Section 180. Requirements for formal vociational training providers, instructor qualifications, and course requirements

Part V. Education Providers and Training Requirements

A. The director is responsible for reviewing applications from education providers seeking board approval. Provider and course applications must be submitted by the department's established deadlines.

B. The course provider shall submit an application for course approval in a format approved by the director. The application shall include, but is not limited to:

1. The name of the provider;

2. Provider contact person, address, and telephone number;

3. Contact hours for each course submitted for approval;

4. Schedule of courses, if established, including dates, time, and locations;

5. Instructor information, including name, certification number, if applicable, and a list of other appropriate trade designations;

6. Course and material fees for each course offered; and

7. A syllabus for each course submitted for approval.

C. Each applicant for approval as an instructor for an approved formal vocational training provider shall have one of the following qualifications:

1. A Natural Gas Automobile Mechanic or Technician Certification issued by the director, or a comparable certification as determined by the director, and two consecutive years of discipline-free experience immediately prior to application; or

2. A minimum of three years of active experience in the subject matter being taught. Such applicants shall teach only in the area of their expertise and will be required to furnish proof of their expertise that is satisfactory to the director.

D. Approval of formal vocation training courses shall expire three years from the year in which the approval was issued, as indicated on the approval document. At the end of the three years, the course provider shall submit a new application to be approved by the director.

E. The course provider must establish and maintain a record for each student. The record shall include the student's name and address; social security number or a control number issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; the course name and clock hours attended; and the course syllabus or outline, the name of the instructor, the date of successful completion, and the board's course code. Records shall be available for inspection during normal business hours by authorized representatives of the board. Providers must maintain all student and class records for a minimum of five years.

F. The course provider must provide each student with a certificate of course completion or other documentation that the student may use as proof of course completion. Such documentation shall contain the hours of credit completed. Fifty contact minutes shall equal one credit hour. No credit shall be awarded for partial credit hours or partial completion of the course.

G. The course provider certifies that the laws, regulations, and industry practices that will be taught or utilized in the course are up-to-date and that subsequent changes in the laws, regulations, or industry practices will be incorporated into the course curriculum as they occur.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 32, Issue 17, eff. July 1, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2356 of the Code of Virginia.