SOUTH DAKOTA STATE BOARD

OF TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS

2040 West Main Street, Suite 304 Rapid City, SD 57702-2447

Phone: (605) 394-2510 Fax: (605) 394-2509 www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer

SEPTEMBER 2004 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 29

LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIRMAN…

It is a great honor to be serving on the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions. As a newly elected Chairman for the Board, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the professionals of the Engineering, Surveying, Architectural, Landscape Architects and Petroleum Remediation on their hard work and dedication on the protection of the safety of the public. The members of the Board of Technical Professions will continue the hard work to maintain the rules and regulations adopted by our legislators. As a board member, I have attended meetings of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which consists of the all state boards. I am impressed by the dedication and hard work of the talented volunteers at the national level in this great organization. The organization has several National Committees to handle the responsibilities from Rules, Exams, Exam Security, Finance, and several other committees. Recently, I have been appointed to serve as a member of the National Committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers. I look forward to learning new ideas and to contributing and representing our state on this committee.

Your Board asks for your cooperation and your continued support in evaluation and changing as needed the projects exempt under SDCL 36-18A-9. We must continue to work with all groups involved to ensure that our exemptions are consistent with the national level for better safety and quality for the industry. We look forward to constructive input from all professionals involved.

The Board encourages all registrants to give their input on all issues so we can accomplish our common goal in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare. We also encourage your involvement in promoting the professions to attract future young professionals into the industry so they can continue the level of excellence that you have maintained.

Hani F. Shafai, PE, Chairman

BOARD LOSES VALUED MEMBER

Frederick J. Rittershaus, PE/LS, has not been reappointed to the Board. He served for 12 years, since 1992, with the Board in the capacity of a professional engineer and as chairman of the Board in 1994, 1999, and 2000. Fred received a Distinguished Service Award from the NCEES in 2002. Among his NCEES’ experiences was serving on the national Committee on Law Enforcement, the Committee on Experience Evaluation and the Committee on Finances. He supports the promotion of licensure by speaking about the engineering profession and value of licensure. Fred was awarded the Engineer of the Year Award from the South Dakota Engineering Society and South Dakota State University awarded him with the Distinguished Engineer Award. We will greatly miss Fred’s input on the Board, but we wish him well in all his future endeavors.

NCARB JOINT MEETING OF REGION 3 AND REGION 5 FOR ARCHITECTS

Deadwood, South Dakota, was the site for the 2004 Region 3 and Region 5 Joint Meeting of NCARB. The meetings were held on March 25, 26, and 27. Region 5 includes the states of Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Region 3 is represented by North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Elections were held selecting Mark Aspaas of South Dakota as Chair, Harold Hite of Oklahoma as Vice Chair, Tom Wood of Montana as Secretary/Treasurer, and Stan Peterson as Region Director. The joint meetings included presentation on Impediment to Reciprocity and the Broadly Experienced Architect.

Social activities included a trip to Mount Rushmore, slot tournament, dinner at Jake’s, and a barbeque with the hilarious dance band. It was a very successful meeting with participation exceeding expectations.

Thanks to the South Dakota AIA, Banner Associates, and TSP Four, Inc for financial contributions.

NEW LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL EXAM ON COMPUTER

Candidates that want to become licensed as a Landscape Architect in South Dakota by examination must first contact the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). They will need to establish a Council Record. CLARB may allow them to begin taking computer portions of the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) immediately. Section A, B and D are no longer available in paper and pencil format. These multiple choice (written) sections of the exam will be administered separately from the graphic sections by CLARB, using a computer-based test. Exams will be offered at over 700 LaserGrade Inc. centers across the country. Beginning in 2005, these sections will be offered on two days in March and two days in August.

Upon request, CLARB will send your Council Record to South Dakota. You will also need to submit a one-page application to us from our website at www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer and the $100 application fee. Upon the South Dakota Board’s approval, you will be allowed to take the graphic sections of the exam in our Board office, Sections C and E of the LARE. They are given for two days in June and two days in December. Deadlines for the Council Record from CLARB and SD application is March 1 and September 1.

When you have passed all the sections of the LARE, you will automatically be licensed as a Landscape Architect in South Dakota. Comity (reciprocity) applicants will continue to also need a Council Record from CLARB before South Dakota can license them.

If anyone is aware of a licensee who is deceased, please contact the Board office at 605-394-2510. The Board would like to update its records so as not to send an inappropriate renewal notice and other communication to the families.

