Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2022

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2022

State National Chapter News

The Expos will be 5 hours in length so a licensee will be able to complete the required 4 hours of continuing

An Opportunity That Is Finally OURS Continuing Education Expos

We worked hard as an industry for two decades to institute continuing education. Why? Because we believed that it would help our industry be more professional in our knowledge and in the way we run our businesses — protecting Arkansas home- owners and businesses. That would in turn make our industry more responsive to new technology and more careful about health and safety issues that are inherent to HVACR work. Well, we have it. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Department of Labor and Licensing HVACR Department will begin accepting applications for continuing education classes. These can be provided by manufacturers, distributors, colleges, training organizations, online providers, as well as the Arkansas HVACR Association. The HVACR chief inspector will approve the applications based on the curriculum, the instructor, as well as their ability to report the results. Actual review of CE completion will be implemented January 1, 2023; so to renew ones license will require proof of CE completion. With that in mind, the Arkansas HVACR Association has an ambitious goal of providing a minimum of 8 Continuing Education Expos this fall and again next spring. These Continuing Education Expos, CEEs, will be larger meetings to accommodate the need to make continuing education readily available, convenient, and affordable to Arkansas HVACR licensees.

education in one afternoon.

The Expo will format as follows: Noon — lunch and introductions 1:00 to 3:00--Break Out Sessions

Expos will be held in each of the Association Chapter service areas to minimize travel. Others may also be offered if the need arises. Schedules will be determined over the summer with locations depending on availability of space. This will be a large undertaking and we ’ ll need the help of hosting partners. Our goal is to host most of them in partnership with the local HVACR training program. CEEs are tentatively planned for late October or early November and then late January or early February. Attendees completing the entire four hours will receive a certificate from the Association and the HVACR Department will be notified of their completion. Topics covering technical and business issues of importance to licensees will be provided by experts in their field. These will accommodate about 25 each and the number of breakouts will depend on the total enrolled. These sessions will be submitted for approval by the Licensing Program. 3:00 to 5:00 — Code Training Inspectors will provide code training on topics that may be new or that just need refreshing.