R156-20b-304. Professional Continuing Education

  (1) In accordance with Section 58-20b-304, during each two year period commencing June 1 of each odd numbered year, an environmental health scientist or environmental health scientist-in-training shall be required to complete not less than 30 hours of qualified professional continuing education directly related to the licensee's professional practice.

  (2) The required number of hours of professional continuing education for an individual who first becomes licensed during the two year period shall be decreased in a pro-rata amount equal to any part of that two year period preceding the date on which that individual first became licensed.

  (3) Qualified professional continuing education under this section shall:

  (a) have an identifiable clear statement of purpose and defined objective for the educational program directly related to the practice of a environmental health scientist;

  (b) be relevant to the licensee's professional practice;

  (c) be presented in a competent, well organized, and sequential manner consistent with the stated purpose and objective of the program;

  (d) be prepared and presented by individuals who are qualified by education, training, and experience; and

  (e) have associated with it a competent method of registration of individuals who actually completed the professional education program and records of that registration and completion are available for review.

  (4) Credit shall be recognized for professional continuing education on an hour for hour basis as a student completed in blocks of time of not less than 50 minutes in formally established classroom courses, distance learning, seminars, lectures, labs, or specific environmental conferences approved, taught or sponsored by:

  (a) Utah Environmental Health Association;

  (b) Bureau of Environmental Services;

  (c) Utah Department of Environmental Quality;

  (d) Bureau of Epidemiology;

  (e) State Food Program;

  (f) National Environmental Health Association;

  (g) Food and Drug Administration;

  (h) Center for Disease Control and Prevention;

  (i) any local, state or federal agency; and

  (j) a college or university which provides courses in or related to environmental health science.

  (5) A maximum of 15 hours of credit may be recognized for a person who teaches continuing professional education on an hour for hour basis completed in block of time of not less than 50 minutes in formally established classroom courses, seminars, lectures, conferences which meet the requirements in Subsections (3) and (4).

  (6) A licensee is responsible for maintaining competent records of completed qualified professional continuing education for a period of four years after close of the two year period to which the records pertain. It is the responsibility of the licensee to maintain such information with respect to qualified continuing professional education to demonstrate it meets the requirements under this section.

  (7) If properly documented that a licensee is engaged in full time activities or is subjected to circumstances which prevent that licensee from meeting the continuing professional education requirements established under this section, the licensee may be excused from the requirement for a period of up to three years. However, it is the responsibility of the licensee to document the reasons and justify why the requirement could not be met.