As a code enforcement professional for 18+ years I can tell you that CEU's play a major role in the success of the tradesmen in The Commonwealth of Virginia. While many do not agree with the cycle of every two years most will tell you they want the training which is generally code update training. The complaint heard most is DPOR requires CEU's every two years while Virginia adopts new codes generally on a three year cycle. This causes tradesmen in some cases to have to take the same code update training twice which is where the problem is. The Governor's office should consider getting DPOR on the same schedule as DHCD as this would eliminate red tape for tradesmen, and would be a savings within the agency as you would be mailing out less renewals on a three year cycle versus two. If you used a three year cycle than every six years you would be sending 2 mailings to each tradesmen for renewals. Currently after six years you have mailed out three renewals and many are forced to take the same CEU course twice.

Consequently the three year cycle would eliminate one mailing to every tradesman (25,000 +-) over six years and that would be a huge savings in itself!

Some have said that North Carolina relaxed its CEU's and this is why Virginia is considering the same. In case you had not heard, VIRGINIA and Florida lead the nation in code development and that is passed down to our tradesmen thru the CEU process giving all the opportunity to stay current with the codes. This also makes for smarter tradesmen involved in the construction of all buildings in The Commonwealth which leads to better buildings, homes, and further promotes the safety of all who reside in, or visit, The Commonwealth of Virginia.

Respectfully Written,

Skip Harper
Louisa County Building Inspections
540-967-3414

I am a man that wears many hats. First and foremost I am a resident of Virginia. Second, I am a licensed tradesman in all of the trades holding a Master level as well as a class A builder.  Third, I am a small business owner with a class A rating in the plumbing, heating, air conditioning & electrical business. Forth, I have been for the past 13 years the chairman of the Peninsula Qualified Gas Contractors Association. I helped develop along with others the continuing education program currently in use and I am an instructor for them. Fifth, I am an educator as the president of A+ Tradesman Continuing Education a firm that offers all of the current classes in all three of the genres.

I take very seriously all the positions I hold as public health and safety is first and foremost in all I do. This has been my charge for almost 40 years. In my position I speak with thousands of tradesman and the most asked question is “Do I need a current code book to take this class?”. This to me opens the door so I ask” what the most current code book you have”, and in most cases it was the code book used at the time they tested for their license.

What is wrong with this picture it is the duty of all tradesman to stay current but what compels them to. Prior to the mandate tradesmen learned by rejection from the building inspectors. Is this in the best interest of the public safety I think not. Further a previous board saw the need and drafted a very comprehensive CE program requirement and now this board is proposing to eliminate it for all the trades accept electrical. WHY? Have conditions changed? NO! Has the workforce gotten smarter and more conscientious? NO. Is public safety no longer an issue? If so why do you serve as board members, or require permits to do the work. It’s because we both agree it’s for the PUBLIC SAFETY of consumers. The only other reason we haven’t talked about is the cost of record keeping. The trades are not the only professionals requiring continuing education so the cost saving to eliminate this small part of the whole picture will be negligible since the system is already in place. What about the cost to the tradesmen for the 3 hour requirement in a two year span. It takes less time to tie your shoes or brush your teeth over the two years and the cost of an online class starts at $27.00. So exactly what is public safety worth this is your charge as a board member. It is always easier to destroy than create.

I find it ironic my wife who is a realtor licensed in Virginia and sells homes she is required to have 5 times the continuing education as any one of the trades that builds it!

It is my hope that the Continuing Education for all the trades continues as it is today.  With only one alteration extend the license period to three years to coincide with the code cycle. It is your job as board members to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and this elimination in the code will be counterproductive to your duty to the public.

Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity go give you my thoughts

CEU credits should required so the contractors and trademens are notified of code changes and permit requirements so we can assure they are performing the work in a professional and safe manner for the public.  Most will not obtain new code books, or keep up with changes without requirements and regulations for them to keep their license up to date.

Randy Pearce

I am a very concerned citizen about the proposed elimination of CEU's for safety reasons. I am a resident of Virginia and also own several  properties in two other states. These properties are rental and I am responsoble for the safety of my tenents in regards to fire, gas leaks or explosions, plumbing, and electrical (fire). The public safety and health of our citizens has a far greater value then tradesman not having to pay to have continued CEU's. I have gas stoves in five of my properties and do not want a Master Plumber tradesman who has not had any updates in new technology or safety installing or repairing my stoves, with my tenents safety at risk.  The incorrect installation or repair of gas stoves can be a disaster to the safety of the public, and you don't think these people should not have CEU's or even possible recertification testing, are you crazy? 

Are you aware of the continuing education and testing airline pilots have to go through, with the safety of the public the primary reason.  If you want the State of Virginia to have some really good law suites, just stop the CEU's for Master Plumbers who install gas pipes and stoves, and electricians who if they do not know what they are doing could result in fires and deaths. 

Also, as a CPA, I am required to have 40 hours of continuing education each year, and people do not die from my mistakes, they will die from your mistake to do away with CEU's.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this very important matter for all the public in the State of Virginia.