New Board Member

In April of 2005 my current term on the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions will expire. While it will have been my honor and privilege to have served the public on this Board for the past twenty years, I do not intend to seek reappointment.

In preparation for my resignation, I am writing to the surveyors of South Dakota to encourage your consideration to serve. It is my belief that interest in this position should come from a willingness to serve rather than a “who can we get” solicitation. Each of you should consider offering to serve the citizens of South Dakota in this important function. If you are a L.S. Registrant, a U.S. citizen and a resident of our state, you are qualified under the law. Beyond that, you are not expected to be knowledgeable on the flow and protocol of Board activity. That comes with “on the job” experience.

It was a great honor to have been chosen for my first appointment to the Board in 1985. It has continued to be an honor and the personal benefit, in terms of self development, is incalculable. Like all benefits or learning, there is an associated cost or tuition. I wish to share my experience with those expenses – not to frighten anyone away, but to make everyone aware of the demands of the position.

First and foremost is the development of a heightened awareness that the “Board” exists for the public protection. If there is enhancement of the professions, it should be for the public good and not solely for the professional or individual gain. This “attitude” carries no cost of time or monetary sacrifice, but it will alter your behavior. Instead of taking the profession to the “Board”, you will find that you take the “Board” to your professional activity. Ideally, there should be no difference. In reality, there is and you will gain by knowing of such subtle differences.

Secondly, there is an immediate recognition that the Board regulates more than one profession. It is true that your main contribution will be surveying issues, but you will soon realize that the Board regulates several related professions and your opinion, voice and vote are required on concerns beyond the limitations of surveying alone. Again, there is no tangible cost. For me, it has been a free exercise in expansion of my personal and professional horizon.

Third, there is a tangible amount of time and travel to attend meetings. Official Board meetings are held every two months. Generally, the agenda can be covered in one day. Occasionally, if there are hearings or lengthy concerns, two days of meetings are required. Added to that is the travel time to and from the Board office, which is in Rapid City. The State compensates Board members $60.00 (before taxes) for each business day and significant travel day. Travel expenses are paid at State rates for mileage, food and lodging. Travel expenses are paid “after the fact” and not beforehand, so there is a time lag between outlay and return. If one spends more for travel than the rates allow, the difference is out of your pocket. Expect it.

In the interval between meetings, you will receive or originate mail, phone calls, faxes and e-mail on an irregular basis – once or twice per week to several times a day. There is no compensation for this time. Postage and telephone might be paid, if submitted, but to my knowledge Board members don’t generally submit these costs.

I might add a final word on attendance. Your input is needed and expected. Your business or employment priorities may have to change in order to fulfill your commitment to this position.

Fourth, you may be asked to address higher education student groups and professional societies in topics of professionalism, testing, and Board activities. While these events take time, they help you to think outside of your personal “box” and can be very rewarding in intangible ways.

Finally, there is opportunity to attend at least one regional and one national meeting each year of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES). This “confederation” of Licensing Boards across the nation prepares the examinations we use to determine, in part, qualification for licensure in South Dakota. NCEES also provides a “forum” for consideration of licensure issues and gives recommendations in the form of Model Laws and Rules to help in the unification of Regulation among the US States and Territories. NCEES also provides publications, a records service for Registrants, and other Member Board services that are of great value to our State. If you choose, you can become active in the committee work or leadership of the Council. While the National activities are not mandatory for our Board members, I recommend strongly that one attend the meetings, if possible.

As I re-read the above list of expectations, I fear that I may have defeated my purpose and discouraged your consideration that personal enrichment (not $, mind you) and professional satisfaction are worth it. If asked, “Would I do it all again?” I would say, “Yes, in a heartbeat.”

If you would like more information regarding service on this Board, please feel free to contact me at (605)348-1538.

The Board consists of two architects, two engineers, two land surveyors, and one public member. The Board expects a record number of new Board members next spring. We have one architect, one engineer, and two land surveyors whose terms are expiring at that time.

The above article is an excellent synopsis of what is expected from a Board member in any profession and the satisfaction you can receive in becoming a Board member. When professionals ask how they can be considered for the Board, I tell them to write a letter to the Governor’s Office, Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57701. The Governor appoints each Board member to this Board from the list submitted to him from professionals who have contacted him. It’s as simple as that!

