Code of Maine Rules › 19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › 498 - OFFICE OF TOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 300 - CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR MUNICIPAL CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THIRD-PARTY INSPECTORS › Section 498-300-5 - RECERTIFICATION STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Except as provided in section
				  10, all code enforcement officers
				  shall be recertified in each specific area and in legal issues and enforcement
				  techniques within six (6) years of obtaining any certification.
1.
Recertification Standards
A code enforcement officer may become recertified by
				  examination as described in section 4.
An examination is not required for recertification. A
				  candidate who chooses not to become recertified through examination shall
				  demonstrate, through recertification training or training activity, that the
				  candidate has remained current in the candidate's specific areas of job
				  responsibility.
To become recertified by completing training activity, a code
				  enforcement officer shall demonstrate successful completion of twelve (12)
				  contact hours of recertification training or training activity for each
				  specific area of job responsibility and twelve (12) contact hours for legal
				  issues and enforcement techniques every six (6) years. This paragraph does not
				  apply to building standards recertification standards which are set forth in
				  the paragraph below.
For recertification, a code enforcement officer shall
				  demonstrate successful completion of recertification training or
				  recertification training activity for each applicable code in the building
				  standards specific area every six (6) years. The following number of contact
				  hours is required for each applicable code:
a. residential building code 9 contact
				hours
b. commercial building code
				15 contact hours
c. residential
				energy code 9 contact hours
d.
				commercial energy code 9 contact hours
e. residential radon code 3 contact
				hours
f. indoor residential
				ventilation code 2 contact hours
g.
				indoor commercial ventilation code 3 contact hours
A.
Recertification Training Contact
				hours
Recertification training contact hours may be gained through
				  either basic training provided by the Office or training provided by another
				  organization. Recertification training contact hours must be applicable as
				  determined by the Office.
B.
Alternative Recertification Contact
				Hours
A code enforcement officer may apply for up to six (6)
				  alternative recertification contact hours using the Office's application form.
				  Alternative recertification contact hours must be directly related to a
				  specific area of code enforcement, as determined by the Office. The Office
				  applies the training activity contact hours to the most closely-related
				  specific area of certification. Applicable training activity may consist
				  of:
(1)
Work Experience
A code enforcement officer may apply work experience in
				  municipal codes administration to that officer's recertification. Work
				  experience may be applied based on the following years of full-time
				  service:
a. five (5) to nine (9) years
				= 2 contact hours
b. ten (10) to
				fourteen (14) years = 4 contact hours
c. fifteen (15) or more years = 6 contact
				hours
If a code enforcement officer has part-time work experience
				  in municipal codes administration, the Office converts any part-time employment
				  period into its full-time equivalency.
(2)
Post-secondary Education
A code enforcement officer may apply post-secondary education
				  towards that officer's recertification. Education must be directly related to a
				  specific area of certification and must be applied based on the following types
				  of academic learning:
a. Completed
				bachelor's degree = three (3) contact hours
b. Completed associate's degree = two (2)
				contact hours
c. Completed two-year
				vocational program = two (2) contact hours
d. Completed certificate program = one (1)
				contact hour
e. Completed
				apprenticeship or internship = one (1) contact hour
f. Post-secondary courses credited towards a
				new degree during the six-year certification cycle = one (1) contact hour per
				credit
(3)
Professional License or Certification
A code enforcement officer who holds an applicable
				  professional license in the state of Maine or a state or national professional
				  certification may apply two (2) contact hours per specific area in each
				  six-year recertification cycle towards that officer's recertification.
The building standard recertification requirements in this
				  section may be waived if the code enforcement officer holds a valid
				  certification from a nationally recognized, building or energy code-related,
				  professional certification program. The Office determines whether the
				  certification is applicable and applies the waiver to the most closely related
				  building standards code.
(4)
Professional Activity
A code enforcement officer may apply documented time spent in
				  a professional activity towards the officer's recertification. One contact hour
				  may be applied for each hour of actual time spent in a professional activity
				  during the current six-year certification period. A maximum of six (6) contact
				  hours may be applied towards recertification in each specific area in a
				  six-year certification cycle.
For purposes of legal issues and enforcement techniques
				  recertification, professional activity may mean documented work experience
				  using Rule 80K procedures such as filing court documents, preparing for court
				  or appearing in court. The same contact hours may not be used for both legal
				  issues and enforcement techniques recertification and Rule 80K recertification
				  in section 6.