(a)
Any person licensed as a dealer or salesperson to sell manufactured homes or mobilehomes shall have completed approved educational courses, seminars, or conferences, or their equivalent, during the period preceding license renewal on the following basis:
(1)
For the first license renewal period subsequent to issuance of the license: 24 hours.
(2)
For the second license renewal period subsequent to issuance of the license: 12 hours.
(3)
For the third and subsequent license renewal periods subsequent to the issuances of the license: six hours.
(b)
The regulations shall prescribe all of the following:
(1)
A basis and method of qualifying educational programs, including course content and topic requirements, and instructors, the certification of attendance at which, or challenging the course of which, will satisfy the requirements of this article.
(2)
A procedure for evaluation of petitions based on a claim of equivalency with the requirements of subdivision (a), and a reasonable standard by which activity would be judged equivalent, including, but not limited to, instruction in manufactured housing educational programs, law, manufactured housing technical programs, or research.
(3)
A system of control and reporting qualifying attendance.
(4)
A statement of the conditions of exemption from the continuing education requirements established under this article, as well as a method of applying and qualifying for the exemption, for reason of health, military service, or other compelling cause.
(5)
Criteria for the content, availability, and procedures for no less than six hours of preliminary education courses or programs which shall be attended and successfully concluded by applicants for new dealers’ or salespersons’ licenses before the applicants take the licensing examinations.
(c)
In exercising the authority under this article, the department shall establish standards which will assure reasonable currency of knowledge as a basis for a level of manufactured housing practice which will provide a high level of consumer protection and service. The standards shall include, where qualified, generally accredited educational institutions, private vocational schools, correspondence institutions, educational programs and seminars of professional societies and organizations, other organized educational programs or technical subjects, or equivalent offerings.
