OAR 820-050-0001: Continuing Professional Development — Certified Water Right Examiner (CWRE)

The purpose of professional development requirements is to demonstrate a continuing level of competency of certified water right examiners (CWRE). (1) Requirements for a Registered Geologist or a Qualifying District Employee that hold certification as a CWRE: (a) Obtain 10 professional development hour (PDH) units during each biennial certification period. (b) If certification is for a period of six months or greater, but less than the full biennial certification period, the Registered Geologist or Qualifying District Employee shall obtain a prorated amount of required PDH. (c) If certification is for a period of less than six months, the Registered Geologist or Qualifying District Employee is not required to obtain PDH for that certification period. (d) Every CWRE shall report PDH units to the Board with the renewal application and fee. The renewal application must be completed in its entirety. (e) Supporting documentation to verify the PDH units recorded with the renewal application must be submitted to the Board office when requested to participate in an audit. Supporting documentation may include, but is not limited to: (A) Completion certificate(s); (B) Paid receipt(s); (C) Attendance log; (D) Other documents supporting evidence of attendance. (f) Supporting documentation must be submitted to the Board in English or translated to English. (g) Records must be retained for five (5) years. (2) PDH units must be obtained in qualifying activities related to the individual’s certification. A qualifying activity is any course or activity with a clear purpose and objective which improves, or expands the skills and knowledge relevant to the professional activities of a certified water right examiner as defined in ORS Chapter 537 and OAR Chapter 690. (3) Non-qualifying activities may include, but are not limited to: (a) Regular employment; (b) Personal self improvement; (c) Equipment demonstrations or trade show displays; (d) Enrollment without attendance at courses, seminars, etc. (e) Repetitive attendance at the same course; (f) Repetitive teaching of the same course; (g) Attending committee meetings or general business meetings of any organization; (h) Taking professional or required examinations. (4) Units — The conversion of other units of credit to PDH units is as follows: (a) 1 College Semester hour equals 45 PDH; (b) 1 College Quarter hour equals 30 PDH; (c) 1 Continuing Education unit equals 10 PDH. (5) Sources of PDH units — One (1) PDH unit may be obtained for each contact hour of instruction or presentation. Unless otherwise noted, there is no maximum amount of PDH units a CWRE may earn per biennial certification period. Sources of PDH units include, but are not limited to the following: (a) Successful completion of college courses; (b) Successful completion of short courses, tutorials, correspondence, web based courses, televised and videotaped courses; (c) Active participation in seminars, in-house courses, workshops, and professional conventions; (d) Teaching or instructing a course, seminar, or workshop one time only. (This does not apply to full-time faculty teaching college courses); (e) Authoring or co-authoring published papers, articles or books. Maximum of 3 PDH units per biennial certification period; (f) Active participation in professional or technical society, committee, or board. Maximum of 2 PDH units per biennial certification period; (g) Self study. Maximum of 2 PDH units per biennial certification period; (h) Non-technical educational activities related to employment. (6) Determination of Credit — Credit determination for activities is the responsibility of the CWRE and is subject to review by the Board. The Board has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, PDH units for courses and other methods of earning credit. (7) If a CWRE exceeds the requirement in any certification period, a maximum of 5 PDH units in courses/activities may be carried forward into the next certification period. (8) Delinquent, retired or inactive certificate holders must provide evidence of holding active registration as a professional engineer, professional land surveyor, or registered geologist, in addition to completing the PDH requirements as outlined in OAR 820-010-0520 in order to attain active status. If certification as a CWRE was obtained as a Qualifying District Employee, active Qualifying District Employee status must be maintained.