The Board has retained the services of Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Services (ELSES), a division of NCEES, to begin administering South Dakota’s examinations with the October 2004 examination. The decision was driven primarily by security issues. If a security breach of these national exams occurred, it could compromise an exam whose replacement value exceeds hundreds of thousands of dollars. Faced with the difficulty of insuring against such a loss or possibly posting a bond, the Board decided to hire an exam vendor. There will be an increase in exam fees, but nothing like what the Board would have to increase them if the Board continued to give the exams.

ELSES handles all of the duties associated with the examination administration including:

ELSES will provide for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, Fundamentals of Land Surveying Exam, Professional Engineering Exam, and Professional Land Surveying Exam.

Pay attention to deadlines for getting the applications to the Board for approval to take exams:

FE and FLS – Go to ELSES website at www.els-examreg.org. Board approval is not required

Check on the status of your application frequently. Contact us by phone or email.

Fees are non-refundable! Do not sign up for an exam you may miss or request a refund. Ordered exams must be paid for regardless of whether examinee attends.

When requesting verification of exam from another state, check whether there is a fee for verification with that State Board. Non-payment will hold up your verification and will delay processing your application.

Change can be scary, or it can be exhilarating. If you look for the positive effects of change, life is a lot easier. We live with change on a daily basis. We look for ways to work more efficiently without raising fees. We look to technology, as you do, to assist us in increasing efficiencies and reducing costs. Change, as a natural part of business and life, can be a process for improving and for creating ways to work more efficiently. We hope all the changes the Board is making will be beneficial to you.

We have joined many other states and are renewing online for your convenience. Licensees now have the option to renew their license/registration from the comfort of home or office, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! The Board office will continue to send renewal notices by snail mail to the last address we have until December 31, 2004. After that, we will send you instructions by email or postcard. You may complete the notice and mail it back with your check or complete the form online and use a credit card. We encourage you to visit our website to renew your license. It’s very easy! You do not need to be a computer expert.

Our website is at www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer. Click on Renewals and then either “Individual” or “Business”. Input your unique license number in the block provided and click on “Search”. It will retrieve your record. Make any necessary corrections or changes and choose your status. The next screen will verify all your information. Print out for your records by using your browser button and then you choose your method of payment. The next screen prints a confirmation that you can print also. Credit card payment is accepted through a secure site, ensuring security and privacy of personal information. With instant access and payment, the renewal process is done and in our database! You are welcome to call us if you have any questions. You also have the options of mailing your notice, after printing, with a check or faxing your notice with a credit card authorization. We hope you will use our online renewals. Let us know what you think about our new online renewal… both good and bad.

To renew, you must have completed 30 Professional Development Hours during the previous two years (24 months). Of the 30, at least 20 hours must be in technical subjects or subjects related to safeguarding life, health, and welfare. A maximum of 10 hours may be elective topics such as managerial, computer, and others. There will no longer be a log to list your subjects. You will be on the honor system. Those licensees who have mandatory continuing education in states where they live may simply name that state. South Dakota accepts that state’s PDH, even if the requirement is less than ours. However, more audits will be performed by the Board. If you are randomly chosen by our computer, you will be sent a letter that you must submit proof of your attendance at courses and seminars two years previous to your renewal.

It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that his or her license is current. You cannot practice or offer to practice or use a title if your license has “lapsed” (expired) or is “inactive”. If you do so, you are in violation of the licensure laws. All licenses expire at the end of the month in which you are due to renew. NO GRACE PERIOD exists.

If you haven’t taken a look lately at our website, please wander over. We have added many extra features, including applications now interactive online so you can complete them online and submit them. Other features online include all accredited schools for architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects; continuing education (PDH) criteria; roster of currently licensed professionals; roster of all land surveyors ever licensed in SD; exemptions; how to file a complaint; information on seals; rules of professional conduct; forms including Certified Land Corner Records for surveyors; and even our take home exam over statutes and rules. See website at www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer.

Please feel free to email us anything you see that will make our website friendlier or suggestions for any additional items. As usual with new things, we have had some glitches and apologize if you were the unfortunate person to suffer. We tried to clear things up quickly and pleasantly. Thank you for your patience and good humor.

NCARB monograph. Portable, conveniently packaged, and economically priced, monographs travel with you on your schedule. All monograph quizzes are now available online. You even receive a free retest should you fail the first time. And NCARB will report your passing score to AIA at no additional cost. All monographs are accepted as continuing education credit by this Board.

