Section 296-400A-026. What training course approval procedures for medical gas will the department follow?

(1) The department will review and approve courses submitted by training course providers that offer medical gas piping systems training. Course approvals will be decided in consultation with the state advisory board of plumbers.

(2) All providers seeking course approval, must submit the required information (see subsection (5) of this section) to the department at least thirty days before a regularly scheduled advisory board meeting. No course can be offered as meeting the requirements of a medical gas endorsement until it has been approved.

(3) All material required for approval will be reviewed without testimony and the review will be based solely upon the information submitted. Once reviewed, the department has five working days to give a provider written notification of acceptance or rejection. In the case of rejection, the department must specify its reasons.

(4) If a provider has a course rejected, it may request a hearing before the advisory board at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Any information supporting the provider's position, which was not included with the original approval request, must be submitted to the board at least twenty days before the meeting at which the hearing will be held.

At the hearing, the department and the provider may produce witnesses and give testimony. The hearing must be conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW. The board must base its decision upon the testimony and evidence presented and must notify the parties immediately upon reaching its decision. A majority of the board is necessary to render a decision.

(5) Specific course approval criteria:

(a) All training courses must conform to and be based upon current standards and requirements governing the installation of medical gas piping systems.

(b) All course approval requests must include:

(i) A general description of the course including its scope, the instructional materials to be used and the instructional methods to be followed; and

(ii) A copy of the complete medical gas piping installer training curriculum; and

(iii) A detailed course outline; and

(iv) The name and qualifications of the course instructor(s); and

(v) The locations where the course will be taught; and

(vi) The days and hours the course will be offered; and

(vii) The specific fees associated with the course, as well as, the total cost of the course.

(c) All fees for approved training courses must be reasonable and in line with fees charged for other comparable code based training courses.

(6) Training courses are approved for a three-year period.

(7) A provider, whose courses are approved, must give the department literature describing the courses so the department can share this information to prospective applicants.

(8) It is the responsibility of the provider to annually review and update its courses and to notify the department of any changes.

(9) The department may withdraw its approval of any training course if it determines the provider is no longer in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. If the department withdraws its approval of a training course, it must give the provider written notification of the withdrawal specifying the reasons for its decision. If the department withdraws its approval of a training course the provider may request a hearing before the advisory board at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Any information supporting the provider's position must be submitted to the board at least twenty days before the meeting at which the hearing will be held. At the hearing the department and the provider may produce witnesses and give testimony. The hearing must be conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW. The board must base its decision upon the testimony and evidence presented and must notify the parties immediately upon reaching its decision. A majority of the board is necessary to render a decision.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2002 c 82, and 2003 c 399. WSR 04-12-046, § 296-400A-026, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.106 RCW. WSR 98-13-126, § 296-400A-026, filed 6/17/98, effective 7/20/98.]

RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2002 c 82, and 2003 c 399. WSR 04-12-046, § 296-400A-026, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.106 RCW. WSR 98-13-126, § 296-400A-026, filed 6/17/98, effective 7/20/98.