A. An individual who holds a public adjuster license and who is not exempt under subsection B shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 hours of approved continuing education courses, including three hours of ethics, reported on a biennial basis in conjunction with his license renewal.

B. This section shall not apply to licensees holding nonresident public adjuster licenses who have met the continuing education requirements of their home state and whose home state gives credit to residents of the Commonwealth on the same basis.

C. 1. The Commission or its administrator shall approve all continuing education instructors, continuing education courses, and programs of instruction. The Commission shall establish and monitor standards for the education of public adjusters, approve courses, including evaluating credit hours for all courses or programs offered, and set minimum requirements for course instructors. The Commission shall have the authority to disapprove or withdraw approval of course sponsors, courses, or course instructors when the established standards are not satisfied or where such standards have been violated.

2. The number of credits for each self-study course, correspondence course, or program of classroom instruction shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Commission. However, for an approved classroom course, a credit hour shall be equivalent to a classroom hour providing at least 50 minutes of continuous instruction or participation. No credits shall be granted for approved classroom courses unless notice to the Commission or its administrator is accompanied by proof of attendance by the course provider. No credits shall be granted for any correspondence or self-study course that does not include a test of the subject matter, which shall be successfully completed by each public adjuster requesting credit. The Commission shall have the right to review and approve or disapprove the proposed test as part of the course approval process.

3. An instructor of an approved continuing education course shall be eligible to receive the same number of credits as a person enrolled in the course for the purpose of meeting the requirements. However, public adjusters and instructors may apply credits for attending or teaching the same course only once during any continuing education reporting period.

D. Each public adjuster holding a license subject to the continuing education requirements of this article shall complete all continuing education courses, pay a nonrefundable fee, and shall submit to the Commission or its administrator proof of compliance with continuing education requirements in the form and manner required by the Commission.

E. Any public adjuster subject to this article who fails to submit complete documentation, showing proof of compliance with continuing education requirements, as well as all specified forms and nonrefundable fees, to the Commission or its administrator shall be deemed to be in noncompliance with the requirements of this article.

F. 1. The license of the public adjuster shall not be renewed if the public adjuster has failed to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section.

2. A public adjuster shall have 30 calendar days to appeal to the Commission or its administrator the decision to administratively terminate the license for failure to complete continuing education requirements as required by this section. A public adjuster wishing to contest the Commission's action in terminating a license shall adhere to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (5 VAC 5-20-10 et seq.) and the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia. Failure by the public adjuster to initiate such contest within 30 calendar days following the date of license termination shall be deemed a waiver by the public adjuster of the right to contest such license termination.

G. A resident public adjuster whose license has been terminated under the terms of this section shall be permitted to make application for a new license if all of the requirements of § 38.2-1845.2 are met.

H. Each public adjuster shall pay a nonrefundable continuing education processing fee in an amount prescribed by the Commission.

2012, cc. 734, 735.