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General What is the difference between training and continuing education? Who must take employee training? Who must take continuing education? Do holders of multiple certifications have to take multiple classes? Why are Category F (cylinder filling), G (service station), I (service station and cylinder filling) and J (service station and cylinder facilities) applicants required to attend a 16-hour course? When is training due for people who pass a new exam between March 1 and May 31? I want to obtain a Category D license so my company can install and repair LP-gas piping systems and appliances. Do I have to attend a training class before I can become Category D certified? Will my"blue card" show my training or continuing-education due date? I am a master plumber, but I want to become certified to perform LP-gas activities, such as installing and repairing LP-Gas piping and appliances. Am I required to attend an 8-hour training class prior to becoming certified? What do new employees need to do? My employer, who is in the process of obtaining a Category J license, wants me to be the company representative for the LP-gas license. Can I attend the required 16-hour class before May 31? How can I find out which classes give credit for each type of LPG-gas certification? Are my training and continuing education records available to the public? Category E, F, G, I and J Management Course Does an employee-level certificate holder who is promoted to supervise a branch outlet have to complete the 80-hour Category E Management Course? My daughter wants to take the Category E exam so our company can keep operating if something happens to me. Does she have to attend the 80-hour Category E Management Course? When I became Category E certified prior to February 1, 2001, I was not required to attend the Category E management course. Am I now required to attend the course? If I get a Category I license to fill LP-gas cylinders and LP-gas vehicles, do I have to complete the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course? If I get a Category F license to fill LP-gas cylinders or a Category G license to fill vehicles, do I have to complete the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course? I am currently certified as a bobtail driver. Will I have to attend the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course to become Category I certified? Why is the fee for the Category E Management Course so high? Class Schedule and Registration Where can my employees attend a continuing education class? When are classes held? How do I register my employees for a class? How soon do I need to register? Can I register by phone? How much do classes cost? What if a class I want is full by the time I register? Can I host a class at my business? Can I take other classes for Railroad Commission credit? Are classes conducted by my company acceptable for Railroad Commission credit? Advanced Field Training What is Advanced Field Training (AFT)? What classes include Advanced Field Training? Who can certify AFT? I lost the AFT checklist I got in class. How can I get another copy? What do I do with the AFT checklist once it's completed? Compliance What happens if I do not complete my LP-gas training/continuing education requirements by the date on my card? What do I have to do to become certified again? This year I added a new exam to my previous certification, but I missed the training deadline. Will all my certifications expire? I think there is an error in the Railroad Commission's LP-gas training records. What should I do? Q. What is the difference between training and continuing education? A.  "Training" means a class taken to obtain a new certification. "Continuing education" means a class taken to maintain a current certification. The classes are the same. Back to Top Q. Who must take training? A. All applicants for new bobtail, DOT portable cylinder filler, service and installation, motor/mobile fuel dispenser, appliance service and installation, and RV technician certificates must complete 8 hours of training related to their job duties by the next May 31 after they pass their written exam. If you pass a new exam between March 1 and May 31, you have until May 31 of the following year to complete your 8-hour training requirement. All applicants for new Category D, K and M certificates must complete an approved 8-hour training course and pass the applicable management-level examination prior to becoming certified. Back to Top Q.  Who must take continuing education? A.  All management-level Category D, E, F, G, I, J, K and M certificate holders and all employee-level bobtail, DOT portable cylinder filler, service and installation, motor/mobile fuel dispenser, appliance service and installation, and RV technician certificate holders must complete 8 hours of job-related continuing education every 4 years. Back to Top Q.  Do holders of multiple certifications have to take multiple classes? A.  No. Regardless of the number of LP-gas certifications, a certificate holder is only required to complete 8 hours of continuing education within each 4-year period.  Employees with multiple certifications should attend a course that pertains to their primary job duties.  Please refer to the table in §9.52(g) of the LP-gas safety rules.  Back to Top Q.  