2019 LLR UPDATE. Molly F. Price Board Administrator

Transcription

1 2019 LLR UPDATE Molly F. Price Board Administrator

2 Topics Board Overview Exams and Exam Survey Data Continuing Education Upgrades: Work Experience and Substitutions

3 Environmental Certification Board License: Biological Wastewater, Physical/Chemical Wastewater, Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Bottled Water & Well Drillers One of 43 boards within LLR (Labor, Licensing & Regulation) Board has the authority to discipline operators who violate state law ECB meets quarterly 2019 Board Meeting Dates January 29 th April 23 rd July 23 rd October 22 nd

4 Environmental Certification Board February, ,987 licenses (duplicated) Bottled Water Operators: 28 Well Drillers: 570 Water Distribution: 2,180 Water Treatment: 1,864 Biological Wastewater: 2,576 Physical/Chemical Wastewater: 1,769

5 Trivia Question: What is the average age of operators in South Carolina?

6 47 Biological: 47 Physical/Chemical: 47 Water Treatment: 47 Water Distribution: 45

7 Environmental Certification Board Charles Cortez, II Bob Davis J. Kenneth Rentiers, Vice Chair Doug Kinard Jimmy Rodgers Stacy Taylor Phillip Thompson-King Ken Tuck Elizabeth Williams, Chair Water Distribution Physical/Chemical SCDNR SCDHEC Well Driller Public Member Biological Water Treatment Education

8 Examinations and Exam Survey Data

9 Examinations Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) writes the exams PSI (AMP) administers the exams Monday Saturday 9:00 am or 1:30 pm $110 (E, D, C, & B exams) $129 (A exam) Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, Greenville, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach or any AMP/PSI testing center in the nation.

10 Examinations New exams for water treatment, biological wastewater, and water distribution were released in May Exams will be updated again in hour exam with 110 questions 100 questions are graded 10 questions are pre-test questions and are not graded A level exams are 4 hours Passing score is a 70

11 2017 ABC Standardized Examinations ABC Standardized Exams are for Water Treatment, Biological Wastewater and Water Distribution The new standardized exams have been taken by South Carolina licensees 2,530 times since May 1, Overall Pass Rate- 36% Pass rate first year- 35% Pass rate last 8 months- 39%

12 Examination Pass Rates Since May 1, % 54% 36% 59% Biological Wastewater Water Treatment Water Distribution Physical/Chemical Pass Rate since Pass Rate since Pass Rate since Unchanged May 1, 2018: 36% May 1, 2018: 52% May 1, 2018: 37%

13 What Can WE Do to Help Improve Pass Rates? Examinees Employers & Supervisors LLR & ABC

14 Examinees Questions to Ask Yourself: Are you studying and preparing prior to taking the exams? Do you have the correct study materials? Have you read through ABC s Need-to-Know Criteria? Are you utilizing all available training resources? Are you performing your job to the best of your ability? Are you taking the exams for the right reasons?

15 Employers & Supervisors Questions to Ask Yourself: Are you ensuring that operators have the correct study materials? What kind of training opportunities are you providing? Are you doing everything you can to be a mentor? Do you know enough about the new exams to help your employees through the process? Are you sending operators to take exams for the right reasons?

16 LLR & ABC Questions We Are Asking Ourselves: Are we communicating well about the exams? Are we doing everything we can to eliminate exam misconceptions and misinformation? Is the exam content accurate and applicable?

17 Survey Questions 1. Which of the following BEST describes your preparation for this exam? 2. How much job experience do you have as it relates to the content of the exam that you just completed? 3. How did you pay for this exam? 4. How much time did you spend studying for this exam? 5. How many times have you taken this exam? 6. What is your highest level of education?

18 What is the Board doing with the Survey Data? Control group 5 operators Extended the A exams to 4 hours Provide list of study materials and send study resources letter Conference presentations Review pass rates at each meeting

19 How Many Times Have You Taken This Exam? % Pass Fail % % 70% 80% 74% 80% 20% 26% 20% 0 1 Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times More Than 4 Times

20 What is Your Highest Level of Education? Pass Fail 73% % 56% 44% 61% 39% 68% 32% 73% 27% Masters/PhD 4-yr degree 2-yr degree Certificate/Diploma High School/GED

21 How Did You Pay For This Exam? % 59% 69% % % 42% 58% 31% % 57% 0 Employer Will Pay As Many Times As I Take Exam Employer Paid and Will Not Pay Again If I Fail Paid Out-Of-Pocket. Employer Will Reimburse If I Pass or Fail Paid Out-Of-Pocket. Employer Will Reimburse If I Pass Paid Out-Of-Pocket Pass Fail

22 Continuing Education

23 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) 12 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) are due June 30 th of every odd year Passing the next level of examination will count toward CEU hours Hours can be obtained at technical colleges, workshops, seminars, conferences, online training, and/or in-house training If a course topic is relevant, the CEUs may be used toward multiple licenses

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25 Guidelines for CE to be accepted by the Board: 1. The instructor or presenter must be able to provide an agenda or outline of the training content. 2. Participants must be able to interact with the instructor or presenter through discussion, telephone, or Participants must be able to verify participation with appropriate documentation. 4. CE must be relevant to water and/or wastewater treatment facilities. (Refer to ABC s CE Course Topic Criteria) ***Detailed guidelines are on ECB website***

26 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) CE credit will NOT be given for: 1. Business & marketing training 2. Membership in a professional society 3. Reading professional publications 4. Regular employment 5. Self-study 6. Personal self improvement 7. Operating trade show displays 8. Repetitive (refresher) attendance or teaching of the same course

27 What If You Are Audited? Name, date, duration of training, and total number of clock hours Name of instructor For multiple courses; breakout the course and corresponding CEUs Verification of attendance Outline or agenda of course/event content Complete the CE Audit Form (see LLR website) Random audits are conducted every two years CE Broker 100% audit (2019 or 2020)

28 Upgrades: Work Experience and Substitutions

29 I passed the exam. Why hasn t my license updated?

30 Congratulations on passing the Biological Wastewater Treatment Class B Examination. For initial licensure or for promotion, an Experience Verification form must be submitted to the South Carolina Environmental Certification Board to verify the completion of the required one year of experience. Forms can be found on the Environmental Certification Board website under "Applications and Forms."

31 Work experience quality + Work experience time + Passing of exam LICENSE UPGRADE

32 License number & License type Description of work experience Operator of Record signature

33 Work Experience SECTION Environmental systems operator licensure requirement. It is unlawful for a person to practice as an environmental systems operator in this State without prior authorization through licensure in accordance with this chapter.

34 Work Substitution All applicants must complete one year of actual operating experience and pass the appropriate examinations before educational experience will be considered. The Board accepts: College & technical school courses (math and science) Board approved apprenticeship programs Board approved Operator Certification programs Military experience (must be related to licensure)

35 Questions? Molly F. Price