Order online at www.ncarb.org and click on Publications, then on monographs. Or order with payment to NCARB Publications, 3570 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, MD 20722.

02-26 Marquis Erickson, architect, unprofessional conduct; Public reprimand, suspended

04-01 Gerald Lotton, architect; practicing without a license; Public reprimand, $800 penalty,

Rules amended at a public hearing on May 10, 2004, are in effect. The rule changes include the ability to sign on line for applications and renewals, allow exam vendors, update land surveying experience, cost of retaking a land surveying exam, and insert new rules for fire sprinklers and fire alarms. The new rules are included with this newsletter below.

20:38:12:00. Definitions. Terms defined in SDCL 36-18A have the same meaning when used in this article. In addition, terms used in this article mean:

(1)"ASAC/ABET," Applied Science Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.;

(4) "EAC/ABET," Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.;

~~(13)~~ (14) "NCEES," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying;

~~(15)~~ (16) "TAC/ABET," Technology Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

20:38:13:01. Forms. An application must be complete and legible and accompanied by the application fee. An applicant shall verify under the penalties of perjury that all the information submitted by the applicant is true and correct. An applicant who submits an application by use of the internet shall also agree that submission of the application serves as the applicant’s signature and verification of the information of the application. Any check returned from a financial institution for insufficient funds shall be assessed a fee in accordance with § 20:38:19:11. The applicant may be required to clarify, expand, or provide additional information to fully evaluate all qualifications. If the application is not complete or the applicant does not meet the requirements, the executive director shall return the application and the fee with a letter of explanation. The applicant may return the fee and application and ask that it be submitted for board action. In that event, the fee shall be deposited and is not refundable. An applicant licensed in another state or foreign country must be fully licensed by the board before offering to practice or practicing professional services within the state of South Dakota. The executive director shall request verification from the registration board in the state where the applicant passed a written examination. If licensure is not current in that state and examination verification cannot be obtained, the applicant must provide evidence of continuous licensure in another state. If the applicant is licensed in the applicant's state of residence, the executive director shall request verification from that state board.

20:38:14:01. General. The engineering and architectural curricula of schools, colleges, and universities in the United States and its territories which are on the applicable lists of accredited curricula published by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC), and Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET), as of ~~September 30,~~ ~~2001~~ April 12, 2004; the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) as of ~~October 2002~~ January 5, 2004; or the Landscape Architectural Accrediting Board (LAAB) as of ~~October~~ ~~2002~~ January 5, 2004 are accepted for education credit. The board, at its discretion, may approve the curriculum of a foreign university if the curriculum is judged to be equal to those on the published lists. Education received at a non-accredited engineering school may receive only partial credit.

"Accredited and Candidate Programs in Architecture," prepared by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, ~~as of~~ ~~October 1,~~ ~~2002~~. A list of programs as of January 5, 2004, is located at ~~www.state.sd.us/dcr/engineer~~ www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer.

"Accredited Programs in Landscape Architecture," prepared by the Landscape Architectural Accrediting Board ~~as of~~ ~~October 1,~~ ~~2002~~. A list of programs as of January 5, 2004, is located at ~~www.state.sd.us/dcr/engineer~~ www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer.

~~Pages 14-44,~~ ~~130-148, and~~ ~~203-205 of the~~ "~~2001~~ ~~ABET Accreditation Yearbook," published by~~ ~~Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.~~ ~~Copies may be obtained from ABET Publications Office, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; $15 plus shipping charges, or www.abet.org/accredited_programs/EACWebsite.html~~.

“Accredited Programs in Engineering,” prepared by the Accreditation Board of Engineering & Technology. A list of these programs as of April 12, 2004, is located at www.state.sd.us/dol/boards/engineer .

20:38:15:04. Land surveying. Land surveying experience must be completed under the supervision of a licensed professional land surveyor. Experience for land surveying applicants is employment or services that require the application of special knowledge and technical skills acquired in the surveying of areas as follows:

(1) For the correct determination and description of lands for conveyance or encumbrance;

(4) For the ~~making of maps directly related to the establishment of boundaries;~~ surveyed acquisition of data relative to the shape of the earth’s surface and fixed objects thereon and therein for the purpose of presenting mapped information; and

(5) For the ~~use of aerial photographs to determine boundaries and retracements; and~~ surveys necessary to plan for the alteration of the earth’s surface or to create fixed works thereon.