Why are Category F (cylinder filling), G (service station), I (service station and cylinder filling), and J (service station and cylinder facilities) applicants required to attend a 16-hour course? A. To increase public safety. The 16-hour course promotes safe handling of propane by people whose jobs involve operating a refueling facility, filling LPG cylinders and motor/mobile fuel containers on vehicles, motor homes, recreational vehicles and catering trucks and related activities. Back to Top Q. When is training due for an applicant for an employee-level certification who passes a new exam between March 1 and May 31? A. If you pass a new exam between March 1 and May 31, you have until May 31 of the following year to complete your training requirement. Back to Top Q.  I want to obtain a Category D license so my company can install and repair LP-gas piping systems and appliances. Do I have to attend a training class before I can become Category D certified? A. Yes. To become Category D certified, you must pass the Category D examination and complete an 8-hour class. The class fee is $75, and does not include the $70 management-level examination fee. Click on these links to view the class schedule, list classes that full the requirement, or register for a class. Back to Top Q.  Will my"blue card" show my training or continuing education due date? A. Yes. Back to Top Q.  I am a master plumber, but I want to become certified to perform LP-gas activities, such as installing and repairing LP-gas piping and appliances. Am I required to attend an 8-hour training class prior to becoming certified? A. No. Master plumbers can file LPG Form 16B, "Application for Examiniation Exemption by a Master or Journeyman Plumber or a Class A or B Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor," submit a $50 registration fee, a legible photocopy of a current Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor or Master of Journeyman Plumber certificate, and a state-issued photo ID card or driver's license to the Railroad Commission, and receive a card that exempts you from the Category D licensing, examination, training and continuing education requirements. Back to Top Q. What do new employees need to do? A. Applicants who pass a new employee-level DOT portable cylinder filler, service and installation, motor/mobile fuel dispenser, bobtail, appliance service and installation, or RV technician examination must complete an 8-hour class related to their job duties by the next May 31. If you pass a new exam between March 1 and May 31, you have until May 31 of the following year to complete your 8-hour training requirement. Back to Top Q.  My employer, who is in the process of obtaining a Category J license, wants me to be the company representative for the LP-gas license. Can I attend the required 16-hour class before May 31? A. Yes, but your employer cannot conduct any LP-gas activities until you are certified and the company is properly licensed. Your certification will not be issued until you complete the required 16-hour class and pass the Category J management-level examination. Back to Top Q.  How can I find out which classes give credit for each type of LPG-gas certification? A. Click here to view the tables in 16 TAC 9.52(g), which covers the applicable courses for each different type of certification. Back to Top Q. Are my training and continuing-education records available to the public? A. Yes. This information is public under Texas' Public Information Act, with the exception of your Social Security Number, which is confidential under state and federal law and will, therefore, be withheld from the public. Access to or copies of this information will be provided in response to a request after the requestor pays any applicable statutory copying charges. Back to Top Q.  Does an employee-level certificate holder who is promoted to supervise a branch outlet for a Category E licensee have to complete the 80-hour Category E Management Course? A.  No.  For example, if an employee is currently certified as a bobtail driver and becomes an operations supervisor, he or she is not required to complete the Category E Management Course prior to supervising the outlet. Back to Top Q.  My daughter wants to take the Category E exam so our company can keep operating if something happens to me.  Does she have to attend the 80-hour Category E Management Course? A.  Yes.  All applicants for new Category E management-level certificates must complete the 80-hour course.  Back to Top Q.  When I became Category E certified prior to February 1, 2001, I was not required to attend the Category E management course.  Am I now required to attend the course? A.  No.  Persons who were Category E certified prior to February 1, 2001, are not required to take the 80-hour course to retain their certification. Back to Top Q.  If I get a Category I license to fill LP-gas cylinders and LP-gas vehicles, do I have to complete the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course? A.  Yes. This course is offered monthly in Austin. Back to Top Q.  If I get a Category F license to fill LP-gas cylinders or a Category G license to fill vehicles, do I have to complete the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course? A.  Yes. This course is offered monthly in Austin. Back to Top Q.  I am currently certified as a bobtail driver.  Will I have to attend the 16-hour Category F, G , I and J Management Course to become Category I certified? A.  Yes.  You are not currently Category I certified, so your Category I certification will be a new certification. Back to Top Q.  Why is the fee for the Category E Management Course so high? A.  The fee for this 10-day, 80-hour class is a break-even amount based on the actual cost of putting on the class.  The fee for all Railroad Commission site-based classes is $75 a day.  