EFFECTIVE DATE:

A North Carolina Irrigation Contractors’ License is required by North Carolina General Statute 89G effective January 1, 2009.

HOURS REQUIRED:

For a licensee to qualify for annual renewal as an Irrigation Contractor in North Carolina, they must complete ten (10) hours of approved continuing education within the previous renewal period, January 1 – December 31. The ten (10) hours must be a combination of six (6) irrigation credits and four (4) business credits. The North Carolina Irrigation Contractors’ Licensing Board shall review and approve all continuing education activities. *Individuals licensed by Exam are not required to obtain CE in the licensing year that the exam was passed but are required to pay for and renew their license by December 31.

Carry over hours are not allowed.

REPORTING:

Licensees are responsible for recording their own continuing education electronically through their account on the Board’s website, www.nciclb.org. At the conclusion of each renewal period, the Board will audit 10- 20% of licensees, the participants of which are chosen at random. Licensees may provide proof of attendance at the time of recording their continuing education in preparation for the audit or may choose to wait until they receive notice that they have been chosen for the audit. Proofs of attendance should be kept for at least three years after they are taken for personal record and verification if necessary. Erroneous or false CE information submitted by any licensee shall be deemed as grounds for denial of license renewal.

QUALIFIED CREDIT:

Activities cannot be submitted for credit more than once in any three-year period. The Board encourages licensees to vary the way they meet the continuing education requirement. Credit may be obtained through active participation in courses, seminars, sessions, programs, self-directed activities, and/or educational related activities, as approved by the Board. Each activity recommended for approval by the Board shall have a direct relationship to the practice of irrigation contracting as defined in Chapter 89G of the General Statute of North Carolina, and contain elements which will enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of North Carolina. A full description of qualified credit can be obtained by referring to “CEU Categories” found in your handbook, and on the Board website.  Business courses should enhance an individual’s business skills.

SPECIAL REQUEST:

The Board will consider any reasonable special requests from individual licensees for continuing education credits and procedures. The Board may, in individual cases involving physical disability, illness, or extenuating circumstances, grant an extension for obtaining CE. An extension of the continuing education requirement shall be for a period not to exceed one year, except in the case of military obligations, in which case the Board will grant exceptions as necessary. No extension of time shall be granted unless the licensee submits a written request to the Board.

SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITIES:

The Board will allow self-directed activities to fulfill the continuing education requirements of the licensee. When submitted for review, the licensee must be aware that self-directed activities must be documented by the licensee within the current reporting period. Self-directed activities may include self-study courses, research, field studies, teaching of irrigation courses or workshops, or tours as they relate to the profession of irrigation contracting. Full-time academic teachers may not submit CE for studies customarily associated with their usual university or college instructional teaching loads.

CONTINUING EDUCATION APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Continuing education submissions are approved by the committee once a month. CE submitted after October 1 cannot be guaranteed for approval within the license renewal year. If the continuing education is received on or before October 1, it will be evaluated in time to avoid delay in the renewal of your license. The window between the deadline for receipt of continuing education and the renewal of license deadline will provide the licensee with the opportunity to:

1. be notified that his/her continuing education activity has been approved or denied
2. resubmit the activity which has been given a deferred status (due to incompleteness or other reasons)
3. take and submit other activities if any initial submittals are ultimately rejected

FAILURE TO COMPLY:

Failure of a licensee to complete the continuing education requirements as set forth, failure to submit completed continuing education, or failure to submit a written request for an extension shall be grounds for denial of license renewal and possible forfeiture of license.

An automatic extension is available for any licensee who failed to complete the continuing education requirements within the renewal period of January 1 – December 31. This extension allows for continuing education to be earned between January 1 – March 1 of the new year with a $50 late fee and a $250 reinstatement fee.

BOARD DENIAL:

If the Continuing Education Committee does not approve the submitted continuing education in whole or part, the licensee will be so notified and granted 30 days to correct the deficiencies noted, unless additional time is granted by the Board. If the continuing education application is received after October 1, the amount of time granted to correct any deficiencies will be at the discretion of the Committee.

APPEAL:

In the event of partial or complete denial of any continuing education, the licensee shall have the right to submit a written appeal to the Board within 30 days of the denial notification. The appeal will be considered, and the decision of the Board shall be final.