Construction codes continuing education

Continuing education course requirements

Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 326B.0981, continuing education consists of approved courses that impart appropriate and related knowledge in the regulated industries governed by Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 326B and 327B, and other applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. The burden of demonstrating that courses impart appropriate and related knowledge in the regulated industry is upon the person seeking approval or credit.

Continuing education forms

CE course application packet (all forms)

CE course application form

CE notice of subsequent offering (Microsoft Word)

CE instructor form

CE course completion roster form

Course application requirements

Before a course may be offered for credit, a sponsor must obtain approval from the Department of Labor and Industry. A course application must be submitted at least 30 days before the first date the course will be offered. The following requirements must be met before approval may be granted:

1. Complete Continuing Education Course Application form

a. Identify all regulated licenses that you are requesting CE course approval
b. Include Sponsor ID number
c. Provide the exact Course Title
d. Identify the type and number of instruction hours*
e. Provide instructor information
f. Indicate whether the Course is company-sponsored and should be posted online
g. Sign application form (applications without a signature will not be processed)

2. Include the correct fee amount

a. $20 for each credit hour or fraction of an hour (i.e., 1.5 hours = 2 hours)
b. Use the total number of hours being requested in the fee formula

3. Include course documentation

a. Detailed course agenda (breaks must be identified)
b. Copy of course curriculum (PowerPoint slides, student handbook, workbook, any other materials distributed during the course)
c. Copy of course completion certificate
d. Copy of proposed advertising (number of approved hours must be prominently displayed)
e. Course Instructor Application Form (if instructor is not already registered for subject area being taught)

Sponsors must notify the department within 10 days of any change in the information provided in the course application. This notification requirement includes changes in the course documentation. A change in course curriculum will be considered a new course and will require a new course application and fees.

Course Approval

Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 326B.0981, Subd. 5, continuing education courses must be approved in advance and will be approved on the basis of the applicant's compliance with the continuing education requirements under Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 326 and 327. The commissioner shall make the final determination as to the approval and assignment of credit hours for courses. The following criteria shall be used:

Application for course approval must be submitted on a form approved by the commissioner at least 30 days before the first course offering
Course must be at least one hour in length
Course content satisfies the requirements in M.S. 326B.0981, Subd. 3.
Approval will not be granted for time spent on meals or other unrelated activities
Breaks may not be accumulated in order to dismiss the class early
Classes shall not be offered for longer than eight hours in one day, excluding meal breaks
Instructor(s) qualified by education, training, or experience to teach the course (instructor information)

Course content requirements

Standards for continuing education course content are set in Minnesota Statute 326B.0981, Subd. 3. Guidelines for approving or denying course content is presented in the following table.

MAY BE APPROVED (M.S. 326B.0981, Subd. 3(f))

CANNOT BE APPROVED (M.S. 326B.0981, Subd. 3(g))

Content demonstrates significant intellectual or practical content and deals with matters directly related to the practice in the regulated industry, workforce safety, or the business of running a company in the regulated industry.

Content may address the professional responsibility or ethical obligations of a license related to work in the regulated industry.

Courses specifically designed for the regulated industry, excluding content that would otherwise be denied, including courses approved by the Minnesota Board of Continuing Education; International Code Council (ICC); National Association of Home Building; or other nationally recognized professional organization of the regulated industry.

Internet education course provided the design and delivery of the course is approved by the International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC) and also meets the requirements established in M.S. $326B.0981, Subd. 4.

Courses presented in a suitable classroom or construction setting.

Courses presented via video recording, simultaneous, or teleconference may be approved provided the sponsor is available at all times during the presentation.

Courses designed solely to prepare students for a license examination.

Courses in mechanical office skills, including typing, speed reading, or other machines or equipment.

Courses in sales promotion, including meetings held in conjunction with the general business of the licensee.

Courses in motivation, salesmanship, psychology, or personal time management.

Courses that a primarily intended to impart knowledge of specific products of specific companies, if the use of the product or products relates to the sales promotion or marketing of one or more of the products discussed.

Courses where any of the educational content is the State Building Code that include code provisions that have not been adopted into the State Building Code unless the course materials clarify that the code provision have been officially adopted into a future version of the State Building Code and the effective date of enforcement.

Instructional Hour Categories (classifying hours)

Individual license statutes and rules direct licensees to complete a set number of continuing education hours or credits in specific areas before a license, certification, or registration may be renewed. The Continuing Education Course Application form captures this information by classifying hours as Code Instruction, Energy Code, and Other Technical. The following table presents the category of instruction hours by the regulated industry and the types of instruction included in each category of hours.

Regulated Industry	Code Instruction Hours	Energy Code Hours	Other Technical Hours
Building Official	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Building and construction codes; design and construction of buildings; building accessibility; plan review; field inspection; building code administration and enforcement.
Electrical Licensure	National Electrical Code	Not Applicable	Statutes and rules governing electrical installations, including Minnesota Rules Chapters 3800 and 3801, Minnesota Statutes 326B.31 to 326B.399, or technical topics related to electrical installations and equipment.
Manufacture Home Installer Licensure	Minn. Rules 1350; 24 CFR parts 3280, 3282, 3285 and 3286; manufactured home installer licensing; installer responsibilities to correct improper installation; inspection requirements; problem reporting mechanisms; operational checks and adjustments; and penalties for failure to comply with 24 CFR parts 3285, 3286, 3288 and Minnesota laws and rules.	Not Applicable	Any aspect of manufactured home installation and construction.
Residential Contractor Licensure	Not Applicable	Minnesota Energy Code	Appropriate and related knowledge in the residential construction industry.