Back to Top Q.  Where can my employees attend a continuing education class? A.    Click here for the current class schedule.  New schedules are posted monthly. If no classes are currently posted in your area, please check later. Back to Top Q. When are classes held? A. AFRED offers classes statewide between March 1 and November 30. A limited number of classes are held during December, January and February, to allow LP-gas companies to serve their customers during the busy heating season. Extra classes are scheduled in Austin in May to accommodate last-minute demand. Back to Top Q.  How do I register my employees for a class? A.  Registration is required prior to the class start date.  Click here to register online now. Back to Top Q. How soon do I need to register? A. The sooner the better. Classes are limited to 20 students, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to persons with a due date of the next May 31. If seven or fewer students have registered one week before a scheduled class, the class will be canceled. Back to Top Q. Can I register by phone? A. No. Click here to register online. Back to Top Q. How much do classes cost? A. Eight-hour classes are free to currently certified individuals who have complied with all applicable training or continuing education requirements. The fee is $75 for new applicants for LP-gas certification other than Category E, F, G, I and J; persons whose certificates have expired; and current certificate holders who are adding a new certification that requires first-year training. The fee for the 80-hour Category E Management Course is $750. The fee for the 16-hour Category F, G, I and J Management Course if $150. Class fees do not include the $70 LP-gas examination fee. Back to Top Q. What if a class I want is full by the time I register? A.  Registration for classes is generally handled on a first-come, first-served basis.  However, priority is given to persons who must complete their continuing education requirement by the next May 31 deadline.  Back to Top Q. Can I host a class at my business? A. Possibly, if you have 10 or more students confirmed to attend, a suitable classroom and schedules permit. To request a class at your location, please contact Carol Goodman or call (512) 463-2682. Back to Top Q. Can I take other classes for Railroad Commission credit? A. Yes. Click here for a list of Railroad Commission-approved outside instructors. Back to Top Q. Are classes conducted by my company acceptable for Railroad Commission credit? A. No. The only non-RRC classes acceptable for RRC credit are classes conducted by Commission-approved outside instructors. Back to Top Q. What is Advanced Field Training (AFT)? A. Click here for complete information. Back to Top Q. What courses include Advanced Field Training? A. All 8-hour courses include AFT, except 1.1, Introduction to Propane, and 6.1, Regulatory Compliance for Managers. Back to Top Q.  Who can certify AFT? A.  An authorized company representative, operations supervisor (branch manager) or RRC-approved outside trainer can certify AFT. Back to Top Q. I lost the Advanced Field Activities (AFT) checklist I got in class. How can I get another copy? A. AFT materials can be e-mailed to you in .pdf version or mailed to you. They are too long to fax. Please contact Carol Goodman or call (512) 463-2682. Please allow two weeks for mailing. Back to Top Q. What do I do with the AFT checklist once it's completed? A. The AFT checklist must be properly completed within 30 calendar days of attending the class. All AFT qualification tasks included in the checklist must be completed. The AFT material, including the qualification checklist and the certification page, is required to be readily available at the licensee's Texas business location for review by an authorized Railroad Commission representative during normal business hours. Please refer to 9.52 for additional AFT requirements. Back to Top Q. What happens if I do not complete my LP-gas training/continuing education requirements by my due date? A. Under Railroad Commission rules, after your due date you will be out of compliance.  You will no longer be certified by the Railroad Commission to perform the applicable LP-gas activities. Back to Top Q. What do I have to do to become certified again? A. You must comply with all applicable Railroad Commission LP-Gas safety rules. If you missed your continuing-education deadline, you must register for a class, pay the $75 fee required for uncertified individuals, pay any required fees, including late fees, and complete the class. If your certification lapsed more than two years ago, you will need to start over as a new applicant. Back to Top Q. This year I added a new exam to my previous certification, but I missed the training deadline. Will all my certifications expire? A. No. Only the certification you added will expire, unless the training due date you missed happened to also be your four-year continuing-education deadline. If you miss a continuing-education deadline, all your certifications expire. Back to Top Q. I think there is an error in the Railroad Commission's LP-gas training records. What should I do? A. Please e-mail or fax the contact person's name, telephone number or e-mail address, the student's full name and Social Security number, and a detailed explanation, including any dates of class attendance, to Carol Goodman or fax to (512) 475-2532. The reported information will be evaluated and you will be informed accordingly. Please allow adequate time to research questions before the May 31 deadline. Back to Top