Statement of Scope
Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Professional Land Surveyors
Relating to: | Continuing Education |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
N/A
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The objective of the proposed rule is to provide greater clarity with regards to continuing education requirements and standards for Professional Engineers.
3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
Chapter A-E 13 relates to biennial continuing education for Professional Engineers. The current rules establish the continuing education requirements for registration renewal, qualifying activities for obtaining continuing education, standards for continuing education approval, process for waiving continuing education requirements, and late renewal requirements. The proposed rule will more clearly specify the standards for continuing education approval resulting in a more transparent and consistent approval process for continuing education program providers. The proposed rule will also more precisely delineate the qualifying activities for obtaining continuing education credit hours. This change would provide greater assurance that the continuing education being undertaken by Professional Engineers will provide the desired level of competency to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. This change also will provide registered Professional Engineers greater assurance that the time and money spent on obtaining continuing education credit will satisfy the requirements set in administrative code. Currently, chapter A-E 13 requires renewal applicants to complete two hours in professional conduct and ethics, but does not define what constitutes professional conduct and ethics. The proposed rule will provide a definition of professional conduct and ethics. The current rule states that late renewal applicants must submit a record with information providing proof of compliance with the continuing education requirements. The proposed rule will require late renewal applicants to follow the same procedures as those applicants who renew prior to the established renewal date. This change simply would require late renewal applicants to certify on the application full compliance with the continuing education requirements. Similar to applicants who renew prior to the established renewal date, under the proposed rule the late renewal registrant must maintain records of the completed continuing education hours in compliance with s. A-E 13.07. Chapter A-E 13 will be further reviewed for clarity, consistency, and format which may result in other revisions. 4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., provides examining boards, “shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains…” Section 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., sets forth the parameters of an agency’s rule-making authority, stating an agency, “may promulgate rules interpreting provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency. . .but a rule is not valid if the rule exceeds the bounds of correct interpretation.” Section 443.015 (1), Stats., provides that each section of the examining board “may establish continuing education requirements for renewal of a credential issued by that section under this chapter.” 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
120 hours
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
Licensed professional engineers and providers of professional engineer continuing education
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
None.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
The proposed rule will have minimal to no economic impact on small businesses and the state’s economy as a whole.
