Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2019

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Representative Roger Lynch Files Continuing Education Bill HB1060 “A” & “B” Licensees 4 Hours Annually Repr sentative Roger Lynch Files Co ti uing Education Bill HB1 60 “A” & “B” Licensees 4 Hours Annually

It’s 2019 and the legislature gavels into session on Monday, January 14. Representative Roger Lynch, District 14 filed a Continuing Education bill which will require 4 hours of continuing education to renew an “A” or “B” HVACR license. The logic behind the requirement for only “A” or “B” licensees is this: 1. “A” & “B” licensees are the only ones permitted to design and install heating and cooling systems for homeowners. 2. They are the ones responsible for proper design and installation of residential systems. 3. As the person responsible for residential installations, they need to be current on new code and technical information. 4. They can pass along what they learn to their employed registrants who do much of the actual installation work. 5. This “train the trainer” concept saves money for business, licensees, and, by extension, homeowners. Since many HVACR companies have multiple “A” and “B” licensees working

within the company, the questions is, “How many of those licensees would be required to complete the four hours of training? The answer is “all” “A” and “B” licensees with an active license are required to complete the training. If a company has more than one active licensee, all but one can put their license in deferment. This is an excellent savings to the licensee as the deferment license is only $40 compared to $200 for an active “A” and $150 for an active “B”. Unless the licensee does side work, (a policy frowned on by most companies and forbidden by some), there is no need for the extra licensee to carry an active license. The only caveat is to bring their license out of deferment every 5 years and then, after one year, put it back in deferment for the next four years. Over a period of 5 years the “A” licensee can save $640 and the “B” $440. Pulling it out of deferment every 5 years is painless as no test is required. Remember, a company with one or 150 employees is required to have only one active “A” or “B” licensee.