TRAINING AND ELECTRICAL LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
HOUSE BILL 486
September 17, 2014
Established the Ohio Business Compliance Incentive Program for those contractors who meet there renewal requirements timely every year and who do not have any violations for their records. The changes that affect licensed contractors are outlined below.
Allows licensed contractors who are in good standing to enroll in the program and renew yearly, or every three years at their option. License fees will remain the same for each option (e.g., $60 for each license each year).
For the purposes of this program, the year 2015 will be the base year for which the requirements for renewal will be based. If the licensed contractor fulfills all requirements for renewal beginning 2015( no violations, all CE Complete, fees paid) the contractor will be provided the option to renew for 1 or 3 years during the 2016 renewal period. Any violations during a multiple renewal period will render the contractor no longer eligible and must revert back to the annual renewal program.
For contractors enrolled in the program, the new law reduces continuing education hours from 10 to 8 hours each year. For example, if the "licensed contractor" chooses to renew every three years, the contractor will pay $180 renewal for each licenseand the license(s) will expire in 2019. As always, the four mechanical trades may take their continuing education in any approved course(s). Electrical must take half of their hours in the code and the remainder may be in any other approved course or all hours can be taken in the Electrical Code.
The reduced 8 hours, and 1 or 3 year renewal period will not start until 2016.
CONTRACTOR LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
January 1, 2016
In accordance changes to Ohio Revised Code section 4740, ALL contractors will be required to submit their renewal form and have taken eight hours of continuing education for 2016. Your renewal notice in 2016 will allow you to renew again in one year or three years.
If you choose one year, you will be required to pay $60 per license and must have completed eight hours of continuing education. If you choose three years, you will be required to pay $180 per license, have completed eight hours of continuing education for 2016, and must complete 24 hours of continuing education by your renewal date in 2019.
The renewal form you receive in 2016 will say Good Standing “Yes” or “No”. If you renewed on time in 2015, the above applies to you. If your renewal form says “No”, you must complete 10 hours of continuing education for your 2016 renewal and renew the following year. You are not eligible for the three year renewal.
If all requirements are met the following year on time, you will then be in Good Standing and be eligible for the one year or three year renewal.
Please contact the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board with any questions by e-mailing the following address: dic.ocilb@com.state.oh.us
4101:16-2-08 CONTINUING EDUCATION -
HOURS OF INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
November 20, 2015
(B) A classroom hour consists of at least fifty minutes of contact instruction. The remaining ten minutes
shall only be used for the training agency's or instructor's administrative duties or a break. The training
agency or instructor shall not accrue the ten minutes to start a course late, end a course early or to allow a
longer break.
(C) Continuing education hours obtained by individuals holding a specialty contractor's license pursuant to
Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code in excess of the total hours required each renewal period for the
renewal eligibility shall not be transferred to help meet the requirements of the following renewal period.
(D) No individual holding a specialty contractor's license pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code will
receive credit for more than ten classroom hours of continuing education instruction taken in one calendar
day.
(E) Upon application, within one calendar year from the date of expiration of the license or licenses, the
appropriate specialty section of the board may waive any portion of the continuing education hours
requirement in cases of certified illness, disability, military service, foreign residence, or excusable neglect
which prevents the attendance of approved continuing education courses by a person holding a license
pursuant to Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code or extend the time for the licensee to complete the required
continuing education requirements if the licensee has substantially met the other renewal requirements as
set forth in division (D) of section 4740.06 of the Revised Code and rule 4101:16-2-07 of the
Administrative Code or demonstrates excusable neglect. Continuing education waivers or extension of time
to complete the required continuing education requirements will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(1) If the appropriate specialty section grants an extension of time to complete the continuing education
requirements and the license has expired, such license will not be reissued until the licensee has completed
the continuing education requirements.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, "excusable neglect" means any non-reoccurring facts or
circumstances outside the control of the contractor that hindered or prevented the contractor from
completing the required hours of continuing education required for renewal of the specialty contractor's
license or licenses by the expiration of such license or licenses.
(F) Pursuant to division (D) of section 4740.06 of the Revised Code, if the continuing education
requirements are not timely met by an individual holding a specialty contractor's license on or before the
expiration date set forth on the license, the license shall be suspended automatically without the taking of
any action by the appropriate section or the board's secretary. A suspended license may be reactivated
upon application within one calendar year and approval of the appropriate section from the expiration date
of the license, provided that the renewal fee plus a late fee, certification that contractor liability insurance is
maintained, and completion of the continuing education hours required for that renewal period is completed
within the time frame pursuant to rule 4101:16-2-08 of the Administrative Code. Failure to reactivate the
license as provided in this rule shall result in automatic revocation of the license without the taking of any
action by the appropriate section or the board secretary.
4101:16-1-08 COMPLIANT CONTRACTOR PROGRAM
November 20, 2015
(A) The compliant contractor program provides incentives for compliance with Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code and the administrative rules promulgated thereunder by modifying the requriements for license renewal.
(B) Qualification period
(1) In order to qualify for the compliant contractor program, an individual must demonstrate one year of compliance with Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder. Compliance includes, but is not limited to, timely filing of renewal applications, timely payment of renewal fees, and the absence of any disciplinary actions against the individual.
(2) The compliant contractor program shall be available to existing licensees only: new applicants must first demonstrate the compliance with Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder for the preceding licensure period before being considered for the program. Existing licensees, after successfully completing the qualification period, shall be eligible for the program.
(3) Eligible licensees shall apply to the compliant contractor program by completing the appropriate form and submitting it to the board with its renewal application.
(C) Licensees who are members of the compliant contractor program shall be entitled to a two-hour reduction in their yearly requirement for continuing education. Licensees who are members of this program shall also be permitted to choose to renew their licenses on a triennial basis, rather than on an annual basis. Individuals choosing to renew annually must demonstrate the completion of eight hours of continuing education at the time of renewal, while individuals choosing to renew triennially must demonstrate twenty-four hours of continuing education at the time of renewal.
(D) An individual may be removed from the compliance incentive program in the event of non-compliance with Revised Code Chapter 4740. of the Revised Code or the rules of this Chapter. The individual may be re-admitted to the Program upon demonstration of qualification in accordance with paragraph (B) of this rule.