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