Can I Take My VA Tradesman CE Online
Most tradesmen would agree that getting their continuing education is a hassle. And we feel you. Sitting down to take hours on a topic you already know so much about (it’s your job, after all) probably seems pretty redundant and unnecessary.
But as far as CE goes, Virginia tradesmen don’t have it too bad. In other states, tradesmen need to take CE hours on a yearly basis or they need more than 30 hours per renewal cycle. At most, a Virginia tradesman is looking at fewer than 10 hours every two or three years — so it shouldn’t be too big of a drag.
Still, though, we know you probably want a way to knock out your continuing education requirement as easily as possible. And that’s why we think you’ll be glad to know that the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) has approved certain education providers to offer CE online.
Before you dive into the first Virginia tradesman CE class you pull up on Google, here’s what you need to know about taking your hours online.
What state regulation says about online CE
For starters, state code says that all Virginia tradesmen CE — whether in-person or online — needs to focus on the relevant code pertaining to the type of trade you do. So if you’re a plumber, your CE needs to hit updates to the International Plumbing Code (IPC). If you’re an elevator mechanic, the same goes for the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
Beyond making sure you’re taking the right type of class, you also need to make sure you take it from a DPOR-approved education provider. While state code does not specifically mention that the DPOR now approves online CE, the fact that they approve dozens of online CE providers speaks for itself.
The trick is to find an online Virginia tradesman CE provider with the DPOR’s seal of approval. To make it easy on you, some education providers will publish their approval letter from the state or their course approval numbers.
For example, if you scroll to the bottom of our CE page, you can see our most recent letter from the DPOR, which includes the course approval number for each course we offer.
Checking for a DPOR letter or course approval number can save you a big headache. If you take CE hours from an online provider who doesn’t have the green light from the state, your hours won’t count.
How online CE works for Virginia tradesmen
If this will be your first time knocking out your CE online, you’re probably wondering how it works. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Step one: Find a DPOR-approved online CE provider who offers course hours pertaining to your trade (e.g., electrical CE for electricians).
- Step two: Complete your hours online. Some education providers offer on-demand, mobile-friendly continuing education so you can chip away at your hours anytime you have a few extra minutes.
- Step three: Wait for reporting. State code requires that all CE providers report course completion to the DPOR within seven days. It usually takes a few days for the DPOR to update their records, too. But within a couple of weeks, your file should be updated showing that you’ve checked your CE off for this renewal cycle.
See? Taking your Virginia tradesman CE online can make the process ultra-easy.