SECTION 365.21. Continuing Professional Education and Training Programs for the Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement

(a) A licensed Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber or Plumbing Inspector who also holds a Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement shall complete a minimum of two (2) hours of CPE or demonstrate successful completion of a national certification before he or she may renew his or her endorsement. A licensee may not use a single medical gas CPE course to fulfill the continuing education requirement for more than one renewal period.

(b) A medical gas CPE course shall be based on the most current edition of the National Fire Protection Association 99 Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) and include comprehensive instruction on any updates to or changes from the previous edition of the code.

(c) The course materials for a medical gas course shall include an authorized copy of the current edition of the NFPA 99 or an authorized copy of the NFPA 99 Handbook, a 50-question exercise covering the most-recent changes and updates to the NFPA 99 and the fundamentals of medical gas piping installation.

(1) The course materials shall not advertise or promote the sale of goods, products or services.

(2) A Course Provider or Course Instructor shall not offer to buy back used course materials from a student or offer any other incentive intended to persuade the student not to retain the course materials.

(3) A Course Provider shall not require a student to purchase a copy of the current edition of the NFPA 99 or the NFPA 99 Handbook if the student has previously completed a medical gas CPE course with the same provider that utilized the same course materials. As a substitute, the Course Provider may use any written material designed to supplement the NFPA 99 or the handbook.

(d) Only an individual, business or association approved as a Course Provider may provide a medical gas CPE course.

(e) A licensed Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber or Plumbing Inspector may teach a medical gas CPE course if the licensee:

(1) holds a current Medical Gas Piping Installation Endorsement; and

(2) is approved as a Course Instructor.

(f) A Course Provider shall present a medical gas CPE course in a single day consisting of at least two (2) clock hours of instruction in the classroom.

Source Note: The provisions of this §365.21 adopted to be effective September 1, 2017, 42 TexReg 3774; amended to be effective November 23, 2022, 47 TexReg 7685