Section 750.530  Department Approval and Evaluation of Courses of Instruction in Plumbing

a)         A college, university, trade school or vocational school that has established a program providing a course of instruction in plumbing may submit a letter to the Department requesting approval of its program or course of instruction.

1)         The request for approval shall include information on the curriculum offered by the program, qualifications of the instructors, and information indicating that the teaching facility to be used for the program provides both shop and classroom facilities.

2)         For a program to be approved, it shall provide instruction in plumbing that is supervised by a licensed plumber.

b)         The Department will evaluate a training program before making a determination to approve or deny a request for approval. Approval will be granted based on the information included in the request letter, including confirmation of the qualifications of the instructors, evidence that the program's courses provide instruction in the subject areas specified in Section 750.540, and determination that the teaching facility provides both shop and classroom facilities.

c)         Each instructor participating in a program of instruction in plumbing shall be considered qualified by meeting one of the criteria specified in subsections (c)(1) through (3).  The instructor shall provide verification of the license or certificate. A copy of the instructor's educator license will establish verification.

1)         An Illinois licensed plumber;

2)         An individual who possesses a provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an educator license, issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 21B-20 of the School Code (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.72), in a field related to plumbing (such as hydraulics, pneumatics or water chemistry); or

3)         A representative of an industry or a manufacturing business related to plumbing, including, but not limited to, the copper industry, plastic pipe industry or cast iron industry.  Courses that are taught by industry representatives shall be educational and shall not be sales oriented.  Industry representatives shall be assisted by an Illinois licensed plumber during the presentation of a course of instruction.

d)         The Department may evaluate an approved program to determine the ongoing effectiveness of the training program. An evaluation will be conducted:

1)         As the result of a complaint to the Department;

2)         Upon the failure of 25% of students from the program who complete the plumbing license examination; or

3)         As a result of changes in the curriculum.

e)         The program's curriculum will be evaluated for compliance with the list of topics for courses of instruction in plumbing in Section 750.540.

f)         The program's facilities will be evaluated for its suitability for training in the practice of plumbing in all its forms and the type of tools, condition of tools, safety devices, and ventilation for the discharge of heat, smoke and fumes.

g)         The Department will notify the training program sponsor of all deficiencies determined in the evaluation.

1)         The program sponsor shall contact the Department within 15 days after receiving the notice of deficiencies to arrange a plan of correction for the deficiencies. The program sponsor shall have not less than 30 and not more than 90 days from the date of the notice of deficiencies to remedy the deficiencies.  The specific time period for correction will be stated in the notice of deficiencies.

2)         If the deficiencies are not remedied within the time frame specified in subsection (g)(1), the Department will withdraw its approval in writing. Upon withdrawal of approval, the training program sponsor shall have the right to request a hearing. (See Section 750.120.)

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 8786, effective June 17, 2016)