North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 11 - INSURANCE › Chapter 08 - ENGINEERING AND BUILDING CODES DIVISION › Section .0700 - QUALIFICATION BOARD STANDARD CERTIFICATE › Section 08 .0722 - DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
A distance education course is a continuing education course
				  in which instruction is accomplished through the use of media and methods
				  whereby instructor and student are separated by distance and sometimes by time.
				  In addition to fulfilling all course accrediting requirements, a sponsor
				  requesting approval of a distance education course must demonstrate that the
				  proposed distance education course satisfies the following criteria:
(1) The course shall be designed to assure
				that students have defined learning objectives. If the nature of the subject
				matter is such that the learning objectives cannot be reasonably accomplished
				without some direct interaction between the instructor and students, then the
				course must be designed to provide for such interaction.
(2) A course that does not provide the
				opportunity for continuous audio and visual communication between instructor
				and all students during the course presentation shall utilize testing processes
				to assure student understanding of the subject material.
(3) A course that involves students
				completing the course on a self-paced study basis shall be designed so that the
				time required for a student of average ability to complete the course will be
				equivalent to a similar course taught in a classroom setting. The sponsor shall
				utilize a system that assures that students have actually performed all tasks
				required for completion and understanding of the subject material.
(4) The sponsor shall provide technical
				support to enable students to satisfactorily complete the course.
(5) The course instructors shall be available
				to respond in a timely manner to student questions about the subject matter of
				the course. Instructors shall have training in the proper use of the
				instructional delivery method utilized in the course, including the use of
				computer hardware and software or other applicable equipment and
				systems.
(6) The sponsor shall
				provide students with an information package containing all pertinent
				information regarding requirements unique to completing a distance education
				course, including any special requirements with regard to computer hardware and
				software or other equipment, and outlining in detail the instructor and
				technical support that will be available when taking the course.
(7) The sponsor shall use procedures that
				provide reasonable assurance that the student receiving continuing education
				credit for completing the course actually performed all the work required to
				complete the course. For courses that involve independent study by students,
				certification that the student personally completed all required course work
				shall be provided by the student to the sponsor, either by a signed statement
				(on a form provided by the sponsor) or, in the case of internet or computer
				based courses, by electronic means that are indicated in the software or on the
				website. Signed course completion statements or records of electronic
				certification shall be retained by the sponsor together with any other course
				records required by the rules in this Section.
(8) Sponsors seeking approval of distance
				education courses must submit to the Board's staff a complete copy of the
				course in the medium that is to be used, including all computer software that
				will be used in presenting the course and administering tests. If the course is
				to be internet based, the Board's staff must be provided access to the course
				via the internet and shall not be charged a fee for such access.
(9) Distance education courses shall comply
				with requirements for course completion reporting. Students shall not be
				reported for continuing education credit for distance education courses until
				the signed form from the student or electronic certification as described in
				Item (7) of this Rule has been received by the sponsor.
Authority
				  G.S.
				  143-151.13A(f)(2);
				  143-151.13A(f)(3);
Eff. February 1, 2006;
Pursuant to
				  G.S.
				  150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without
				  substantive public interest Eff. January 9,
				  2018.