~~(6)~~ ~~For the use of geodetic and South Dakota state plane coordinates in the establishment of boundaries and boundary maps.~~

If the employment or services of an applicant involved intermittent work of land surveying or map making from notes of surveyors, the board shall allow credit in the same proportion that the work of land surveying bears to the whole.

Surveying experience normally identified with engineering projects, including design surveys for highways or bridges (except those that relate to right-of-way surveys), construction staking, curb and gutters, and sanitary sewers may ~~not~~ be considered land surveying experience. However, such experience may be considered by the board as basic to the development of the land surveyor. Surveying and related technical education courses, including mathematics and drafting may be granted partial experience credit at the rate of one-half year's basic surveying credit for each 15-semester-hour segment.

Teaching experience in land surveying courses in an accredited engineering curriculum may be considered as equal to one year of actual land surveying experience. A maximum of one year of teaching experience is allowed.

20:38:17:01. General. The board shall use the services of the national councils to prepare national examinations and furnish scores to the board for each examinee. Examination vendors may be used to administer examinations to all approved candidates. ~~No refunds or extension of time to the next examination may be permitted after an examination is ordered for an applicant.~~ An applicant must pass a take-home examination on South Dakota licensure laws before receiving approval from the board to become licensed.

20:38:17:02. Scores. The board shall consider the minimum passing scores as recommended by the national councils when determining passing scores. Scores shall be reported as either fail or pass. Scores for any person found cheating or violating the security of the examinations are void and the person fails. The policies and procedures of the examination vendor shall be followed per the vendor’s agreement with the board. Score results are confidential and shall be mailed to each examinee at the last known address available. Scores may not be given over the telephone.

20:38:17:07. Fundamentals of engineering (FE). ~~Graduating seniors,~~ Seniors that are within two semesters of graduating and graduates of accredited engineering programs approved by the board may apply for the fundamentals of engineering examination, which is the national examination from the NCEES. An applicant who passes the examination shall be enrolled as an engineer-in-training (EIT) or an engineering intern (EI). Passage of the examination does not authorize the person to practice as a professional engineer or to use a title that may imply such.

(1) ~~Individuals~~ ~~for~~ Individual licensure by comity ~~and examinations~~, $100;

(3) (4) Petroleum release assessors and remediators (includes one exam fee), $150;

~~(4)~~ (5) Petroleum release assessor upgrade to remediators within one year, $25.

20:38:19:03. Examination fees. ~~The examination fees are as follows:~~ An applicant shall pay the examination fee to the appropriate examination vendor as follows:

The applicant shall pay any fee for the graphic sections for the landscape architectural examination to the board. The fee is $235 for Section C and $235 for Section E of the landscape architectural examination.

20:38:19:04. Retake ~~examination~~ fees – Land surveying examination. The cost to retake ~~the examination is the same as the original examination.~~ the take-home portions of the professional land surveying examination shall be paid to the board as follows:

20:38:22:01. Seals. Any licensed professional engineer, architect, land surveyor, or landscape architect is responsible for the security and proper use of an appropriate seal. No petroleum release assessor, petroleum release remediator, or intern may obtain or use a seal. Improper use of the seal is grounds for disciplinary action. Failure to sign and seal any final work product constitutes a violation and shall be handled as a disciplinary action. The seal implies responsibility for the entire submission unless the area of responsibility is clearly identified in the information accompanying the seal. Those sheets or pages of plans or drawings prepared by licensed professional consultants, such as structural, mechanical, or electrical engineers, shall have the seal and license number of the consultant in responsible charge on each sheet of those documents. Any exempt project services performed by a licensed professional shall be complete and sealed as are the professional services performed on a non-exempt project. This includes plans, seals, date, signature, construction administration, and as-builts. Presentation documents, such as renderings or drawings used to communicate conceptual information only, are not required to be signed or sealed.

20:38:22:03. Responsible charge. ~~A full-time employee who is in responsible charge of professional services for a business entity may also be in responsible charge for individual work done by that person.~~ Repealed.

20:38:22:06. Fire protection shop drawings – Licensee should not seal the shop drawings – Review letter. If fire protection shop drawings are used to finalize engineering concepts, a licensed professional engineer shall provide and be responsible for the design concept, which must be adequate for shop drawing preparation by others.

After installation of the fire sprinkler system and fire alarm system, the licensee shall furnish a written letter stating the system has been installed in accordance with the approved plans and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and the appropriate National Fire Protection Association requirements. The review letter shall be made available to appropriate jurisdictional authorities and interested parties.

