Fingerprints Now Required for All TSBPE Exams

Beginning January 1, 2022, the fingerprint requirement, mandated as part of House Bill 636, will apply to any person wishing to take a TSBPE-administered examination.  Any exam application received after January 1, 2022 will remain open and unscheduled until the exam candidate’s fingerprint data has been received by the TSBPE.  As with any application deficiency, the TSBPE posts relevant information to the Online Licensing System. No additional notification will be provided.

TX Plumbing Rule Changes Now in Effect

As described in our last newsletter, the TSBPE is aggressively reviewing their rules with the initial focus on those involving examinations and education.  The rule updates being considered would represent the greatest changes in over 50 years, many representing the requirements of the updated Plumbing License Law.
The first wave of proposed changes have now been adopted and gone into effect as of December 8th. Here are the brief summaries and links to the detailed rules as amended:
365.05 - Aligns endorsements to annual renewals consistent with each underlying license.
365.14 - Converts the CPE cycle to an annual basis with 12 months to obtain each credit.
365.15 - Streamlines the educational curriculum approval process for providers.
365.24 - Provides limited exemptions from CPE (military, Board employees, instructors).

Inspector Renewal Dates Have Changed

The TSBPE also issued this announcement:

All Inspector license renewal dates have been changed to either match the renewal date of the Inspector’s highest-ranking plumbing license, or in the case of Inspectors who do not hold a current plumber license, to a randomly-selected new renewal month that is either February 2022 or later.

This has sparked confusion among inspectors about when they must take their next Continuing Professional Education course.  According to our correspondence with the Executive Director, a CPE course must/may be taken within the previous 12 months of your renewal (as the process transitions to a calendar year cycle).

National Program Standards Approved

Hopefully you already know Winn's CE has pioneered a more accessible option for U.S. Department of Labor Registered Plumbing Apprenticeship.  Our program utilizes a unique hybrid model that includes self-study reading, online videos, hands on practice, and supervised experience to engage every possible learning style while incorporating flexibility and pursuing the end goal of competency in every topic.

While our relationship with the DOL Office of Apprenticeship in Dallas has been exceptional for many years, our program has now been affirmed at the national level with approval of our National Guideline Standards.  This means our program is ready for launch in any state ready to embrace a more creative option for Registered Plumbing Apprenticeship.

Positive Response to our Online Self-Paced Exam Prep

The whole world is changing...and so should training.  COVID, non-traditional schedules, high plumbing demand, and the explosion of technologies are pushing more of life into the digital realm, which also means educational opportunities are no longer limited to live, physical, scheduled courses.  Without abandoning the unique benefits of live interactions, we continue our years-long move toward supplementing our schedule with online options.

For plumbers preparing to take the Tradesman or Journeyman plumbing exams, we now offer an optional fully online, self-paced version of our exam prep course to supplement the required courses.  No need to miss work or lose a weekend while participants may choose the areas where they need more development and review them as many times as necessary.

We are working on Master and Inspector exam prep options to follow early in 2022.

Industry News

We know plumbing leaders are busier than ever right now.  While there is a lot going on in our industry and the world, it's challenging to keep up with the news that is unique to our concerns.  That's why we started providing links for 6 to 10 industry articles each month from the sources we review, so you can get a quick overview and dig into the ones of interest.  Here is the 3rd & 4th quarter list:

• ABC Wins Vaccination Mandate Challenge, Contractor, December 2021
  
• Portraying a Professional Image, Plumber Mag, November 2021
  
• ABC Seeks to Overturn Vaccination Mandate, Contractor, November 2021
  
• AGC Reacts to Vaccination Mandate, Contractor, November 2021
  
• 9 Water Conservation Offerings, Contractor, October 2021
  
• TX Governor Bans COVID Vaccine Mandates, Texas Tribune, October 2021
  
• TSTC Partners with TSBPE for Testing, PHCP Pros, October 2021
  
• Termination Letter Required?, Federated Insurance, October 2021
  
• Teaching High Schoolers the Value of a Trade, Plumber Mag, October 2021
  
• Ensuring High Business Value Appraisal, Plumber Mag, October 2021
  

• Keeping Your Crew Fresh & Focused, Plumber Mag, September 2021
  
• What Plumbers are Paid In Texas, EverythingLubbock.com, September 2021
  
• Nailing the Basics Vital to Marketing, Plumber Mag, September 2021
  
• Does Everyone Get To Stay Your Customer?, PHCP Pros, September 2021
  
• Water Quality & Efficiency Legislation, WE Stand Newswire, September 2021
  
• American Plumber Stories, Pfister, September 2021
  
• Water Conservation in the Bathroom, Take Care Texas, September 2021
  
• Designing Plumbing Systems in Health Care Facilities, PM Engineer, September 2021
  
• Mistakes with Exempt Employees, JohnsCreekCPA.com, September 2021
  
• Construction Apprenticeship Rival Bachelor’s Degrees, Contractor, September 2021
  
• OSHA Penalizes Contractor $1.3M, Contractor, August 2021
  
• 6 Plumbing Technologies in High Demand, Contractor, August 2021
  
• OSHA Taskforce to Address Suicide in Construction Industry, Contractor, August 2021
  
• Plumbing in an Inflationary Environment, Contractor, August 2021
  
• How to Future Proof Your Business, Plumber Mag, August 2021
  
• I Don’t Like Millennials — I Love Them and So Should You, PHCP Pros, August 2021
  
• Entrepreneurship and the Next Generation of Plumbers, Contractor, August 2021
  
• ‘Customer Experience’ is Critical for Contractors, Contractor, August 2021
  
• What Your Gen Z Employees Want, NCCER, August 2021
  
• Finding the Right Window for a Business Loan, Plumber Mag, July 2021
  
• 6 Key Stats About Online Reviews, Plumber Mag, July 2021
  
• The Math of the Exit: Can You Afford to Sell?, Contractor, July 2021
  
• Employees Not Measuring Up? Do’s and Don’ts, Plumber Mag, July 2021
  
• 12 Essential Principles About Business Side Of Plumbing, PM Magazine, July 2021
  
• Trends in Kitchens & Baths, PHCP Pros, July 2021