Chapter 553-12 LICENSE RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Rule 553-12-.01 License Renewal Residential Basic and Residential Light Commercial
| (1) | An application for renewal of a license, via mail or online, must be accompanied by a renewal fee as set by the Board and attestation of continuing education hours as required by the Board. Continuing Education requirements will begin with the 2012 renewal period. Continuing Education will not be required for the 2010 renewal. |
| (2) | The biennial renewal fee, set by the Board, is due and payable by June 30 of even numbered years. Any continuing education hours acquired to renew that license during the penalty period may not be used again during the next renewal cycle. |
| (3) | A penalty fee as determined by the Board shall be applicable to any applicant renewing his or her license after June 30 and through December 31 of the renewal period. Failure to renew a license by December 31 shall have the same effect as a revocation of said license. Reinstatement of a license shall be at the discretion of the Board, which may require that a completed application for licensure, including all applicable fees and other required information be submitted as if it was a new application. At the discretion of the Board, an applicant for reinstatement of a license may be required to successfully pass an examination. |
| (4) | An applicant for renewal of a license, via mail or online, must answer questions relating to his or her or company's insurance and financial state along with other questions pertaining to any applicable laws. |
| (5) | A licensee must produce, upon request of the Board, documents to support any or all of the sworn statements or affirmations made on a renewal application. |
Rule 553-12-.02 Continuing Education-Residential
| (1) | Residential contractors by virtue of their training, education and/or experience have been licensed by the State Licensing Board for Residential and General contractors and therefore are eligible to provide the public with needed professional services. In furnishing these services the licensed residential contractor occupies a unique position of public trust. It is essential in maintaining this trust that each licensed residential contractor continuously strive to increase his or her technical skills and knowledge. |
| (2) | Pursuant
to the provision of O. C. G. A Section
43-41-6(k), the
Residential Division prescribes the following regulations establishing
requirements of continuing professional education to be met from time to time
by licensed residential contractors in order to demonstrate that they are
continuing their professional education as a condition to continued licensure
beginning with the 2012 renewal cycle.
|
Rule 553-12-.03 Program Which Qualify
| (1) | The overriding consideration in determining whether a specific program qualifies as acceptable continuing education is that it be a formal program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competence of an individual licensed to practice as a residential contractor by this State, and which meets the minimum standards of quality of development and presentation and of measurement and reporting of credits as may be established from time to time by the Residential Division. |
| (2) | Subject Matter: The
following general subject matters are acceptable so long as they meet the
standards specified in subsection (1):
|
| (3) | Subjects of study other than those listed above will be acceptable if the applicant or program provider can demonstrate to the Residential Division that the subjects contribute directly to the professional competence of an individual licensed to practice as a residential contractor by this State. The responsibility for substantiating that a particular program is acceptable and meets the requirements rests upon the applicant or program provider. Applications for approval of subjects other than those listed in subsection (2) above shall be submitted to the Residential Division. Such applications shall include the name of the program provider, the instructor(s) for the program, the location of the program, a description of the program's content and how the proposed program satisfies the requirements of subsection (1), and a program outline. The Residential Division must approve the application before the provider may offer the class for continuing education credit. |
| (4) | Continuing
education hours may be obtained via classroom courses and/or online or
correspondence courses. Online and correspondence courses may not exceed 50% of
the continuing education hours required.
|
Rule 553-12-.04 Controls and Reporting
| (1) | An applicant for renewal of a license must provide a signed statement or affirmative response if renewing online, under oath, that all applicable continuing education requirements have been met. |
| (2) | All licensees shall
maintain their records confirming attendance at and completion of continuing
education, including the following information:
|
| (3) | Records described in paragraph (2) of this section must be maintained by each licensee and program provider for two (2) years following the end of the biennium and must be submitted to the Board upon request. |
| (4) | Evidence of satisfactory completion shall take the form of certificates of completion, attendance records, examination, transcripts, or other such independently verifiable evidence acceptable to the Board. |
| (5) | The Board will verify on a test basis information submitted by applicants for license renewals. In cases where the Board determines that the requirement is not met, the Board may grant an additional period of time in which the deficiencies may be cured. |
Rule 553-12-.05 License Renewal - General Contractor Limited Tier and General Contractor Unlimited
| (1) | An application for renewal of a license, via mail or online, must be accompanied by a renewal fee as set by the Board. |
| (2) | The biennial renewal fee, set by the Board, is due and payable by June 30 of even numbered years. Any continuing education hours acquired to renew that license during the penalty period may not be used again during the next renewal cycle. |
| (3) | A penalty fee as determined by the Board shall be applicable to any applicant renewing his or her license after June 30 and through December 31 of the renewal period. Failure to renew a license by December 31 shall have the same effect as a revocation of said license. Reinstatement of a license shall be at the discretion of the Board, which may require that a completed application for licensure, including all applicable fees and other required information be submitted as if it was a new application. At the discretion of the Board, an applicant for reinstatement of a license may be required to successfully pass an examination. |
| (4) | An applicant for renewal of a license, via mail or online, must answer questions relating to his or her or company's insurance and financial state along with other questions pertaining to any applicable laws. |
| (5) | A licensee must produce, upon request of the Board, documents to support any or all of the sworn statements or affirmations made on a renewal application. |
Rule 553-12-.06 Revocation for Failure to Renew and Reinstatement
| (1) | Failure to renew a license within the six months late renewal period ending December 31 of the renewal year shall have the same effect as revocation of the license. |
| (2) | Persons not renewing within the 6 months late period may apply for reinstatement of the license by submitting a reinstatement application with a reinstatement fee established by the Board. Residential applicants must submit evidence of attendance of the required approved continuing education for each biennium that the license was lapsed. |
| (3) | The reinstatement of any license shall be at the sole discretion of the appropriate division and such division may deny the license or approve such license with any conditions it may deem necessary, including but not limited to the retaking of the licensure examination. |
| (4) | Denial of a reinstatement application is not considered a contested case under the APA. |