Procedural Changes and Updates
From Karen Meggenhofen, 12/08

Student Application Deadline: As of January 1, 2009, all student applications must be received at the Bureau no later than 8 weeks before the date of the written exam for the course. The Bureau strongly encourages that all student applications be mailed to the Bureau prior to the third course session unless this date falls after the 8 week deadline. The Bureau will accept student applications of students who enroll late and after the sponsor has already submitted the student applications as long as it is by the 8 week deadline. If the Bureau receives student applications after the close of business the day of the 8 week deadline, the written exam for the course will be moved to the next available written exam date. The current violation and financial penalty procedures will continue to be enforced.

Student Applications: It has come to the Bureau's attention that some course sponsors will wait to submit their student applications so they can "purge" those applications of students who have dropped out of the course. As a reminder, all students who enroll in a course and are present at the first session of the course must compete and have submitted to the Bureau a student application regardless of whether or not the student withdraws from or fails the course.
     Additionally, please remember that instructors must review the student applications for completeness and accuracy. The Bureau is receiving a growing number of student applications with errors and/or missing information. This will hold up the processing of your course's student applications and could cause the Bureau to move your written exam date. Any unsigned student applications must be placed at the top of all student applications that are submitted to the Bureau.

End of Course Paperwork and the PSE: All end of course paperwork must be submitted to the Bureau in a timely manner. The Bureau will not certify any student unless we have all end of course paperwork. As a reminder, the Practical Skills Exam Coordinator must be a CLI or CIC and can not be the CIC of record for the course.

Protocol and Student Reference Books: The Bureau has requested to have these books reprinted. However, we have no date as to when they will be available from the warehouse or even if we will receive final approval to have them printed. In the meantime, sponsors should provide either a paper copy or computerized file of the protocols to all students. Sponsors may charge a nominal fee to the students to cover expenses only. (Suggestion: have these documents copied to a CD for distribution to students.)

Certified Instructors: Please remember to notify the Bureau whenever you have a change in your mailing address or telephone number. The Bureau has an increasing number of instructor renewals being returned as undeliverable due to changes in address.
     Remember to also notify EMSTAR of any changes in mailing or e-mail address, so you can be kept apprised of upcoming events or policy changes.