Continuing Education
Q. How many hours are required to renew a license?
A. Licensees are required to report six hours of continuing education activities for renewals due on January 31, 2013. Five of these hours must be in courses related to health/safety/welfare topics and one hour must be in the area of professional ethics roles, responsibilities, and conduct of professional soil classifiers, or review of the SC Statute and Regulations. Licensees will be required to report 30 hours of continuing education activities for renewals due on January 31, 2015 and thereafter. 29 of these hours must be in health/safety/welfare topics and one hour must be in the area of professional ethics roles, responsibilities, and conduct of professional soil classifiers, or review of the SC Statute and Regulations. Of the 30 hours required in 2015 and thereafter, a maximum of ten hours may be earned in self-directed study.
Q. Are carry-over hours allowed?
A. Yes, licensees are allowed to carry over fifteen hours of activities to the next reporting period.
Q. What kinds of courses are acceptable?
- Activities and field days organized or sponsored by SSSA, NSCSS, SSSSC or similar organizations are automatically accepted by Council.
- Technical presentations, workshops, or seminars on soil classifying subjects which are provided by independent sponsors or held in conjunction with colleges, universities, conventions or seminars.
- Participation in public service activities that draw upon soil classifying expertise.
- Authoring papers, articles or books.
- Participating in or attending individualized seminars, tutorials, or video courses.
- Teaching or taking soil classifying courses.
Q. How will continuing education be reported?
A. Continuing education will be reported on the license renewal form. Instructions for submitting documentation for continuing education will be provided when license renewals open.
Q. What kinds of records should be maintained to substantiate continuing education credit?
A. Certificates of completion, agendas, or sign in sheets that show the number of hours credited for the course are acceptable. Please note that licensees are required to maintain these records for a period of four years. A copy of fulfillment of SSSA requirements for continuing education under the Soils Certifying Board is also acceptable.
Q. What if continuing education activities are disallowed?
A. Council has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, continuing education hour value of courses, and other value of content. The licensee will have 180 calendar days after the date of notification to substantiate the original claim or to earn other continuing education credit to fulfill the minimum requirement if Council disallows a continuing education claim.
Q. What is the penalty for not meeting the continuing education requirement?
A. Failure to fulfill the continuing education requirement or to reply to an audit will be considered a violation of the Soil Classifiers Advisory Council Law and will be subject to disciplinary action.
Q. Are there exemptions to the continuing education requirement?
A. Yes, continuing education may be waived for the following reasons:
- A new licensee is exempt for their first reporting period (not to exceed two years).
- A licensee serving on temporary active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 120 days in a year.
- A licensee experiencing physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the Board.
Documentation will be required to substantiate a claim to waive the continuing education requirement.
Q. Who can I contact with questions regarding continuing education?
A. Please see the SC Code of Regulations, Section 108-5 for additional information on the continuing education requirement and contact Sherri Moorer at (803) 896-4408 or at sherri.moorer@llr.sc.gov with questions.
