Chapter 08. Continuing Professional Competency Requirements

“Activity” means attending and completing qualifying courses, seminars, workshops, technical presentations, and other qualifying programs that meet the criteria and objectives of continuing professional competency.

“Authorized provider” means an organization or individual reviewed and approved by the CPC Standards Committee.

“Board” means the State Board for Professional Land Surveyors.

“College credit hour” means the credit for a course described in §B(6) of this regulation, offered by a university, college, or community college.

“Continuing professional competency (CPC) unit” means one contact hour of instruction, presentation, or other activity.

“Course” means a qualifying offering with a clear purpose and objective to maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge of licensee's field of practice.

“CPC Standards Committee” means a committee as established in Regulation .09 of this chapter.

“Mentor” means a professional land surveyor or a property line surveyor who assists an individual in the process of qualifying for and obtaining licensure as a professional land surveyor.

“Qualifying activity” means an activity that meets the criteria set forth in Regulation .04 of this chapter.

Minimum Standards of Practice;

Legal cases, commentaries, and other related materials as they apply to the law of land boundaries in Maryland;

The awareness of ethical concerns and conflicts;

An enhanced familiarity with the codes of conduct;

An understanding of standards of practice or care; or

Similar topics aimed at maintaining, improving, or expanding the skills set and knowledge necessary to practice land surveying services or property line surveying services in the most ethical and responsible manner.

Attending and successfully completing qualifying activities in which the teaching methodology consists primarily of systematic presentation of subjects related to the practice of land or property line surveying, as such activities may from time to time be preapproved by the Board;

Subject to limitations set forth in this Regulation, teaching of, lecturing or instructing on the subjects related to professional land or property line surveying in the environment described in §A(1) of this regulation;

Serving as a mentor within the framework preapproved by the Board to an individual who is pursuing a path to licensure as a professional land surveyor;

Developing examination content questions accepted for use on both national and State specific examinations; or

Other appropriate methods that may from time to time be approved by the Board.

1 college credit hour — 5 CPC units;

1 contact hour of professional development work, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, conventions, or conferences — 1 CPC unit;

Board approved mentoring activities — 3 CPC units;

Developing of examination content questions — 4 CPC units; and

Subject to exclusions set forth in this Regulation, teaching of, lecturing or instructing on land surveying and related subjects, subject to the following limitations:

The Board shall select and establish a committee to approve providers of the CPC units (the “CPC Standards Committee”).

The CPC Standards Committee shall consist of the following individuals:

In addition to the individuals referred to in §A(2) of this regulation, the CPC Standards Committee may also include any or all of the following individuals:

The Board shall assign the responsibility of reviewing and approving the providers to the CPC Standards Committee. To the extent feasible and necessary, the CPC Standards Committee shall establish guidelines and procedures for approval of providers in accordance with the objectives stated in this chapter.

The following are considered to be preapproved providers without any further action by the Committee:

The individuals or entities, including, but not limited to, professional firms conducting in-house presentations, may be approved by the Board to become approved providers upon application and approval by the CPC Standards Committee.

During the application process, the Committee will determine the suitability of the provider to serve as an approved provider.

The provider shall submit general information that will enable the CPC Standards Committee to evaluate the provider’s qualifications. At a minimum, the CPC Standards Committee requires the following information to be submitted with each application for approval:

In order to be eligible to become the approved provider, the provider must offer the activity that meets the criteria for a qualifying activity set forth in Regulation .04.

The CPC Standards Committee, with the Board’s concurrence, may suspend or revoke approval of a provider if, in the judgment of the Board, the intent of Business Occupations and Professions Article, §15-314(f), Annotated Code of Maryland, is no longer served.

An individual or organization whose provider’s privilege has been suspended or revoked by the CPC Standards Committee may appeal the denial to the Board for a hearing within 30 days after the CPC Standards Committee notifies the individual or organization of the denial.

The responsibility of maintaining records to be used to support the continuing professional competency credit claim is the responsibility of each licensee.

A licensee shall maintain the records for a period of at least 4 years from the date of completion of the qualifying activity.

Certificates of participation;

Transcripts, if appropriate;

Reprints of publications;

Proof of presentations;

Title and description of the activity;

Dates attended;

Presenter's name; or

Any other appropriate information.

The licensee has been granted an initial license and is renewing a license for the next full term; and

The licensee qualifies under the criteria set forth in Business Regulation Article, Title 2.5, Annotated Code of Maryland.

If a licensee is unable to comply with all or part of CPC requirements due to physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances, the licensee may request the Board grant a one-time exception from compliance (Compliance Exception Request), provided that the Compliance Exception Request is filed with the Board at least 60 days prior to the licensee’s license expiration date.

If a Compliance Exception Request is based on physical disability or illness, the licensee must provide the Board with written documentation acceptable to the Board supporting the basis for the request.

A Compliance Exception Request must be accompanied by a detailed proposal acceptable to the Board indicating the licensee’s intended plan of compliance with CPC requirements within no later than 6 months after the license expiration date. Failure to provide the acceptable plan of compliance within the time period specified in this regulation may result in the Board’s administrative dismissal of the Compliance Exception Request.