CONTINUING EDUCATION
Effective July 1, 1998, the State of Montana Board
of PE & LS has implemented mandatory
Continuing Education for all licensees in the field of
engineering and surveying. Each licensee is required to accrue 30 hours
(PDHs) per cycle. A cycle is 2 years, beginning July 1, 1998 to June 30,
2000 and running thereafter. The MARLS Continuing Professional
Competency (CPC) Committee evaluates and recommends for
approval/disapproval continuing education activities.
Land Surveyors may wonder what
purpose does the committee serve? Prior to the requirement of continuing
education by the Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors (MBPELS),
the MARLS Board of Directors felt there was a need to review and approve/disapprove
continuing education
activities for
land
surveyors.
More recently, MBPELS
chose not to participate in the MARLS review and approval process.
An informational publication distributed in
February 1998 by MBPELS
stated "any programs, workshops, conferences, or
courses that are approved by another Engineering/Land Surveying State
Licensure Board or
MSE or MARLS will be accepted by Montana." Therefore, land
surveyors who attend a continuing education program which has been
reviewed and approved by MARLS can be assured that the professional
development hours meet continuing education
requirements.
The committee has solicited
several presenters of continuing education programs for submission of
the application forms. This forms a pool of programs for future use by
Metnet and MARLS conferences. A database is being kept by the
Administrative Secretary that contains pertinent information.
Should anybody have questions regarding the
Continuing Professional Competency Committee
or request a copy of the database, please
contact
Robert Rux,
CPC Chairperson.
A licensee can earn the
necessary PDHs by completing correspondence courses, video tapes,
televised seminars/metnets, in-house courses, workshops, conferences,
etc. One area that will not be accepted
is the area of self direct study and research.
The Board felt that this area is often part of an employees job
description and should not be used. The licensee has the responsibility
to ensure that the continuing education activity being utilized meets
the requirements of the Administrative Rules of Montana.
The licensee will be required to submit a reporting form
which includes a summary of credits/PDHs as well as a listing of the
particular details of the continuing education activities. Supporting
documentation (receipts, transcripts, course outlines) cannot be
submitted due to the lack of filing space with the state; however it
will be the licensee's responsibility to maintain and keep on file this
information for a period of 3 years in case the Board audits their form.
A random sample of 5 to 15 percent of licensees are expected to be
audited for compliance annually or biannually.
Copies of the
Administrative Rules, CE information flyer and/or reporting form may be
obtained by contacting the Board Office at the following addresses:
Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Log onto the following website for MT Board of
PE and LS exam information.
Web Page:
Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Phone: (406) 841-2368 Fax: (406) 841-2309
Evaluation of Continuing Education Activity
Have your seminar, workshop or video taped presentation evaluated and pre-approved by the MARLS CPC Committee. Land Surveyors need 30 PDH's for the biannual licensing cycle. Download a copy of the Continuing Professional Competency Application form or e-mail Kay McDonald for a Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) application form for MARLS CPC Committee pre-approval and evaluation for seminars, workshops or video taped presentations.
Please note: $30.00 processing fee required
(MARLS accepts Visa, Mastercard, American
Express or Discover)
Kay McDonald, MARLS Administrative Secretary,
PO Box 359, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Fax: 406-897-2519
Email: kmmarls@cyberport.net