Today, many construction industry professionals can earn their continuing education units (CEUs) for license renewal through online courses. Not having to attend an in-person class is more convenient for busy plumbers, electricians, and other contractors.
Even more important, with webinar training for licensing CEUs, you can stay up-to-date during the pandemic without having to worry about safety issues or social distancing requirements. Here’s what every tradesperson should know about getting their continuing education units through online training.
Where Can I Learn about Licensing Training?
Every state will have different CEU requirements for licensing, as well as different resources. The training credits you’ll need will also depend on your trade.
To find out what courses you need to take and where to take them, check with your state’s Building Code Division office. Here you’ll find resources for training, as well as any coronavirus-related updates concerning extensions and changes to requirements. Some states, such as Oregon, are offering extensions, while other states, such as Utah, still require partial in-person training for licensing CEUs.
You can also check the professional association for your trade for more information.
- General contractors: Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA)
- Electricians: National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC)
- Plumbers: American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)
- Solar energy professionals: Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
- HVAC professionals: Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
- Boiler workers: American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
- Welders: American Welding Society (AWS)
Will Webinars for Licensing CEUs Offer the Same Quality of Training?
With today’s technology, online webinars can offer the same high-quality level of training as in-person options. It’s possible to ask questions, watch demonstrations, and to take exams online. However, not everything can be taught online or easily adapted to the digital training environment. CPR training, some safety training, and some technical training will still require in-person classes. As a result, you may not be able to do everything through webinars.
What Happens If My License Expires before I’ve Taken the Necessary Webinars?
The specific ramifications will vary based on your state and local government regulations, but in general, it’s illegal to operate without a current license. For example, in California, unlicensed contractors may face administration fines, misdemeanor charges, and jail time. And, you won’t be able to recover compensation for your work. [1]
There are a couple of important reasons why there are strict rules in place for licensing.
- Electricians, boiler repair specialists, and even general contractors perform dangerous work. If you don’t know what you’re doing or you haven’t had recent training, you may not be aware of all the current safety guidelines and best practices for your trade. This could put you, your customers, or your customers’ property at risk of harm.
- The second reason is insurance. Insurance carriers require work to be done—whether it’s a one-off appliance installation job or a new build—by licensed contractors. If someone hires an unlicensed contractor, the work isn’t protected by either a warranty or insurance.
Staying Current during the Pandemic
You’ll still need to renew your license to work in your trade during the pandemic. Fortunately, there is a lot more flexibility right now, as most states are offering online training options.
- Check your license record to find out what credits you need and when you need to have them completed to keep your license up-to-date.
- Make sure you’re only taking courses from approved providers—this is why it’s important to find continuing education courses through your state’s website.
- You can take other webinar training courses related to your trade, but if it’s not an approved course, it won’t be applied to your license.
- If you are interested in taking care of your continuing education units early, you can. It’s possible to take the classes at any time during the renewal cycle. This may be a good option if work has slowed down during the pandemic. If you aren’t busy right now with projects, use this period as an opportunity to take training courses and to update your skills.
This is also a good time to develop skills for other trades if you want to grow professionally and expand your services, and to make sure you have all the tools and gear you need for when business picks back up. Then, as the economy moves forward again, you’ll be ready to take advantage of opportunities and thrive. Be sure to browse our selection of tools for plumbers, electricians, general contractors, and more so you have everything you need for the future.
[1] https://www.licenselogix.com/general-contractor-licensing
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