1. James Murphy Occupational Licensing
How to Become a TCEQ Approved Training Provider TCEQ Environmental Trade Fair 2019
This presentation is intended for anyone who wishes to submit a request to provide eligible training for credit hours for specific occupational licenses in the state of Texas. The presentation will cover various different types of eligible training.
James Murphy
Occupational Licensing

2. Overview and Purpose TCEQ Rules and Regulations
Requirements for Training Providers
Classroom Training
Conferences
Training at Association Meetings
Distance Training – Correspondence/Technology
Webinars
The training approval process is governed by TCEQ rules and regulations. There are some similarities and specific requirements depending upon the type of training that is requested.

3. TCEQ Rules and Regulations
Training approval added to rules in 2007
Title 30, Part 1, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §30.28 (Revised September 2016)
Definitions - 30 TAC §30.7
RG-373: TCEQ Regulatory Guidance for Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing
Revised October 2017
Training approval was first added to TCEQ rules in The rules are found in Texas Administrative Code, also know as TAC, Title 30 Chapter 30.28, which was last revised in September There is also a regulatory guidance document, RG-373, which provides guidance for approval of training for occupational licensing.

4. RG-373: Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing
RG-373 provides additional guidance for complying with TAC §30.28 requirements.
Includes checklists for each type of training.
Fee Schedule for calculating appropriate application fee (Appendix A).
Application Requesting Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing, Form TCEQ (Appendix C).
RG-373 is intended to be a guidance document to review the procedures and standards which comply with the TAC rules. Frequently Asked Questions can be answered by reviewing this document. On page 29 of the document you can obtain the application form, TCEQ

5. RG-373: Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing
A PDF copy of RG-373 can be obtained from the TCEQ home page, by simply entering in RG-373 in the search box in the top right hand corner.
You may also go to the link at the top of this page and scroll down to the section titled “Becoming a TCEQ Approved Training Provider”

6. Application Requesting Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing Form TCEQ-10152
RG-373 is intended to be a guidance document to review the procedures and standards which comply with the TAC rules. Frequently Asked Questions can be answered by reviewing this document. On page 29 of the document you can obtain the application form, TCEQ

7. Training Approval Components
TCEQ must review and approve or qualify:
Training manuals, exams, agenda, presentations, quizzes, all materials
Instructors, presenters, subject matter experts, providers
The training approval process request contains three main sections of material which need to be provided with the application for review and approval: Content, Providers/instructors/presenters, and procedures
Content: For example a request for classroom training, the provider would need to submit the content of the course for approval, including but not limited to the manual (if not you aren’t using a pre-approved manual), PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and exams.
The provider, instructors, and presenters would need to be approved. Classroom instructors must meet the instructor requirements. They need to have taken two teaching courses: a 40-hour course in Methods of Teaching or Effective Instructional Techniques, plus an additional 40-hour course in Organization and Use of Training Materials or Instructional Design and Evaluation; or have a minimum of 60 hours of instructional experience. Instructors for core courses must also have the required licenses. Presenters must meet Subject Matter Expert criteria.
Procedures requirements for the type of training requested are also part of the approval process. Qualifications of Subject Matter Experts used to develop training will also be reviewed.

8. Requirements for Training Providers
All training delivered to meet the requirements for obtaining or renewing a license must:
Be approved prior to training.
Provide the knowledge or skills necessary to perform one or more of the occupation’s critical job tasks.
Not promote or endorse products or services.
Accomplish learning objectives.
There are requirements that apply to all types of training provider requests. Training must be approved prior to the date of training, provide knowledge or skills necessary to perform critical job tasks, not promote specific products or services, and accomplish the learning objectives of the training.

9. Requirements for Training Providers
All training delivered to meet the requirements for obtaining or renewing a license must: (continued…)
Include graphics, visual aids, and interactivity to enhance learning.
Include monitoring of participant comprehension.
Include monitoring of successful participant completion.
Other common requirements are that the training use graphics, visual aids, and interactivity to enhance learning, monitor participant comprehension and successful completion of course, and report training credit.

10. TCEQ Rules and Regulations
Public information copied from websites or other sources is not acceptable as training material
Exception if training is modified to the target audience and method of delivery
Any non-original material must comply with the “fair use” provisions of federal copyright law.
Training materials submitted to the TCEQ are assumed to be original creations of the training provider. Public information copied from Web sites or other sources is not acceptable as training materials unless modified to apply to the target audience and mode of training. The training provider is responsible for obtaining proper approval from the publisher to make use of the words, ideas, or illustrations of another author. Any quoted or reproduced material that is not an original creation of the training provider must be sourced and such quotation or reproduction must comply with the “fair use” provisions of federal copyright law.

