§ 5-6-20.1. Mandatory continuing education. (a) On or before January 1, 1996, the board of examiners of electricians shall, by regulation, establish a mandatory continuing education program for all persons licensed under this chapter. The program is designed to ensure current competency in each licensee's area of certification and/or licensing.

(b) On and after January 1, 1997, no license under this chapter shall be renewed unless the licensee demonstrates, in a manner prescribed by the board of examiners of electricians, that he or she has successfully completed at least fifteen (15) clock hours of continuing education pursuant to and in compliance with the mandatory continuing education program established under this section.

(c) The course of study to be conducted over the fifteen-clock-hour (15) period shall be approved by the board of examiners of electricians. Course providers may include, but not be limited to, vocational schools, association seminars, labor training programs, employee training programs, and private instructors or inspectors and must also be approved by the building commissioner's office. Instructors or inspectors shall be Rhode Island licensed electrical contractors employed by or about to be employed by the providers and be board approved.

(d) The mandatory continuing education requirement is limited to Class A and Class B electricians.

(e) Out-of-state residents who hold a Rhode Island electrical license are allowed to submit a fifteen-hour (15) continuing education credit from their state if it meets the Rhode Island requirements and their state recognizes the Rhode Island continuing education certificates.

(f) Upon completion of the fifteen-clock-hour (15) course, an approved uniform certificate of completion shall be issued. Licensees are required to submit this verification of completion for license renewal. The continuing education credits shall be included in the currently adopted edition of the National Electrical Code and the International Code Council (ICC) national codes.

(g) Only those approved instructors actually teaching a fifteen-clock-hour (15) course shall be exempt from attending the fifteen-hour (15) course.

History of Section. (P.L. 1995, ch. 234, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 122, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 137, § 1.)