(a) Sixteen hours of continuing education during a two-year period for a landscape construction professional who has six years or less of experience as an active licensee on the beginning date of the period; or

(b) Eight hours of continuing education during a two-year period for a landscape construction professional who has more than six years of experience as an active licensee on the beginning date of the period.

(2) The board may approve programs for purposes of continuing education for landscape construction professionals and determine the number of hours to be credited to the programs. The board shall ensure that continuing education opportunities for landscape construction professionals are readily available.

(3) Programs approved by the board for continuing education purposes must be designed to directly contribute to the professional competency of landscape construction professionals. Approved programs may include, but need not be limited to:

(a) Professional development programs and technical meetings of professional associations for landscape contracting businesses or for related industries such as pesticide application or irrigation auditing;

(b) University or college courses related to landscaping or horticulture;

(c) Professional staff training programs by associations of landscape construction professionals; and

(d) Online or other forms of educational programs.

(4) The board may adopt rules establishing grounds for obtaining a waiver of the continuing education requirements for landscape construction professionals. The board may not allow a waiver for consecutive two-year periods except for a waiver due to military service, retirement, disability, absence from the state, inactive status or extreme hardship. [2007 c.550 §2; 2007 c.550 §5; 2015 c.672 §12]