The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) has announced changes to the exam that will take effect with the September 2012 administration of the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.).

 

At that time, CLARB will begin the transition to a full computer-based testing format. By December 2012, all sections of the exam will be taken via computer. Also, the structure of the exam will change from five to four sections.

 

CLARB has developed a set of tools to explain the transition in detail. Candidates may visit the CLARB website to obtain this information. On a page aimed at exam candidates, there is a transition timeline, a transition chart, a set of Frequently Asked Questions, and links to the CLARB Facebook page where questions can be posted.

An important change in regulation affecting Maryland Professional Land Surveyors went into effect on June 13. From now on, all surveying documents are required to include the surveyor's license expiration date as part of the official signature and seal See COMAR 09.13.06.12H.

 

This change to Regulation .12 under COMAR 09.13.06 Minimum Standards of Practice is in accordance with the practices of the other design professions that are regulated by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The intent of the Regulation is simply to serve as a reminder to each licensee of his or her license expiration date. For related design professions, such as architects and engineers, adding an expiration date requirement has proven to significantly cut down on unintentional license lapses. The new requirement does not affect the validity of the signed plans, nor does it indicate that the actual plans have an expiration date.

Recently, it came to the attention of the Board that not all licensed Professional Land Surveyors in Maryland are aware that there is a CPC worksheet available to them on the Board's website. The Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Worksheet was designed to aid the licensee in maintaining CPC unit records, as well as categorizing the units earned into "A" or "B" programs.

 

Not only is the worksheet helpful to licensees while they are keeping track of their continuing education, but it is also required to be submitted to the Board in the event of a CPC audit. Therefore, it's in your best interest to use the form and to keep it with your records. If you update it as you earn each of your CPC units, it will streamline the audit process should you be randomly chosen to participate in one.

New regulations have been promulgated this summer by the Board for Professional Engineers. They address the upcoming Professional Competency Requirements that will soon be a condition for license renewal. See COMAR 09.23.06.01-.17. In an effort to help you better understand the new CPC requirements, Board Member David Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE, has prepared a set of Frequently Asked Questions.

 

MD P.E. Continuing Professional Competency  

Frequently Asked Questions

By David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE

 

What precisely do I have to do and when? In the two years prior to the biennial renewal date of your license, you must complete 24 hours of acceptable professional development hours (PDHs).

 

What is the time table for implementation of the requirements? The regulations are in effect as of July 12, 2011. If your renewal date is on or before September 30, 2012 you do not have to complete any PDHs. If your renewal date is between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013 you will have to complete 12 PDHs (must include 1 PDH in ethics). If your renewal date is on or after October 1, 2013 you will have to complete 24 PDHs.

 

What are acceptable PDHs? Acceptable topics are those that maintain and enhance professional competency and foster improvement, advancement, and extension of professional skills and knowledge related to the practice of engineering. You can take all your PDHs in Category A topics or you could substitute up to 6 PDHs in Category B topics. Regardless, one of the PDHs in Category must be in an ethics topic.

 

What are Category A and B topics? Category A topics focus on technical, research, analytical or design aspects of engineering; laws and regulations related to the practice of engineering in Maryland; engineering-related computer hardware or software; standards of practice or care; professional engineering ethics; project management, risk assessment and management; or emergency and disaster management or similar topics intended to maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills related to the practice of engineering. Category B topics relate to business or government administration or the development of traits, skills or behavioral patterns geared towards improved communications skills; oral and written skills; personal management skills or other similar programs which contain a clear purpose of improving a licensee's methods of practice or operations or advancing professionally related skills and practices as applicable to the practice of engineering.

 

What are PDHs? One PDH equals one hour of contact time. A one-hour lecture equals one PDH.

 

Do I have to attend a college course to gain credit? No, qualifying programs shall be formally organized and classified as: university, college, and community college courses; professional workshops; seminars; self-directed or technical presentations.

 

Do the PDHs have to be in a classroom-like setting? No, qualifying programs may be presented live, televised, videotaped, audio-taped, online or through other appropriate formats approved by the Board.

 

Do courses have to be approved by the Board? No.

 

Do providers have to be approved by the Board? Yes, but there is an exception. ABET or regionally accredited academic learning institutions, national/local professional engineering societies, ACEC, NCEES and other organizations are pre-approved. For-profit companies can apply and become approved. These will be listed on the Board's website. A licensee may also take a presentation from other organizations, such as manufacturers, technical organizations, their own employer (brown bag lunches), and others and count as acceptable, provided the presentation maintains or enhances professional competency and fosters improvement, advancement, and extension of professional skills and knowledge related to the practice of engineering. The licensee will also be required to complete the form(s) on the Board's website and maintain the records in accordance with the regulations.

 

What do I have to turn in at renewal time? At the time of renewal you have to certify that you have completed the 24 PDHs. You need to keep records as described in the regulations, and two forms have been provided on the Board's website to assist in that effort. These records must be kept for 4 years after the completing the course, technical presentation, etc. Each year a portion of the licensees will be audited. At that time the licensee will have to produce the appropriate records.

