Qualified Instructors Instructor Qualification Forms must be submitted to TCEQ for review by approved providers Contact TCEQ for instructor qualification applications

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Subject Matter Experts (SME) Presenters and course content developers must be SMEs. Image: picture of Einstein Who is an SME? A person having a minimum of three years of work-related experience or expert knowledge in a particular content area related to the training topic.

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Environment • No promotion of products or services from: Image: car salesman o Manufacturers; o Distributors; or o Service providers. • Training location and atmosphere should be conducive to learning. • Must NOT be held in a place of business of a product manufacturer, distributor, or service provider directly related to the occupational license.

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Credit Advertisement • Clearly & accurately advertise approved credit hours • Receive TCEQ approval prior to advertising as approved • Approved program credit ex. Water, Irrigation, etc. • Inform licensees that distance learning training repeated within the renewal period will NOT receive training credit § Notice on web page § Prior to enrolling in training § Do not report the training § Can repeat a training but it will not count towards continuing education hours

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Verify participation Imagine: student not paying attention in class. • Attendance alone does not automatically constitute submittal of training hours. • Training credit for students who are disruptive, sleeping, or otherwise inattentive SHOULD NOT be reported.

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Reporting Training (continued) Training Credit Rosters: § Reported hours must not exceed approved training credit hours § May only include students who successfully completed training § Must be submitted within 14 business days. Image: screenshot of TCEQ online reporting of CE

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Audits Purpose: To ensure provider compliance with provider responsibilities. Image: audit books

Provider’s Responsibilities TCEQ Training Audits Allow agency staff access to training to: § Audit training content; § Manner of presentation; and § Instructor effectiveness & qualifications Image: audit books

Training Program Audit Selection Criteria • Recall • Core training (required to obtain a license) • Training with a wide impact • Complaints • Compliance History (at-risk) • New training or new provider TCEQ

Summary and Recap TCEQ Takeaways • Keep training content updated to reflect rule changes. • Be responsible for the content and delivery of the training. • Retain accurate training records for a minimum of five years and training approval records “forever”. • Notify students of all fees associated with completing and obtaining credit for training before and during the training.

Summary and Recap TCEQ Takeaways (continued) • Deliver the training as approved • Verify hours successfully completed • Use only qualified instructors and SMEs • Allow TCEQ access to audit training • Obtain permission to use copyrighted information • Report only completed hours timely – within 14 days • No promotion of products or services

Summary and Recap TCEQ Final Thoughts • Demonstrate high standards of conduct. • Do not discriminate against, embarrass, or harass students. • Respect students’ gender, age, race, national origin, religion, socioeconomic circumstances or disability. • Display a high level of sensitivity to students’ learning styles and needs. • Be sure subject matter experts, and instructors meet these standards also. Be a role model for your students.

Contact TCEQ Linda Saladino, OL Section Manager Phone: 512 -239 -0178 Email: Linda. Saladino@tceq. texas. gov Sarita Nazareth, Training Work Lead Phone: 512 -239 -6189 Email: Sarita. Nazareth@tceq. texas. gov • Image: TCEQ logo