CHAPTER 9B-70 FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION - BUILDING CODE TRAINING PROGRAM

9B-70.001 Building Code Core Education.

The purpose of the Building Code Training Program is to educate licensed building department personnel, contractors, and design

professionals through required core curriculum courses or equivalency examination that addresses the Florida Building Code.

(1) The Core Curriculum:

(a) The Core Curriculum is comprised of the Basic Core Course that emphasizes the administrative, enforcement and

procedural aspects of the Florida Building Code and updates and amendments thereto. Licensees regulated under Chapters 468,

Part XII, 481, and 489, Parts I and II, F.S., shall at a minimum complete the course by June 1, 2003 or within two (2) years of initial

certification or registration, whichever is later. Licensees regulated under Chapter 471, F.S., are required to complete the core

course only if the licensee actively participates in designing buildings, structures, or facilities covered by the Florida Building

Code.

(b) The Core Course shall be delivered by providers approved by the respective licensing standards board, or by the

Department of Business and Professional Regulation, if there is no board. Licensees will receive four (4) hours of continuing

education credit for each core course completed.

(c) Licensees who hold more than one certificate or registration issued by a board and licensees regulated by more than one

board will be required to complete one core course one time.

(d) The core course shall be delivered through customized instructor-led training at multiple sites, Internet, or CD-ROM

supported interactive multimedia training materials as provided by the appropriate licensing board in their continuing education

rules.

(e) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall assign generic course numbers which must be used by all

providers when reporting completion of the core courses by electronic means to the Department of Community Affairs.

(2) Equivalency examination:

(a) The equivalency examination shall include and measure the same areas of competency covered in the Basic Core course.

The equivalency examination will be updated every third year to reflect the new edition of the Florida Building Code.

(b) Passing the equivalency examination shall be considered equivalent to completing the Basic Core course and the licensee

will receive four (4) hours of continuing education credit.

(c) The licensee shall be required to achieve a passing status on the equivalency examination to receive four (4) hours

continuing education credit.

(d) The equivalency examination shall be administered at multiple sites located throughout the state.

(e) Security measures as set forth by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Rule 61-11.014, F.A.C., shall

be followed during the administration of the equivalency examination.

(f) If the licensee does not pass the equivalency examination, and subsequently completes a core course, the licensee shall be

deemed to have met the requirements for license renewal and will receive four (4) hours of continuing education credit.

Specific Authority 553.841(2) FS. Law Implemented 553.841 FS. History–New 4-20-00, Amended 10-14-01, 6-13-04, 6-8-05.

9B-70.002 Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses.

(1) Approval of Course Accreditors. The Commission shall approve persons or entities to serve as accreditors of advanced

training courses. Persons or entities desiring to be accreditors shall apply using Form FBCED 2003-001 adopted herein by

reference and available from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org. Applications shall be

accompanied by an application fee of $100.00. Applications shall be approved by the Commission if the applicant has

demonstrated sufficient expertise in the field for which approval is sought.

(2) Accreditor Review of Courses. Accreditors shall review courses submitted by course developers and providers approved by

the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to determine if the course contains the following:

(a) Goals and measurable objectives;

(b) Topical outline of the course components in order of presentation;

(c) Teaching methods can include one or more, but not limited to: exercises, quizzes, discussion groups, reading assignments,

projects, simulations, and presentations; and

(d) Teaching resources and course references cited in the course materials.

(e) Course materials accurately reflect the Florida Building Code and other topics under the jurisdiction of the Florida Building

Commission.

(3) Course Accreditation by the Florida Building Commission. Accredited Courses are to effectively and accurately address

the technical and administrative responsibilities in the effective execution of the Florida Building Code. In the event the

Commission identifies areas or topics of advanced Building Code education with an insufficient number of courses available

through existing resources, the Commission shall report the areas or topics to the appropriate licensing board. If additional courses

9B-70.001 Building Code Core Education.

9B-70.002 Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training Courses.

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do not become available within six months of notification to the licensing board, upon a finding that the absence of course work in

the identified subject area is detrimental to the effective administration and enforcement of the Florida Building Code, and funds

are available in the Commission’s budget for course development, the Commission will develop a minimum of one (1) course that

will be made available to training providers.

(a) Training providers approved by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation who desire Commission approval

and accreditation for advanced Building Code courses shall register with the Building Code Information System Form FBCED

2003-002, Provider Registration, adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information System at

www.floridabuilding.org, and pay a registration fee of $25.00.

(b) Registered training providers shall submit materials and information pertaining to courses for which Commission

accreditation and approval is sought utilizing Form FBCED 2003-003, Course Accreditation Application, adopted herein by

reference and available from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org.

(c) The provider shall select an approved accreditor and shall provide payment for services directly to the accreditor. The

accreditor selected shall meet the criteria for independence identified in paragraph (d).

(d) Upon submittal by a training provider, the selected accreditor shall receive an e-mail notification and shall review the

materials provided by the provider in accordance with the criteria identified herein. The accreditor shall complete the application by

providing comments containing the results of the accreditor’s review and updating the Accreditation Approval Status on the

Building Code Information System. The accreditor shall also provide a certification of independence that attests the person or entity

does not have, nor does it intend to acquire or will acquire, a financial interest in the training provider seeking accreditation.

(e) The Building Code Information System shall assign an accreditation number to the application and the application shall be

scheduled for review by the Florida Building Commission. The application shall be reviewed and action taken on the accreditation

and approval of the materials at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Florida Building Commission which occurs more than 30

days from the date the accreditation number is assigned.

(f) Accreditation of revisions to accredited courses shall be accomplished in the same manner as described in paragraphs (a)

through (d) hereof, except that only the revision submitted shall be subject to review.

Specific Authority 553.841(2) FS. Law Implemented 553.841 FS. History–New 6-8-05