Part VII. Continuing Professional Education
18VAC160-40-330. Continuing professional education.
A. Each licensee must complete the following number of continuing professional education (CPE) contact hours during each renewal cycle. CPE provisions do not apply for the renewal of licenses that were held for less than two years on the date of expiration.
License Type | CPE Contact Hours Required |
1. Master alternative onsite soil evaluator | 14 |
2. Master alternative onsite sewage system installer | 14 |
3. Master alternative onsite sewage system operator | 14 |
4. Master conventional onsite soil evaluator | 10 |
5. Master conventional onsite sewage system installer | 10 |
6. Master conventional onsite sewage system operator | 6 |
7. Journeyman alternative onsite soil evaluator | 6 |
8. Journeyman alternative onsite sewage system installer | 6 |
9. Journeyman alternative onsite sewage system operator | 6 |
10. Journeyman conventional onsite soil evaluator | 4 |
11. Journeyman conventional onsite sewage system installer | 4 |
12. Journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator | 4 |
B. The licensee may request additional time to meet the CPE requirement. However, CPE courses completed during a current license renewal cycle to satisfy the CPE requirements of the preceding licensing renewal cycle will be valid only for that preceding license renewal cycle and will not be accepted for subsequent renewal cycles. The grant of any request for additional time to meet the CPE requirement is at the discretion of the board.
C. The licensee will not receive credit for completing the same CPE course with the same content more than once during a license renewal cycle.
D. A licensee may receive CPE credit for teaching a course that otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter; however, additional credit will not be given for subsequent offering of a course or activity with the same content within the same renewal cycle. In addition, a licensee may receive two hours of CPE no more than once during a single renewal cycle for the initial development or substantial updating of a CPE course.
E. For all licenses, safety subjects will not count for more than one-fourth of the total required CPE hours.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; Errata, 33:13 VA.R. 1821 February 20, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-340. CPE subject matter for onsite sewage system installers.
The following course topics will be accepted for CPE credit for onsite sewage system installers:
1. Sewage system installation;
2. Operating and maintaining equipment;
3. Security and safety procedures;
4. General science, mathematical, and electrical principles;
5. Administrative knowledge and procedures applicable to the profession;
6. Laws and regulations applicable to the profession; and
7. Monitoring, evaluating and adjusting treatment processes (alternative onsite sewage system installers only).
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-350. CPE subject matter for onsite sewage system operators.
The following course topics will be accepted for CPE credit for onsite sewage system operators:
1. Onsite system operations;
2. Monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting treatment processes;
3. Operating and maintaining equipment;
4. Security and safety procedures;
5. General science, mathematical, and electrical principles;
6. Administrative knowledge applicable to the profession; and
7. Laws and regulations applicable to the profession.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-360. CPE subject matter for onsite soil evaluators.
The following course topics will be accepted for CPE credit for onsite soil evaluators:
1. Site and soil evaluations;
2. Security and safety procedures;
3. Mapping, cartography, and geographic information systems;
4. System design;
5. Inspections;
6. General science and mathematical principles;
7. Administrative knowledge and procedures applicable to the profession; and
8. Laws and regulations applicable to the profession.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-365. CPE courses on management and supervision principles.
In addition to the topics provided in 18VAC160-40-340, 18VAC160-40-350, and 18VAC160-40-360, a master licensee may receive a maximum of four contact hours of CPE credit for completion of training in management and supervision principles.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-370. Use of training credits and formal education for CPE credit.
Any course approved by the board for substitution as training credits or formal education semester hours, as provided for in 18VAC160-40-70 or 18VAC160-40-280, will also be acceptable on an hour-for-hour basis for CPE contact hours. One semester hour of college credit will equal 15 CPE contact hours, and one-quarter hour of college credit will equal 10 CPE contact hours. The training credits or formal education must be applicable to the license for which CPE credit is sought.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-380. Maintenance of CPE.
A. Each licensee must maintain evidence of the satisfactory completion of CPE for a period of at least two years following the end of the license renewal cycle for which the CPE was taken. Such documentation must be provided to the board or its duly authorized agents upon request. The following will be maintained to document completion of the required CPE:
1. Evidence of completion that contains the name, address, and telephone number of the sponsor;
2. The dates the licensee participated in the training;
3. Description of the subject matter presented; and
4. A statement from the sponsor verifying the number of CPE contact hours completed.
B. The board may conduct an audit of its licensees to ensure compliance with the applicable CPE requirements. Licensees who are selected for audit must provide the necessary documentation stipulated in this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-385. Training courses, generally.
In accordance with 18VAC160-40-70 A 2, training courses approved by the board may be substituted for experience. All training courses must be approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of this part. Training courses may be delivered in person or using distance, virtual, or online education technology. Training courses may be approved retroactively; however, no applicant will receive credit for the training course until such approval is granted by the board. Training courses that meet the requirements of 18VAC160-40-430 may be accepted for substitution of experience without approval by the board.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.