Section 1480.185  Continuing Education

The continuing education required as a condition for license renewal under this Act is set forth in this Section.  All structural engineers shall meet these requirements.

a)         Continuing Education Requirements

1)         Beginning with the November 30, 2004 renewal and for every renewal thereafter, renewal applicants shall complete 30 hours of Continuing Education (CE) relevant to the practice of structural engineering during each prerenewal period. The prerenewal period is the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the license.  Failure to comply with these requirements may result in non-renewal of the structural engineer's license or other disciplinary action, or both.

2)         A renewal applicant is not required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal following the original issuance of the license.

3)         Structural engineers licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in another state must comply with the CE requirements set forth in this Section.  Continuing education credit hours used to satisfy the CE requirements of another state and meeting the requirements of this Section may be submitted toward fulfillment of the CE requirements of the State of Illinois.

4)         The minimum length of the technical portion of any single CE activity is 1 hour. After completion of the initial CE hour, credit may be given in one-half hour increments.

5)         Nontechnical portions of a program, such as receptions, dinners, etc., do not qualify for credit as CE.

b)         Activities for which CE credit may be earned are as follows:

1)         Course work relevant to structural engineering completed at an accredited college or university.  One semester credit hour of course work is equivalent to 15 hours of CE and one quarter credit hour of course work is equivalent to 10 hours of CE.

2)         A maximum of 10 CE credit hours per prerenewal period may be earned for the completion of a self-administered course. Each self-administered course shall include an examination that will be graded by the sponsor.

3)         Successful completion of continuing education courses.  Credit for courses will be based on one CE credit hour for each hour of attendance.

4)         A maximum of 10 CE credit hours per prerenewal period may be earned for attending in-house courses.  Credit for in-house courses will be based on one CE credit for each hour of attendance.

5)         Attending workshops or professional or technical meetings, conventions or conferences.  Attendance at qualifying programs, professional and/or technical society meetings will earn CE credits for the actual time of each program.

6)         Teaching or presenting in the activities described in subsections (b)(1) through (5). CE credit will be applied at the rate of 3 hours for every hour taught, and only for the first presentation of the program (i.e., credit shall not be allowed for repetitious presentations of the same program).

7)         Authoring published papers, articles or books.  The preparation of each published paper or book chapter dealing with structural engineering may be claimed as 10 hours of CE credit.

8)         Two hours per committee membership of CE credit may be earned by active participation on a committee in a professional or technical society per committee membership.  A maximum of 10 CE credit hours total will be accepted per prerenewal period.

c)         All programs or courses shall:

1)         Contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional skills and scientific knowledge of the licensee in practice of structural engineering;

2)         Foster the enhancement of general or specialized practice and values of structural engineering;

3)         Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program; and

4)         Specify the course objectives, course content and teaching methods to be used.

d)         Acceptable providers for programs or course activities shall include, but not be limited to:

1)         Technical or professional societies or organizations relating to structural engineering; or

2)         Colleges, universities or other accredited educational institutions.

e)         It shall be the responsibility of a licensee to maintain a record of CE for 5 years that includes the following:

1)         The name and address of the sponsor or presenter;

2)         A brief statement of the subject matter, printed program schedules, registration receipts or other proof of participation;

3)         The number of hours attended in each program;

4)         The date and place of the program; or

5)         Certificate of attendance, transcript or records of CE credits maintained by an acceptable provider of continuing education or a records administrator, or log of activities that include activities for CE credit not given by a CE provider.

f)          Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements

1)         Each renewal applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the CE requirements set forth in subsection (a).

2)         The Department may require additional documentation in order to demonstrate compliance with the CE requirements.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.  Such additional documentation will be required in the context of a Department audit.

3)         When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant will be notified and may request an interview with the Board.  At that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-65].

g)         The Department may conduct random audits to verify compliance with continuing education requirements.

h)         Restoration of Nonrenewed License.  Upon evidence of compliance with CE requirements, the Department may restore the license upon payment of the required fee.

i)          Waiver of CE Requirements

1)         Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with these CE requirements shall file with the Department a renewal application, the required renewal fee, a statement setting forth the facts concerning such non-compliance, and a request for waiver of the CE requirements on the basis of these facts.  The applicant may request an interview with the Board at the time of the waiver request.  If the Department, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from the applicant's affidavit or any other evidence submitted that extreme hardship has been shown to substantiate granting of a waiver, the Department shall waive enforcement of such requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

2)         If an interview with the Board is requested at the time the request for such waiver is filed with the Department, the renewal applicant shall be given at least 20 days written notice of the date, time and place of such interview by certified mail, return receipt requested.

3)         Extreme hardship shall be determined by the Board on an individual basis and be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the CE requirements during the applicable prerenewal period because of:

A)        Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States of America during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;

B)        An incapacitating illness, documented by a currently licensed physician;

C)        A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a currently licensed physician; or

D)        Any other similar extenuating circumstances (i.e., family illness and prolonged hospitalization).

4)         Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of his/her license, submits a request for a waiver, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be deemed to be in good standing and may practice until the Department's final decision on the waiver has been made.

(Source:  Added at 26 Ill. Reg. 12271, effective July 24, 2002)