Participant Handbook updated November 2024

Recertification Recertification is an automated process that occurs through the online portal. Continuing education must be tracked in the online portal to be validated for certification purposes. If a certification holder has the required amount of continuing education hours at the end of their certification period, the credential will automatically be renewed. There is a three-month grace period after this year-end renewal process. Additional training can be tracked during this time to help satisfy the certification requirements. As soon as continuing education requirements are met during the grace period, the certification will automatically renew when the system updates overnight. If any hours are tracked during the grace period to be utilized for renewal and this overlaps with the new certification period, those hours will not count towards the new certification period. Continuing Education The three-year certification maintenance cycle was selected to ensure that certified persons participate in continued learning and professional development activities. The continuing education requirement promotes involvement in leadership, learning, and service activities. Continuing education should be selected with the goal of maintaining, improving, or expanding the examiner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. This requirement will not be waived unless it poses an undue hardship on an individual due to a disability or a similar barrier. All approved continuing education hours must be submitted through the online portal no later than ninety (90) days after the certified person’s recertification date. Continuing Education courses are submitted to the online portal by training directors from each agency and CSBS staff. All courses submitted must go through a course approval process to ensure accuracy and mitigate duplication with existing courses in the system. The decision regarding new course approvals shall be made solely by the Committee and CSBS staff based on the information gathered during the course submission process. The decision on course approval shall be executed by CSBS staff on behalf of the Committee. Should there be any question as to the application of a course for the purpose of continuing education, a committee subgroup will review the course for approval or denial. A simple majority of group members must vote in the affirmative to approve such courses. Guidelines for Denial, Suspension, and/or Revocation of Certification Misrepresentation of a candidate’s experience and education and noncompliance with eligibility criteria for certification and/or recertification constitute serious ethical issues that may result in investigation and disciplinary action. Cause for denial, suspension (temporary), or revocation (permanent) of certification includes, but is not limited to: • Falsification of information on the certification application • Misrepresentation of continuing education hours submitted for purposes of recertification • Falsification of any information requested by the Committee in response to a waiver request

6 Examiner Certification Program / Participant Handbook