11. Developing New Training Materials
Materials developed for classroom/distance training must utilize:
subject-matter experts (SME)
instructional design experts or effective qualified classroom instructors
technical-writing expert
Additionally, development for technology-based training must also utilize experts in technology.
Content development must utilize subject matter experts, instructional design experts, or effective qualified classroom instructors. If the request is for technology based training, the content must utilize experts in the technology used.

12. Approved Training
Must be provided in a setting conducive to learning – not in promotional settings
Ensure delivery standards are met
Considered approved until content, presenters, or duration changes
The Executive Director may recall, rescind, or suspend approved training.

13. Classroom Training Must include all items from Checklist 1
Be presented by a TCEQ-qualified classroom instructor
Use only TCEQ-approved training materials
Provide a copy of the manual to each student for classroom use and future reference
Classroom training requirements must include a manual (new or already approved). If a new manual the cost for processing the request is $25 per credit hour request. If using an already approved manual the cost is $10 per credit hour requested. Training must be presented by a qualified instructor (not SME), include a lesson plan and agenda, be in a setting conducive to learning, ensure delivery standards are met, all Checklist 1 items must be submitted to TCEQ.

14. Classroom Training Training Application Checklist from RG-373
Course Overview and Goals
Course Agenda
Prerequisite Statement
Learning Objectives
Instructional Plan or Lesson Plan
Instructional Materials
Training Manuals
Course Completion Certificate
Proposed Instructor Qualifications
Experts’ Qualifications and Approvals
Application and Applicable Application Fee
Checklists are provided for the different types of training within RG This example is only for Classroom training, other training types have different checklists.

15. Qualified Classroom Instructor
A Qualified Classroom Instructor must:
Have a minimum of 3 years of applicable hands-on work experience related to training content.
Document at least 60 hours of classroom instructional experience.
Hold the appropriate valid occupational license.
Classroom instructors have the following requirements: sufficient work experience, subject matter expertise which is equivalent to a minimum of three years of hands-on experience related performing critical operating tasks. They must also have the required vocational instructional experience which is satisfied by having at least 60 hours of classroom instructional experience (conference or association meeting presentations would not suffice), or a 40-hour course in Methods of Teaching or Effective Instructional Techniques plus an additional 40-hour course in Organization and Use of Training Materials or Instructional Design and Evaluation. Instructors of core courses must hold a valid license in the particular occupation they are teaching. For water and wastewater operator licensing, a Class A or B license is normally required to teach.

16. Conference Training Must include all items from Checklist 2
Includes conferences, seminars, workshops, symposiums, and expos.
Training must be presented by SMEs.
Can be provided by:
A governmental authority
An industry-related association
A college or university listed by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education.
Requests must be submitted at least 45 days before the event.
An industry-related association is a nonprofit organization representing members that possess occupational licenses issued by the TCEQ
The term conference includes conferences, seminars, workshops, symposiums, and expos. Training at conferences may only be submitted for approval if given by:
■ a governmental authority, ■ an industry-related association, or ■ a college listed as accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

17. Qualified Subject Matter Expert
A Qualified Subject Matter Expert must:
Have a minimum of 3 years of related work experience.
Have expert knowledge related to the training topic.

18. Association Meeting Training
Must include all items from Checklist 3
Conducted at regular and special meetings of industry- related associations.
Credit approved for actual training contact time.
Must not be held in a place of business of a product manufacturer, distributor, or service provider.
Must be presented by qualified SMEs.
Training has a 2-hour maximum
Association meeting training occurs during meetings of industry-related associations. Within the meeting event, organizers can ask for credit for a training session. This applied to both regular and special meetings of associations. Minimum of 30 minutes.

