Construction Supervisor License Continuing Education Requirements

As background, for those who may not be familiar, the legislature recently authorized the BBRS to approve continuing education requirements for construction supervisor licensees.  The empowering legislation establishes a Continuing Education Council whose members are charged with developing continuing education requirements. Rather than reinvent the wheel, council members looked towards other states for guidance in developing requirements for the commonwealth.  After reviewing procedures already in place in several other states, council members agreed to use Minnesota continuing education requirements as the model for Massachusetts.

Over the last several months, council members reviewed Minnesota requirements, word by word, line by line modifying their regulations to suit Massachusetts’ needs.  Conceptually, the proposed regulations work as follows:

• A licensed construction supervisor must acquire a certain number of continuing education hours each 2 year renewal period based upon license category as identified below.

Unrestricted Construction Supervisors License  12 Hours
Restricted Construction Supervisors License      10 Hours
Specialty Construction Supervisors License        6 Hours

Masonry
Roofing
Windows / Siding
Demolition
Burning Fuel
Insulation

• Courses, instructors and course coordinators are required to be approved by the BBRS in order to convene continuing education classes. 

• A licensee will have a host of methods available to choose from to achieve compliance. 

A local technical college, for example, may apply for and receive approval to act as a course coordinator, then provide varied courses presented by instructors approved by the program regulations as part of their ongoing continuing education program. 

Home builder associations may also apply for and receive approval as a coordinator and then hire approved instructors to present material as part of their regular monthly meetings as a service to their membership.           

This is just a taste of what is intended by the proposed regulations.  Please review the proposed regulations in their entirety at the following link 780 CMR R5 ( (745kb).  Continuing education criterion appears towards the end of the regulation under section 780 CMR R5.4.  Other red-lined changes are also proposed in the regulation, including: 

• License categories are simplified and placed in a table format at the front of the regulation;
• Doors are included as part of Windows and Siding specialty license category;
• Language is included to address certain exemptions pertaining to certified building officials;
• Language is included for expanded license renewal grace periods.   

If Board members approve the continuing education requirements as presented at the public hearing, it is anticipated that the revised regulations will become effective in early 2010.  However, there will be a phase-in period before regulations revisions will affect a licensee.  During the phase-in period BBRS staff (in consultation with council members) will be afforded time to review and approve\deny education coordinators, course content and course instructors. 

Simultaneous to this effort, the Department of Public Safety (parent to the BBRS) is undergoing modifications to its electronic license tracking program (known as e-licensing).  Expected software changes made during the e-licensing transition will significantly enhance the manner in which the Department receives and processes license data and other information.  Construction supervisor continuing education requirements is an integral part of the new e-licensing program.  Therefore, it is intended that CSL continuing education requirements will coincide with the implementation of the Department’s new, e-licensing system. 

Please visit this website over the coming months for further information regarding continuing education requirements as well as e-licensing system improvements. 

The Board of Building Regulations and Standards wishes to recognize and thank each member of the Continuing Education Council who are identified below and who dedicated their efforts to this task as well as BBRS staff person Kim Spencer who coordinated all efforts on behalf of council members. 

ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER

Robert Anderson           Designee for DPS Commissioner
Elizabeth Kovach           Home Builders Association of Massachusetts, Inc.
Scott Colwell                  Home Builders Association of Massachusetts, Inc.
Roger Gallagher            National Association of the Remodeling Industry
Michael Mendoza          Inspector of Buildings, Town of Carver
Walter White                  Local Inspector, Town of Brookline
James Andrews             Fitchburg State College