 

Where can I find additional and more detailed information?

The Board website has the complete regulations and forms.

Effective January 1, 2012, some long-practicing engineers may elect to adopt a retired status license. In the event that individuals wish to adopt the title of "Professional Engineer, Retired," the Maryland Board has prepared the procedure to follow.

 

By authority of §14-316 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, a retired status may be issued by the Board if the following conditions are met by a licensee:

• Possession of a valid, current Maryland professional engineering license
• Payment of a one-time fee to the Board (the Board is promulgating regulations to set the fee at $50)
• 25 years of experience practicing engineering
• At least a five-year history of being licensed in Maryland
• No pending disciplinary actions related to the practice of engineering
• Certification of the cessation of practice

Once a retired status is obtained, the licensee is exempt from having to comply with CPC requirements. In the event that the licensee later elects to reactivate, the regulations provide that he or she must fulfill the required PDH units that would have accrued if he or she had remained practicing, not to exceed 48 PDH units. Also, the licensee will be required to pay a reactivation fee and certify that he or she has no pending disciplinary actions open that involve the practice of engineering.

The Board is pleased to announce the engagement of Professional Credential Services, Inc. (PCS) to begin administering both the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and the Principles of Engineering (PE) exams beginning with the October 2011 exams. The procedure will be as follows:

1. First-time candidates must apply to the Maryland Board and receive approval. If you have already been approved by the Board, you do not need to re-apply.
2. Visit the NCEES website and create an online account.
3. Register online with NCEES by the registration deadline. Information about the exam and the exam site will be given at that time.
4. Schedule your exam with PCS. You may schedule via telephone (877-364-3926) or via the PCS website. The exam and administration fees are payable at that time.

The PCS scheduling deadline for the October examinations is September 9. The deadline to register with NCEES is also September 9.

In October, the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers will grow by one member. Legislation was passed this spring to add a new seat to the Board.

 

Presently, the Board is comprised of seven members: five are professional engineers and two are consumer members. According to Maryland law, the current engineer board members must come from specific engineering backgrounds. There are two civil engineers, a chemical engineer, an electrical engineer, and a mechanical engineer. The newest member must represent a discipline that is not already included on the Board. Once the new board member is appointed, he or she will serve a five-year term.

 

The Governor shall fill this seat from a single list of at least three names of professional engineers submitted by the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers, and any list of qualified individuals that may have been submitted to the Governor by any person who is a resident of the State. 

Two members of the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers have recently received awards and special appointments for their outstanding service to the engineering profession:

 

David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE received the Meritorious Service Award from the Maryland Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers in recognition of his numerous contributions to the advancement of the profession. It was noted that during his 40-year career as a civil engineer, he showed "tremendous dedication to the profession," and volunteered "countless hours of his time serving in professional organizations, including the ASCE."

 

Steven A. Arndt, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASME, F.ANS, F.AAAS, F.ASQ received a number of appointments and awards. Dr. Arndt was elected to the American Nuclear Society Board of Directors this year. Dr. Arndt has been appointed the Commanding Officer of the 121st Engineering Regiment of the Maryland Defense Force. Colonel Dr. Arndt assumed command of the 121st on July 1, 2011. The Maryland Defense Force is a volunteer, uniformed agency of the Maryland Military Department, authorized by Maryland law, with a mission to provide competent professional and technical support to the Maryland National Guard and state civil agencies as ordered by the Governor and the adjutant general. Dr. Arndt has also been appointed to the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.

 

In addition to his new assignments, Dr. Arndt has received two professional awards this year. He received the Bertha Lamme Feicht Award in April 2011. The Bertha Lamme Feicht Award is presented to practicing engineers who have made noteworthy contributions to their chosen professions while overcoming significant obstacles or barriers to the completion of their education and/or obstacles in their careers. He also received the National Council for Examiners of Engineering and Surveying's North East Zone Distinguished Service Award for his work in supporting and promoting the engineering profession in the service of public health and safety.

In accordance with the Maryland Program Evaluation Act, the Board of Certified Interior Designers is currently under review as part of the Sunset Evaluation process. The Sunset Evaluation Process, or "Sunset Review," is performed by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services about every ten years, and its main purpose is to review certain State boards and commissions in order to evaluate their regulatory functions. More information on the Sunset process can be found here.

The Board of Certified Interior Designers has adopted a new Regulation to its Code of Ethics, which went into effect June 13, 2011. COMAR 09.18.02.07, entitled Failure to Respond, provides that a certificate holder must respond in writing to a written communication from the Board within 30 days. The language is analogous to regulations that have already been promulgated by three other design boards. Adopting a Failure to Respond regulation strengthens the Board's enforcement capabilities and ensures compliance with Continuing Education requirements.