19. Distance Training Can be provided by:
Occurs when the learner is separated by place and/or time from instructors or other learning resources.
May not be substituted for actual hands-on training that is needed to teach required manual skills.
Can be provided by:
A governmental authority
An industry-related association
A college or university listed by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education
Individuals or organizations demonstrating comparable subject matter expertise and knowledge

20. Distance Training
Must provide students access to SMEs within one business day.
Notify students that training repeated within the same renewal period will not receive credit.
Maintain procedures to protect student identity if using the internet.
Two categories of distance training:
Correspondence Training (primarily paper-based manual)
Technology-Based Training (requiring computer interaction or online)
Because distance learning has the potential to not be as interactive as other settings where the student is in the same room as the instructor or presenter as well as other students, there are certain requirements in distance learning to ensure interactivity. Students must be provided with access to subject mater experts that will respond to questions within one business day. It is important to note that a student taking a distance learning training within the same renewal period will not receive training credit if the training uses the same performance-based assessment. There must also be procedures in place to protect student identity if using the internet.

21. Distance Training Training Application Checklist from RG-373
Course Description: Goals and Learning Objectives
Procedures for Verification of Student Identity
Policy Statement Describing Student Access to SMEs
Prerequisite Statement
Experts’ Qualifications and Approvals
Training Manuals
Grading Criteria
Security and Integrity Procedures
Course Completion Certificate
Application and Applicable Application Fee
Checklists are provided for the different types of training within RG-373.

22. Correspondence Training
Must include all items from Checklist 4
Can be provided through:
paper-based conducted through the postal system;
electronic-based conducted through a website; or
a combination of the two.
Make training materials available to students.
Provide acceptable procedures for participant identity verification, student comprehension, and testing.
Correspondence training can be administered either via a postal system or via the Internet. In any case, students should receive and retain a manual as part of the course. Correspondence training must include acceptable procedures for identity verification of participants and submit the items in Checklist 4 from RG-373.

23. Technology-Based Training
Include all items from Checklists 4 and 5
Offered through computer equipment or through a website.
Shall provide access to TCEQ if training is provided via the internet.
Utilize participant identity verification procedures.
Utilize secure online transactions.
Include an audit trail to:
verify student completion of each module; and
total time for course.
Technology-based training includes training offered through computer equipment by compact disk (CD) or digital video disk (DVD) media, or at a Web site (also known as online training or e-learning).

24. Technology-Based Training
Along with Checklist 4 items, Technology-Based Training must also:
Supply the URL and allow TCEQ access to all material
Provide minimum hardware/software requirements
Explain procedures for auditing student progress and time required for successful completion
Checklists are provided for the different types of training within RG-373.

25. Webinar Training
Interactive training delivered live via the internet where the learner is separated by place from the learning source.
Combination of conference and distance training.
Offered live and NOT self-paced.
Only eligible to earn continuing education hours for license renewals.
Webinars are interactive training that is delivered live via the internet. It is not self-paced training like distance learning. Webinars that are repeated during the renewal period will not be given credit and webinar training is only eligible for continuing education hours for license renewals.

26. Webinar Training Can only be provided by:
A governmental authority;
An industry-related association; or
A college or university listed by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education
Must utilize student identity verification
May not be repeated within the same renewal period for training credit
Materials must be provided prior to training
Monitor for comprehension
Verify participation and successful completion
Approved webinar training providers--Governmental entities or their designated agents, associations, or colleges as listed by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the United States Department of Education and that have been approved by the executive director to provide webinar training.

27. House Bill 1508 Effective September 1, 2017 Training providers must:
Notify applicants of potential license denial, based on their criminal history
Reimburse the cost of training to applicants who are denied a license based on criminal history; if the provider failed to notify the applicants
Inform applicants of their right to request a criminal history evaluation
Retain notification records for at least 5 years in case of a dispute

28. House Bill 1508
RG-373: Approval of Training for Occupational Licensing
A sample of an acknowledgement of Notice of Potential Ineligibility for License can be found on the last page of RG (Appendix D)

29. House Bill 1508 Dispute TCEQ will mediate in case of a dispute
Rescind training approval if:
Provider refuses to refund the cost of training or can’t provide notification that proper notice was provided

30. Wrap Up RG-373: the resource to answer common questions
TCEQ’s website has additional resources
Provide sufficient time before event for TCEQ review
Respond timely to requests for more information
TCEQ is here to assist with the approval process
RG 373 is designed to answer common questions for becoming a training provider. The TCEQ website has additional helpful resources such as curriculum guidance by licensed program and links to stakeholder and advisory committees. Provide sufficient time prior to the event for TCEQ review. Especially important for conference and association meeting training credit requests. A timely response to requests for more information will move the process forward. The Training Team is here to accomplish the approval of training resources, that meet requirements, for our licensed programs.

31. CONTACT James Murphy Training Analyst Occupational Licensing Section