Agenda Item Ten (10)

 

FOR TRAINING PROVIDERS AND ACCREDITORS…

 

SUMMARY INFORMATION, PROCESSES AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT, ACCREDITATION AND APPROVAL OF ADVANCED COURSES!!

 

Compiled By: Michael Clark

FBC Education Administrator

November 9, 2020

 

1.)  Advanced Courses

a.    Developed using current version of Fla. Building Code (7th Edition)

b.    Must be technical in nature and relate directly to the construction design and construction industries

c.    Must be checked for building code content accuracy through the accreditation process

d.    Are approved by both the Florida Building Commission and appropriate DBPR licensing board (s)

e.    Must be updated with new version of code (7th Edition), by the effective date of the new code (December 31, 2020)

f.     At least 50% of the course content must be directly related to the current version of the building code

 

2.)  What Does An Advanced Course Consist Of? (See below – 61G20-6.002, paragraph (4), sections (a) through (m))

a.    Syllabus

b.    Course description, learning objectives, course outline & timeline

c.    Trainer materials (E.g., Lecture notes, script, etc.)

d.    Participant materials (E.g., PowerPoints, Handouts, manuals, tests, etc.)

e.    Evaluation method (must be stated in the syllabus)

 

(4) Course Content and Accreditor Review. Accreditors shall review courses submitted by registered providers to determine if the course accurately presents the technical and administrative responsibilities reflected in law, administrative rule, current edition of the Florida Building Code or future editions approved for adoption by the Florida Building Commission. If a course is impacted by any subsequent changes to the updates approved for adoption by the Florida Building Commission, the provider is responsible for revising the course to comply with the Florida Building Code in accordance with paragraphs (3)(f) through (j). Accreditors shall not mutually accredit each others’ courses. The accreditor shall determine if the course meets the following minimum criteria:

(a) The course title and number shall include:

1. The code edition, law, or administrative rule;

2. The word “advanced”; and

3. If appropriate, the term “internet”;

(b) Hours of credit;

(c) Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the provider;

(d) Course description completely describing what the particular course is designed to address;

(e) Course/learning objectives;

(f) Course time allotments for course content;

(g) Course outline and instructional methods – detailed description of course content in sequence of how taught and methods used to teach that content. The following instructional methods are authorized, but are not limited to: exercises, quizzes, discussion groups, reading assignments, projects, simulations and presentations;

(h) Code edition, law or administrative rule to which the course relates;

(i) Course references cited in the outline;

(j) Method of course evaluations;

(k) A minimum of 50% of the actual training materials content shall be related to the Florida Building Code or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida Building Code;

(l) Course materials shall accurately reflect the Florida Building Code and other topics under the jurisdiction of the Florida Building Commission; and

(m) Course materials provided to the attendee shall be provided to the accreditor.

 

 

3.)  Types of Course Delivery Formats

a.    Online-Either a streaming video or using a Learning Management System Software (LMS)

b.    Classroom instructor led

c.    Home study materials

d.    DVD (Computer assisted)

e.    Web based video conferencing platforms (Zoom, MicroSoft Teams, etc.)

f.     Combination from above list

 

4.)  Course Development Considerations

a.    At least 50% of advanced course content must be directly related to the current version of the building code

b.    Course materials must be converted to PDF format to be uploaded to BCIS

c.    PowerPoint is an excellent tool to convey training course information

 

5.)  How To Register As A DBPR Training Provider

a.    To register, go to http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/servop/testing/providers.html

b.    If training for more than one board, must register separately for each board

 

 

 

6.)  How To Register As A FBC Training Provider

      a.  Go to floridabuilding.org (Must be registered as a DBPR provider      before registering with the FBC)

a.    Select Building Code Education Program

b.    Select “Register as a Training Provider”

c.    Fill out online form---submit

d.    Pay $25 application fee

e.    Will be given logon information for the BCIS

 

7.)  How To Apply For A New Course

a.    Must convert all course materials (E.g., PowerPoint) to a PDF file using ADOBE Acrobat Professional

b.    Disable pop-up blocker in browser

c.    Go to floridabuilding.org

d.    Log on as training provider

e.    Select Building Code Education Program

f.     Select “Submit a Course Application”

g.    Complete online course application

 