Captain Ralph White

CE hours should only be required after the code has changed. All license trades sit through the same class 2 to 3 times before the code changes or adoped. Its like beating a dead horse it does not change the out come of the trades man but take up there time and money to review the same topic that has not changed.

CEU credits should required

90% of the installers in the field do not have tradesmen certifications from DPOR, the people they work for do. The system in place at this time will only work when the cert holder is required to be on the job site for inspection. Right now the only people that benefit from this system is the providers of the classes.

As a home owner in VA for more than 40 yrs I would hope that the licensing contractor would have to pass at least the minimum of continuing education.  With all the new products coming out in the market today as a home owner we rely on these folks to see that we are safe.  My husband and I are both handicapped and not able to move fast and I would hope the state would continue the education programs already in place.

Thank you for you consideration in this matter,

Martha

I am opposed to this proposal concerning the elimination of any continuing education requirements for licensed tradesman. I believe the present class hour requirements are minimum for licensee renewals to remain current regarding code changes and updates for public safety.

Consider relaxing the present requirements to every three years instead of two years parelleling the Codes cycle changes. Mantain the CE requirements for all four trades. 

The tradesman continuing education requirement is not an unnecessary or burdensome regulation as stated by the Board under the NOIRA section titled “Need”. Board comments under this section imply that tradesman regulations without the continuing education requirement “effectively protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public”. I disagree with this statement and I'm not aware of any other tradesman regulation that requires licensed tradesmen to keep up with recent Code revisions or to improve their trade knowledge. As you know, Code revisions are brought about to prevent damage to property and to protect life safety; these objectives are accomplished by bringing together the accumulated knowledge of Building Officials, trade organizations, manufacturers and other stakeholders to eliminate hazards. Continuing education on recent Code revisions is important to help tradesmen recognize these definable hazards, because it is impossible to avoid a hazard that you are not able to recognize or understand.

The Board makes a statement under the NOIRA “Alternatives” section that “No viable alternative has been identified”. One possible alternative that the Board may have failed to consider would be making continuing education a requirement to be met sometime during the three year Code revision cycle instead of once during the two year license renewal cycle. Obviously, the existing requirement for continuing education on a two year interval results in repeating continuing education on the same Code changes due to its three year revision cycle. Changing license renewal and continuing education requirements from two year to a three year interval would reduce costs and ensure that tradesmen will regularly receive information on Code revisions.

It is apparent that the Board understands the value of continuing education as evident by the fact that electrical tradesmen are not part of this proposed regulatory action. I have difficulty understanding why the HVAC, plumbing and fuel gas trades are considered any less hazardous to life and property than electrical trade work. If electricians should have to meet continuing education requirements, why are the other trades considered less important or less of a hazard to public safety? 

The Board of Contractors has a basic obligation to protect the general welfare of Virginia citizens. Elimination of continuing education requirements for all but the electrical tradesmen goes against the Board's obligation and will result in less protection for consumers of HVAC, plumbing and fuel gas trade related work.

Respectfully submitted,

Edwin Ward, P.E.

VA Professional Engineer #0402018319

Master ELE, HVA, PLB & GFC Tradesman #2710006725

I do not understand why the board would consider not requiring plumbing heating and mechanical contractors to take continuing  education training.  These trades are no less important than electrical.  I personally think Builders should be required to take CEU training as well.  I have been in the inspecting business for nineteen years and the most common comment we get when we turn a job down is, "when did that change".  The CEU training primarily covers code changes which all tradesmen need to keep up with.  The public would be surprised to know that most of the tradesmen don't even have a current code book.

This is in response to the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action published in the Virginia Register on January 28, 2013 pertaining to the reduction or elimination of the continuing education requirements for tradesman.

The Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association (VPMIA) and the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association (VBCOA) are both strongly opposed to any reduction or elimination of contractor CEU requirements for tradesman. Our Associations promoted the implementation of these regulations and they are working well beyond all expectations. The benefits to a well-trained industry are endless towards improving the safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Since adoption of the continuing education requirements, contractors are markedly more informed and engaged concerning the Uniform Statewide Building Code. Public safety has improved, and citizens have a larger field of knowledgeable and trained contractors from which to choose. Any such action to eliminate these CEU requirements would be a major step backwards.

It is recognized, as with any regulation, change and improvement are a constant necessity.  The CEU program can certainly be improved upon.  In fact that process has already begun with the adjustment to match the CEU requirement with the USBC adoption cycle every three years.

VPMIA and VBCOA want to be a part of the solution to maintain the DPOR CEU program. We ask that you reconsider this NOIRA and explore other options that would improve, strengthen and enhance the DPOR continuing education requirement for tradesman. We would like to offer our services towards the concept of working with code enforcement organizations, contractor associations, and other industry professionals to accomplish tradesman CEU improvement measures.  There are other very successful models for the tradesman continuing education programs across the country that we could use to begin looking at to restructure the program to benefit DPOR and all the affected industry professionals.   We stand ready to serve in any way.

Guy Tomberlin

Past President, VPMIA-VBCOA