1. Occupational Licensing TCEQ
Approved Training Provider Responsibilities
and
Audit Preparation
Linda Saladino
Section Manager
Occupational Licensing

2. Overview and Purpose TCEQ Training Rules & Regulations
TCEQ Regulatory Guidance RG-373:
Approval of Training For Occupational Licensing
Provider’s Responsibilities
TCEQ Training Program Audit
Selection Criteria
Desktop, Online, On-Site
Summary and Recap
This presentation will go over the requirements and responsibilities of approved training providers and how to prepare for a training audit.

3. TCEQ Rules and Regulations
Title 30, Part 1, Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
Definitions –30 TAC §30.7
Approval of Training – 30 TAC §30.28
Added to Rules in 2007
Image: screenshot of TAC code

4. RG-373: TCEQ Regulatory Guidance
Updated 2017
Regulatory guidance document RG-373 discusses some but not all training provider requirements. It is important for training providers to be familiar with both 30 TAC 30 and RG The 2017 update includes helpful updates including information on HB 1508.
Image: cover of RG

5. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Providers Shall…
Follow the requirements listed in 30 TAC §30.28 (q).
Start with—
Be responsible for content and delivery of the training.
Training provider responsibilities established by 30 TAC and further explained in our regulatory guidance document RG-373.
30 TAC – Approved training providers shall:
  (1) ensure the executive director has the most current electronic edition of training materials;
  (2) keep manuals and training content updated to reflect rule changes;
  (3) submit approved training material that references rules for re-approval within 180 days of any new rule adoption that pertains to that training;
  (4) submit material with substantial changes, including a summary, list, or other indication of changes, for review and re-approval by the executive director;
  (5) allow the executive director staff or their agents access to training in order to audit training content, manner of delivery, and the effectiveness and qualifications of instructors and subject matter experts;
  (6) be responsible for the content and delivery of the training;
  (7) retain accurate training records for a minimum of five years;
  (8) maintain records of training approval throughout the entire period the training provider actively delivers training;
  (9) ensure that instructors and subject matter experts are qualified and provide the executive director with qualifications when requested;
  (10) notify students of all fees associated with completing the training and obtaining credit for training before and during the training;
  (11) accurately present to students the approved training credit along with any other criteria for obtaining full or partial training credit;
  (12) provide students with approved copies of texts, manuals, or other training materials to use during the training and for future reference required by the delivery method and as approved by the executive director;
  (13) verify participation;
  (14) provide acceptable procedures for student identity verification;
  (15) maintain procedures to protect student identity and personal information;
  (16) provide students access to subject matter experts to answer technology-related and content-related questions within one business day from the time of request; and
  (17) electronically report the students' successfully completed training credit hours per procedures provided and approved by the executive director, not to exceed approved training credit hours, within 14 business days of training completion.

6. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Content Updates
Keep manuals and training content updated to reflect
rule changes.
Resubmit updated training to TCEQ for review within
180 days of a new rule adoption.
If substantial changes are made - submit to the TCEQ the following items.
Summary list
Highlight changes
Other method showing what was changed

7. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Records Retention
Retain training records for a minimum of 5 years.
Can be electronic
Must be able to verify student completion of training

8. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Approval Records
Maintain records of approval for the entire time actively providing training!
TCEQ approval letters
Instructor/proctor qualifications
Training materials developed for
the training
Lesson plans, manuals, agendas
Image: filing cabinet

9. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training References
Obtain permission to use copyrighted materials & information.
Reference sources of material/information used in training.
Modify to apply to the target audience and mode of training.

10. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Fees
Notify students of all fees up front before enrollment!
Fee for….
Certificate?
Reporting?
Retesting?
Membership?
Software?
Image: dollar sign

11. Provider’s Responsibilities
Qualified Instructors
Ensure classroom instructors are qualified:
Current Notice of Instructor Qualification
1990’s instructor “approvals” should be re-evaluated
Meet current requirements
Valid, appropriate license
60 hours of instructional experience
3 years of hands-on experience
Contact TCEQ for instructor qualification applications

12. Provider’s Responsibilities
Qualified Instructors
Instructor Qualification Forms must be submitted to TCEQ for review by approved providers
Contact TCEQ for instructor qualification applications

13. Provider’s Responsibilities
Subject Matter Experts (SME)
Presenters and course content
developers must
be SMEs.
Who is an SME?
A person having a minimum of
three years of work-related experience
or expert knowledge in a particular
content area related to the training topic.
Image: picture of Einstein

14. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Environment
No promotion of products or services from:
Manufacturers;
Distributors; or
Service providers.
Training location and atmosphere should be conducive to learning.
Must NOT be held in a place of business of a product manufacturer, distributor, or service provider directly related to the occupational license.
Image: car salesman

15. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Credit Advertisement
Clearly & accurately advertise approved credit hours
Receive TCEQ approval prior to advertising as approved
Approved program credit ex. Water, Irrigation, etc.
Inform licensees that distance learning training repeated within the renewal period will NOT receive training credit
Notice on web page
Prior to enrolling in training
Do not report the training
Can repeat a training but it will not count towards continuing education hours

16. Provider’s Responsibilities
Verify participation
Attendance alone does not automatically constitute submittal of training hours.
Training credit for students who are
disruptive, sleeping, or otherwise
inattentive SHOULD NOT be reported.
Imagine: student not paying attention in class.

17. Provider’s Responsibilities
Reporting Training (continued)
Training Credit Rosters:
Reported hours must not exceed approved training
credit hours
May only include students who successfully completed training
Must be submitted within 14 business days.
Image: screenshot of TCEQ online reporting of CE

18. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Audits
Purpose:
To ensure provider compliance with provider responsibilities.
Image: audit books

19. Provider’s Responsibilities
Training Audits
Allow agency staff access to training to:
Audit training content;
Manner of presentation; and
Instructor effectiveness & qualifications
Image: audit books

20. Training Program Audit
Selection Criteria
Recall
Core training (required to obtain a license)
Training with a wide impact
Complaints
Compliance History (at-risk)
New training or new provider
Training recalls are initiated due to rule changes, technology updates, or other good cause.

21. Summary and Recap Takeaways
Keep training content updated to reflect rule changes.
Be responsible for the content and delivery of the training.
Retain accurate training records for a minimum of five years and training approval records “forever”.
Notify students of all fees associated with completing and obtaining credit for training before and during
the training.

22. Summary and Recap Takeaways (continued)
Deliver the training as approved
Verify hours successfully completed
Use only qualified instructors and SMEs
Allow TCEQ access to audit training
Obtain permission to use copyrighted information
Report only completed hours timely – within 14 days
No promotion of products or services

23. Summary and Recap Be a role model for your students. Final Thoughts
Demonstrate high standards of conduct.
Do not discriminate against, embarrass, or harass students.
Respect students’ gender, age, race, national origin, religion, socioeconomic circumstances or disability.
Display a high level of sensitivity to students’ learning styles and needs.
Be sure subject matter experts, and instructors meet these standards also.
Be a role model for your students.

24. Contact
Linda Saladino, OL Section Manager Phone: Sarita Nazareth, Training Work Lead Phone:
Image: TCEQ logo