CHAPTER 158

An Act concerning continuing education requirements for plumbers and supplementing P.L.1968, c.362 (C.45:14C-1 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

C.45:14C-18.1 Continuing education required for master plumber.

    1. The State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers shall require each master plumber, as a condition for biennial license renewal pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1968, c.362 (C.45:14C-18), to complete any continuing education requirements imposed by the board pursuant to section 2 of this act.

C.45:14C-18.2 Standards for continuing plumbing education.

    2. a. The board shall:

    (1) Establish standards for continuing plumbing education, including the subject matter and content of courses of study, the selection of instructors, and the number and type of continuing education credits required of a licensed master plumber as a condition for biennial license renewal, except that the number of credits required shall not exceed five in any biennial license period.

    (2) Approve educational programs offering credit towards the continuing plumbing education requirements; and

    (3) Approve other equivalent educational programs, and shall establish procedures for the issuance of credit upon satisfactory proof of the completion of these programs.

    b. In the case of education courses and programs, each hour of instruction shall be equivalent to one credit.

C.45:14C-18.3 Waiving of requirements.

    3. The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing plumbing education on an individual basis for reasons of hardship such as illness or disability, retirement of the license or other good cause.

C.45:14C-18.4 Completion not required for initial renewal of license.

    4. The board shall not require completion of continuing plumbing education credits for an initial renewal of license.

C.45:14C-18.5 Carrying over of credits permitted.

    5. In the event a master plumber completes a number of continuing education credit hours in excess of the number required by the board pursuant to section 2 of this act, the board may allow that those credits be carried over to satisfy the master plumber's continuing education requirement for the next biennial licensure period, but shall not be applicable thereafter.

    6. This act shall take effect on the 90th day following enactment, except that the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers may, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), promulgate regulations to effectuate the provisions of this act immediately.

    Approved January 8, 1997.