20:38:22:07. Design concept for sprinkler systems. The design concept for sprinkler systems must include at a minimum:

(6) The density and water flow pressure requirements for the sprinkler system design;

20:38:22:08. Minimum shop drawings for sprinkler systems. A properly qualified technician or licensee shall execute the design concept and prepare shop drawings for sprinkler systems. Any shop drawing shall be drawn on sheets of uniform size. The requirements for sprinkler systems must include as at a minimum:

(5) Complete shop drawings indicating detection and notification devices/locations;

20:38:22:09. Qualified technician for fire sprinkler systems. A "qualified technician" is a person who has at least one of the following qualifications in fire sprinkler systems:

(1) A national institute for certification in engineering technologies (NICET) level III technical certifications in the subfield of fire sprinklers systems;

(2) A NICET level IV technician certification in the subfield of fire sprinklers systems; or

(3) Twenty years experience in the field of automatic sprinkler layout in South Dakota.

20:38:22:10. Design concept for fire alarm systems. The design concept for fire alarm systems must include at a minimum:

(8) A programming matrix defining sequence of operation of system outputs based on system inputs; and

20:38:22:11. Minimum shop drawings for fire alarm systems. A properly qualified technician or licensee shall execute the design concept and prepare shop drawings for fire alarm systems. Any shop drawing shall be drawn on sheets of uniform size. The requirements for fire alarm systems must include at a minimum:

(5) Complete shop drawings indicating detection and notification devices/locations;

(7) Project-specific major equipment riser defining wiring methods and routing separations;

20:38:22:12. Qualified technician for fire alarm systems. A "qualified technician" is a person who has at least one of the following qualifications in fire alarm systems:

(1) A national institute for certification in engineering technologies (NICET) level III technical certifications in the subfield of fire alarms systems;

(2) A NICET level IV technician certification in the subfield of fire alarms systems; or

(3) Twenty years experience in the field of fire alarm systems layout in South Dakota.

20:38:22:13. Exempt projects and routine maintenance. A licensee ~~shall~~ may not be required to provide design concepts or a letter of review for:

(2) Routine maintenance, when accomplished in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard #25, "Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems."

20:38:22:14. NICET and NFPA information. Information regarding the organization referred to in this ~~rule~~ chapter can be obtained from NICET, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA 23314, or via the Internet at http://nicet.org, or NFPA, PO Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101, or via the Internet at http://www.nfpa.org/Home/index.asp.

20:38:22:15. Performing services on exempt projects or for exempt entities. Any licensed professional engineer, architect, landscape architect, or land surveyor in South Dakota performing services on an exempt project of or for an exempt governmental entity, pursuant to SDCL 36-18A-9, shall, in the performance of such professional services, comply with all applicable provisions of state law and administrative rules in the performance of such services. The professional standard of care for a licensee, and the mandatory compliance with state statutes and administrative regulations, are not reduced, modified, or lessened when the project is exempt.

20:38:23:02. Forms. ~~Renewal applications require the completion of a~~ ~~PDH log outlining PDH credit claimed.~~ A licensee applying for a license renewal shall verify under the penalties of perjury that all information submitted by the licensee are true and correct. A licensee who submits a renewal form by use of the internet shall also agree that submission of the renewal form serves as the licensee’s signature and verification of the information on the renewal form. The licensee must supply sufficient detail ~~on the form~~ to permit audit verification, ~~sign the certification, and submit it with the renewal fee~~. if notified by the board of an audit.

20:38:23:05. Determination of PDH credit. The board is the final authority on approval of courses, credit, PDH value for courses, and other methods of earning credit. The board may not preapprove courses for PDH credit. Credit is determined as follows:

(1) Credit for college or community college courses is based on course credit established by the college;

(2) Credit for qualifying seminars and workshops is based on one PDH unit for each hour of attendance. Attendance at qualifying programs presented at professional or technical society meetings earns PDH units for the actual time of each program. Fractions of a contact hour are to be rounded and reported to the nearest half-hour, but no activity of under a half-hour shall be accepted as qualifying for PDH credit. A qualifying activity of 50 minutes shall be reported as one PDH and an activity of 30 to 49 minutes shall be reported as one-half PDH;

(3) Credit determination for activities listed in subdivisions ~~20:38:24:04~~ 20:38:23:04(6) and (8) is the responsibility of the licensee, subject to review by the board.