8.)  Steps of Advanced Course (AC) Accreditation Process

a.    AC course is entered/uploaded into BCIS System

b.    AC course is reviewed by accreditor (chosen when uploading and submitting materials in the BCIS) (accreditor and provider may have discussions about the course)

c.    AC course is accredited (according to building code content accuracy and currency with the latest edition of the code)

d.    Accredited AC course reviewed & approved by FBC ED POC

e.    Accredited AC course reviewed & approved by FBC at Plenary Session

f.     Approved AC course moved to approved status in the BCIS

g.    Accredited/Approved AC course submitted by provider to appropriate professional board at DBPR

 

9.)  Accreditor Review of Materials

a.    To determine if code content is accurate (Most Important)

b.    To determine if at least 50% is directly related to current code

c.    To determine if course description describes course materials

d.    To determine if objectives met through materials

e.    To determine if course outline/timeline reasonable---given course topics

f.     To determine if the course materials are complete, based on the FBC rule language and what is identified as part of the course (such as a test for an online course noted in the syllabus)

 

 

10.) How A Provider Works With An Accreditor

a.    After course uploaded into BCIS, will find/contact accreditor (contact information provided in the BCIS)

b.    Accreditors are considered private entities (approved by the FBC) and will explain the process to the provider and identify fee (Fees vary from $50 to $150 per hour or per credit hour to review)

c.    Average review time for 1-hour course is 3-5 work days

d.    Accreditors may have to contact providers with questions (make sure provider contact information is correct)

e.    Accreditor will complete course application with comments

f.     Both accreditor and provider will receive email notice generated in the BCIS after course is accredited

 

 

11.) How The New Course Approval Process Works

a.   After course is accredited, BCIS will assign accreditation number to application

b.   Application placed in “Pending FBC Action” file in BCIS

c.   If application placed no less than 23 calendar days before next Commission meeting---will be placed on next Commission agenda

d.   If not placed---will skip to the next meeting

e.   Application (course materials) reviewed by FBC Educ. POC---could be approved, conditionally approved, not approved, deferred until next meeting

f.    Application reviewed by full Commission---approved or denied

g.   Accreditation process will be finalized within BCIS and provider and accreditor will be notified within 3 working days of approval that occurs at the full Florida Building Commission Plenary Session (by email)

h.   Provider will then submit approved course to respective DBPR board, using the BCIS generated email as proof of approval

i.    If the course is not approved---provider can modify and resubmit next meeting (will work with the FBC Education Administrator to accomplish)

 

12.) Administrative Approval of Courses

a.         Courses that have been previously accredited and then updated and re-accredited---will be administratively approved

b.         Administrative approval means that after a course has been accredited, will be moved in the BCIS to “Accreditation Complete” file

c.         Course will be placed on Commission agenda for “Consent Agenda” approval

d.         After re-accreditation (unlike new course which is on hold until Commission approval), administratively approved courses can be submitted to respective licensing board for approval

 

13.) Updating An Advanced Course

a.         Providers will update courses using the newest version of the Fla. Building Code, no later than the effective date of that version of the code

b.         The code version that initiated the update should be noted on application

c.         Updated courses must be accredited

d.         Updated courses should be submitted for accreditation months before the effective date of the code---to meet this requirement

e.         Actually, updating a course is usually done through the copy/paste

            method

 

 

14.) Self Affirming An Advanced Course

            a.         If a previously approved, accredited course requires no changes or                                     one change to correct or update a date, code version, code                                               reference, etc. (and that one change can be made multiple times)                                   within the course materials, then the provider will choose “Self                           Affirm” in the BCIS when submitting the course for approval. When                                     the “Self Affirm” category is chosen by the provider, that means                                he/she is affirming that this is the only change to the course                                                 materials.

            b.         If more than one change is required to make a course correct or                               current, then the course must be submitted to an accreditor for                                    review.                      

 

15.) The most common mistakes found (by the Education Administrator) when             advanced courses are reviewed for approval are:

            a.         The syllabus is not complete.

            b.         A” Method of Evaluation” is missing from the syllabus

            c.         A test or online quiz is noted on the syllabus but is missing from the                       materials.

            d.         Both an online course and instructor led course is noted in the                                “Method of Course Presentation”. Only one method can be noted.

            e.         Mistakes are made on slides in the PowerPoint, such as                                           misspellings.

            f.          The correct answers for a quiz or test are not identified for review.

            g.         The code date/version is incorrectly noted in the course materials.

            h.         Mistakes are made regarding code content on the PowerPoint                                  slides