You asked if the Department of Consumer Protection could provide the continuing education courses that the law requires licensed electricians to take.

SUMMARY

The law does not authorize the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to provide the continuing education courses. Instead, it requires DCP to adopt regulations setting standards for the courses and the programs that provide them. For DCP to provide the courses, the statute would need to be amended to authorize it to do so. The change could require the department to meet the same standards that its regulations require of private providers. Alternatively, the change could require DCP to provide the courses and eliminate all provisions relating to private course providers.

DCP’s standards require course providers to employ qualified instructors. They must teach laws and practices relating directly to the trade’s principles and practices. Providers may not give continuing education courses in areas like basic office skills or salesmanship. Courses must be provided in a classroom.

The regulations require electricians to obtain at least seven credit hours each year. The courses must relate to the trade’s licensing and business law, current building code, construction safety, or other areas recommended by the electrical licensing board.

STATUTORY REQUIREMENT

The law requires DCP to adopt regulations that, among other things, set (1) requirements for accredited continuing education for electricians and (2) qualifying criteria for accredited continuing professional education programs. It authorizes DCP to contract for services to monitor continuing professional education requirements and to require providers to pay the monitor for the service.

The statute defines “accredited continuing professional education” as education of an electrician or plumber (1) designed to maintain professional competence in the pursuit, practice, and standards of his trade; (2) approved by the commissioner; and (3) provided by an organization, institution, or agency approved by the commissioner.

It defines “certificate of continuing education” as a document issued to an electrician or plumber by an approved accredited continuing professional education organization, institution, or agency that (1) certifies that the tradesman satisfactorily completed a specified number of continuing education hours and (2) bears the name of the organization, title of the program, dates the program was conducted, number of satisfactorily completed hours of continuing education, and signature of the organization’s director or his authorized agent (PA 02-142; CGS §§ 20-334d, 20-335, and 21a-8).

IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS

Course Approval

A course provider must include with his application (1) a course outline; (2) a listing of all reference materials used; (3) the names, addresses, license numbers, and qualifications of each instructor; (4) and contact information. Providers must obtain DCP approval annually.

The courses must consist of applicable trade laws and practices that are broad-based, essential, and in the best interests of the consumer. They must relate directly to trade principles and practices.

The regulations prohibit the commissioner from approving continuing education courses for (1) office and business skills, such as typing, speed-reading, memory development, personal motivation, salesmanship, and sales psychology or (2) sales promotions or other meetings held in conjunction with a contractor’s business.

Notification of Course Offerings and Course Locations

The regulations require providers, before the scheduled date of each course, to submit a schedule of its dates, hours, and locations. Providers must have the DCP commissioner’s prior written approval before giving or advertising a course. Changes are prohibited without the commissioner’s approval.

Courses must be conducted in a classroom; correspondence courses are prohibited.

Minimum Number of Hours and Content for Electricians

The regulations require electricians to obtain, beginning on October 1, 2004, at least seven credit hours each year before license renewal. Under the DCP license renewal schedule, all electricians renew their licenses on October 1 (Reg. Conn. State Agencies § 21a-10-1). This means that electricians must take seven credit hours courses in the 12 months between October 1, 2004 and October 1, 2005 and annually thereafter.

The following study areas are acceptable: licensing or business law applicable to the trade, current State Building Codes and Standards, construction safety, and study areas recommended by the state’s Electrical Work Examining Board.

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