SUMMARY REPORT OF PRESENTATION TITLED, “AN OVERVIEW: THE ADVANCED COURSE ACCREDITATION PROCESS’, GIVEN AT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LICENSING BOARD MEETING

The Education Administrator gave a one-hour presentation, titled “An Overview: The Advanced Course Accreditation Process”, on September 13, 2006. This presentation was given to approximately 150 training providers and staff, who were attending a Construction Industry Licensing Board meeting in Orlando, Florida. The major topics covered were the following:

• Explanation of the broad overview of the advanced course accreditation process, using a flowchart

• Explanation of the specific steps of the FBC accreditation process, using a flowchart

• Explanation of the roles and responsibilities of the Building Code Education and Outreach Council

• How to register on the BCIS as a training provider

• Course development information, that included:

o The total # of courses listed on the BCIS, and how many of those courses were bought, and how many were developed

o A strong reminder that the FBC/DCA is not now in the course development business---the burden now rests with the training providers to develop courses

o A reminder that course materials need to be in a PDF format, in order to be uploaded into the BCIS

o A list of the elements that make up a course syllabus and training materials (Newly adopted POC language)

o A reminder that at least 50% of the actual training materials content must be code related (Newly adopted POC language)

• Explanation of the 60 day course materials updating language, with a reminder that the 2006 Supplement will be available very soon (Newly adopted POC language)

• Directions on the BCIS as to where to find the 2006 Supplement

• Directions on the BCIS as to how to find an accreditor

• Explanation of the language regarding submittal of courses no later than 23 calendar days prior to the next Commission meeting, for inclusion on POC agenda (Newly adopted POC language)

• Explanation of the administrative approval process

• Explanation (and BCIS directions) regarding how to apply for a new course as a provider

• Explanation (and BCIS directions) regarding how to buy a course online, as a provider.

The presentation seemed to be well received, with participants expressing an appreciation for receipt of this information. There were questions directed at most of the covered topics, but most were either procedural (about a process) or navigational (relating to moving around within the BCIS). Two perceived issues emanated from the discussion. The first had to do with the newly adopted POC language that states “a minimum of 50% of the actual training materials content had to be code related”. The actual issue relates to the CILB requirement for license renewal, which states that each licensee must take a one-hour advanced course for said renewal. If the 50% language were applied to a one-hour course, then in reality only 30 minutes of the course had to be code related. As stated, the CILB wants their licensees to take a one-hour (60 minutes) advanced course that is code related. The other issue had to do with providers and/or provider/accreditors who develop courses or update parts of current courses, has them appropriately accredited, and then sells them to other providers, specifically, (1) do those developed or updated courses have to be re-accredited and, (2) can the accreditor/provider accredit those courses they developed or updated and then sold to other providers.