Workshop Approval Process

ALL WORKSHOPS ARE APPROVED BY THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE PROGRAM

For questions regarding approval, contact John Scott at the Colorado Department of Agriculture by telephone at (303) 869-9056 or by email.

For information on topics for CEC workshop content, consult the Colorado Pesticide Applicators Act §35-10 Rules and Regulations.

PLEASE NOTE: All workshop approval requests must be submitted to CDA at least 15 days PRIOR to the workshop.

Online Continuing Education Credits

Listed below are the requirements for Online CECs and Skype/Webinar

Web-based workshop sponsors must meet all of the requirements in Part 4 of the Rules and the following requirements specific to on-line CEC course approval.

Online CECs

1) Web-based course providers must have some form of password protection. The applicator must enter a specific password, issued by the provider, to enter the site and complete the course. The provider must obtain the client’s Colorado applicator ID number and include this with each course submitted for credit.

2) The course provider must capture a photograph of the student at the time the course is initiated. This photo may be captured in any manner but must be submitted to the CDA when confirming the applicator’s successful completion of the on-line CEC.

3) Each student must sign a CDA approved anti-fraud statement, such as: “I attest that I am the applicator taking this on-line course and understand that should it be proven that this statement is false the continuing education credits approved for the successful completion of this course will be denied and I may be subject to penalties under the Colorado Pesticide Applicators’ Act for making false or fraudulent representations.” The signed statement must be provided along with evidence the course was passed at the time credit is requested.

4) The CDA will approve pest management credits only; no core category credits will be approved for on-line CEC courses.

5) The course must administer a final exam that covers the subject material and the applicator must pass with a minimum 70% score. Failure to pass the exam must result in the applicator retaking the course or having no credit awarded.

6) Exams questions must be scrambled each time an applicator retakes an exam

Live Skype (and other similar types) and Webinar CECs

1) The provider must obtain the client’s Colorado applicator ID number and associate this with each course submitted for credit and verify their identity through some form of identification (e.g.: state issued driver’s license).

2) The course provider must capture a photograph of the student at the time the course is initiated. This photo may be captured in any manner but must be submitted to the CDA when confirming the applicator’s successful completion of the Skype or Webinar CEC.

3) A camera feed or other CDA-approved student monitoring method is required throughout the course period.

4) Interaction with the student must be provided via conference call or webinar software to facilitate questions and answers.

5) Training materials should be made available to the trainee, unless otherwise approved by CDA.

6) Subject matter must be revised to reflect pest and industry updates, at a minimum, every three years.

7) Skype or Webinar course sponsors must give each applicator some form of confirmation (e.g.: certificate, letter, etc.) of the successful completion of the course for the applicator’s records. Such confirmation may be via email and may be simultaneous with notification of CDA.

8) Skype or Webinar course sponsors must send notification of the applicator’s successful completion of the training course to CDA no later than 7 days after the conclusion of the course. The CDA Attendance Verification/Summary Form must be submitted with the name of the applicator, the Colorado Pesticide Applicator ID number of the student and the approved CEC sessions the applicator participated in must be noted. The photo captured when the course was initiated must accompany the CDA Attendance Summary form, notating the applicator name and ID number. If sent electronically, the photo file must be named with the applicator’s first and last name and applicators ID number (e.g.: JohnDoe01234)

9) The CDA will be provided access links and/or passwords to each course to monitor and/or review materials being presented. If the workshop sponsor is using a “free” version of Skype or other service that limits the number of individuals allowed access or requires the course sponsor to pay for services to expand their ability to allow more than one attendee, CDA reserves the right to require the course sponsor to access a CDA administered Skype, AdobeConnect or other similar system to administer the CEC course to allow CDA to monitor the session(s). CDA may approve other monitoring recommendations made by the workshop sponsor.

10) Skype or Webinar course sponsors must apply for CEC course renewal each year and submit course changes or new course material(s) no later than June 30 each year. 11) New Skype or Webinar courses may be submitted at any time. Expired on-line courses may be submitted any time after the expiration of the course, but no CECs will be awarded between the expiration date of the course and approval date. Approval dates run on the Colorado Fiscal Year, July 1 – June 30.

Classroom Continuing Eduation Credits

To obtain Workshop Approval, submit the following to CDA:

1. Completed form: Request for Continuing Education Credit Workshop Approval Form  (You cannot fill in this form directly and save it because the information will not be saved. To use this form, click on the link, save the file under a new name, such as “BLANK Workshop Approval”. Then open the saved file, complete the information and save the file under the file name as you will submit it. For example, “CEPEP workshop 2018”)
2. Agenda that includes topics covered, speaker names, and the length of time for each session. The agenda should be as final as possible.
3. Brief biographies of the speakers. Speakers should submit information that reflects their expertise in the subject matter they intend to provide CECs for, such as but not limited to: related work or field experience, higher education degrees, other equivalent educational background, or licensure as a Qualified Supervisor in the category being taught. CDA may deny approval if it is determined that the trainer does not have sufficient expertise.
4. A brief summary of each session to be presented, the session title alone is not adequate to meet this requirement. The focus of each session should be identified by topic or subject area, according to the Continuing Education Requirements found in PAA Rule 2016

Listed Below are the requirements for Classroom CECs
Workshops and seminars should be open to any person holding a Colorado Commercial or Private Applicators License, subject to your space limitations. Sessions not open to all licensees (eg: “in-house” sessions) must be identified as private CEC course on the “Request for Continuing Education Credit Workshop Approval” form.

•“Core Credit” sessions must be at least thirty (30) minutes in length, although the Department may group topics together in order to meet or exceed the time requirements. “Core Credits” are the seven credits that are required for every applicator such as Laws and Regulations (2 credits), Applicator Safety, Public Safety, Pesticides & their Families, Environmental Protection, or Use of Pesticides.
•“Commercial Applicator Pest Management Credit” sessions must be at least sixty (60) minutes in length, although the Department may group sessions in order to meet or exceed the time requirements. “Pest Management Credits” are those specific to a category, for example, Agricultural Insect Control, Turf Pest Control, or Fumigation.

•Requests for continuing education credit must be received at least 15 days before the workshop or seminar is to be held.

•Requests for continuing education received at least 60 days before the workshop or seminar is to be held will be included in a memorandum sent to all licensed Qualified Supervisors and Certified Operators. All CDA-approved CEC workshops will also be listed on CEPEPs website when provided by CDA.