S.C. Code Regs. § § 53-20

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 53-20 - Continuing Education Requirements

(A) Continuing Forestry Education: Each registered forester is required to meet the Continuing Education Requirements of the Board of Registration prior to registration renewal each biennium.

(B) Biennial Requirements: A total of 20 Continuing Forestry Education credits is required biennially, of which a minimum of 10 must be in Category 1.

(C) CFE Credit Categories:

Category 1 - Core Education

Each Category 1 activity must satisfy all of the following conditions:

It is an organized program of learning conducted in a setting physically suitable to continuing forestry education objectives;

Speakers must be qualified to address their topics and be considered experts in their presentation subject by virtue of special education, training, and/or experience.

The subject matter must directly relate to the approved content area for the appropriate credential. Individual presentations within a workshop or conference may qualify while others do not.

The program content must be of a technical level and nature such that it supplements and builds upon the knowledge necessary to ensure professional competency. Training sessions targeted specifically for landowners do not meet this criterion.

The program content cannot be: specific to protocols of an individual organization, company or agency; about organization-specific procedures and operations, or; employee training in organization-specific practices/policies.

Category 2 - Related Education

Each Category 2 activity must satisfy all of the following conditions:

It is an organized program of learning conducted in a setting physically suitable to continuing forestry education objectives.

Speakers must be qualified to address their topics and be considered experts in their presentation subject by virtue of special education, training, and/pr experience.

The program content must be of a technical level and nature such that it supplements and builds upon the knowledge necessary to ensure professional competency and performance.

The program content cannot be: specific to protocols of an individual organization, company, or agency; about organization-specific procedures and operations; or employee training in organization-specific practices/policies.

Category 3 - Professional Development and Volunteer Activities

Each Category 3 activity must satisfy all of the following conditions:

Professional activities undertaken outside of normal job responsibilities.

The subject matter qualifies under category 1, such as presentations in a classroom, field, or lab setting; writing and publishing of forestry or forestry-related subject matter; or, service to the profession through volunteer work.

(D) Reports and Records: Each registrant shall report on a form provided by the Board, the activities undertaken to meet the requirements for Continuing Forestry Education.

The registrant shall maintain a file of documentation for activities for a period of 5 years after the date of the program. Such documentation shall be provided to the Board of Registration upon request.

(E) Approval of Activities:

(1) Any activity approved for CFE credit by the Society of American Foresters Continuing Forestry Education Program.

(2) An activity documentation may be submitted to the Board of Registration for Foresters for approval. The Board may rely on a committee of registered foresters chosen by the Board for determination or may rely on credit granted by other organizations. In any case the decision by the Board will be final.

(F) Non Compliance: An individual who does not meet the CFE requirements shall be placed on a probationary status for 6 months. Failure to complete the requirements during that period will result in cancellation of registration and prohibition from practicing forestry in South Carolina.

(G) Reinstatement to Active Registration: An individual wishing to have registration restored must complete the following requirements for continuing Forestry Registration in addition to other requirements required by the Board.

(1) Registration lapse of 1-3 years: Complete the CFE requirements for a minimum of one year prior to application for registration.

(2) Registration lapse of 4-10 years: Complete the current CFE requirements for a minimum of two years credits during the 18 months preceding the application for reinstatement.

(3) Registration lapse of 11 or more years: Completion of the examination required for initial licensing.

(H) Waivers: Any individual may request in writing a waiver of the requirements by the Board. If, in the judgment of the Board, the waiver is justified, it may be granted on a yearly basis.

(I) New Registrants: An individual registered during a year will be required to meet CFE requirements for renewal following the first renewal after initial registration.

(J) Carry-over Credits: A maximum of 10 credits in categories 1-3 may be carried over for one renewal cycle, except that award of a CFE certificate by the Society of American Foresters may qualify for the individual's CFE requirement for four following years.

(K) Exemptions:

(1) Individuals registered to practice forestry in another state and who meet Continuing Forestry Education requirements for that state equal to or greater than those in South Carolina.

(2) Periods of time the individual is serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States for periods longer than 180 consecutive days.

(3) Licensees experiencing physical disability, illness, other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the board may be exempt. A waiver form that includes supporting documentation must be furnished to the board thirty (30) days in advance of the renewal period.

(4) Individuals who are at least sixty (60) years old and have thirty (30) or more years of licensed experience may request a waiver of the continuing education requirement by submitting a waiver form to the Board.

S.C. Code Regs. § 53-20

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021.