Continuing Education Guidelines & Definitions

EFFECTIVE DATE:
A North Carolina Irrigation Contractors’ License is required by North Carolina General Statute 89G effective January 1, 2009.

HOURS REQUIRED:
In order for a licensee to qualify for license renewal as an Irrigation Contractor in North Carolina, the licensee must have completed ten (10) units of approved continuing education within the previous renewal period, January 1 – December 31. These ten (10) units can be a combination of 6-8 units of irrigation credits and 2-4 units of business credits.  The North Carolina Irrigation Contractors’ Licensing Board shall approve all continuing education activities. Individuals who have passed the Board Exam or CIC exam are not required to obtain additional CEU credit in the year the exam was passed but must submit a CEU affidavit form to the board indicating passage of the exam. CEU credit shall be as noted by each approved activity.

CARRYOVER:
A maximum of eight (8) irrigation credit units and four (4) business units may be carried over for next year’s renewal with no more than a total of ten (10) units carried over from one year to the next.  There are some categories of CEUs that are not allowed carryover which are described in the CEU Categories found on this website.

REPORTING:
Each year licensees shall be responsible for filing with the board an affidavit of continuing education activity completed. This form is provided by the Board and is on the back side of the Renewal Form.  CEU credits are reported on the honor system.  Once the renewal period is over the Board will audit 10-20% of licensees.  At this time the licensee will be required to provide “proof of attendance” to the Board.  Erroneous or false information attested to by the licensee shall be deemed as grounds for denial of license renewal.

QUALIFIED CREDIT:
The Board encourages each licensee to vary the means by which  the continuing education requirements are satisfied.  Such requirements shall be fulfilled through active participation in courses, seminars, sessions, programs, self-directed activities and/or educationally related activities as approved by the Board. Each course, seminar, session or program to be recommended for approval by the Board shall have a direct relationship to the practice of Irrigation Contracting as defined in Chapter 89G of the General Statute of North Carolina and contain elements which will enhance the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of North Carolina. A full description of qualified credit can be obtained by referring to CEU Categories found on the website.

SPECIAL REQUEST:
The Board will consider any reasonable special requests from individual licensees for continuing education credits and procedures. The Board may, in individual cases involving physical disability, illness, or extenuating circumstances, grant a hardship or extension. An extension of the continuing education requirements shall be for a period of time not to exceed one year, except in the case of military obligations in which case the Board will grant exceptions as necessary. No extension of time shall be granted unless the licensee submits a written request to the Board.

SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITIES:
The Board will allow self-directed activities to fulfill the continuing education requirements of the licensee.  When submitted for review, the licensee must be aware that self-directed activities must be documented by the licensee within the current year reporting period.  Self-directed activities may include self-study courses, research, field studies, teaching of irrigation courses or workshops or tours as they relate to the profession of Irrigation Contracting.  Full-time academics may not include studies customarily associated with their usual university or college instructional teaching loads.

DEADLINE:
Continuing Education Applications are approved by committee once a month.  Applications submitted after November 15 cannot be guaranteed for approval within the license renewal year.  If the Continuing Education Application is received on or before November 15, it will be evaluated in time to avoid delay in the renewal of your license.  The six week window between the deadline for receipt of the Continuing Education Activity Form and the renewal of license deadline will provide the licensee with the opportunity to:

• be notified that his/her Continuing Education activity has been approved or denied;
• resubmit an application which has been given a deferred status (due to incompleteness or other reasons);
• submit other activities if any of the applicant’s initial submittals have not been approved.

Any renewal of license application which does not include the required signed statement of continuing education will not be accepted by the Board.  The application will be returned to the applicant.

FAILURE TO COMPLY:
Failure of a licensee to complete the continuing education requirements as set forth, or failure to file a report of completed continuing education, or failure to submit a written request for an extension shall be grounds for denial of license renewal and possible forfeiture of license.

BOARD DENIAL:
If the Board disapproves the submitted Continuing Education Application in whole or part, the licensee will be so notified and will be granted 30 days by the Board to correct the deficiencies noted unless further time is granted by the board.

APPEAL:
In the event of denial, in whole or part, of any Continuing Education Application the licensee shall have the right to submit a written appeal to the Board within 30 days of the date of notification of the denial. The appeal will be considered and the decision of the Board will be final.