21 NCAC 58E .0304. CRITERIA FOR ELECTIVE COURSE APPROVAL

(a)  The following requirements shall be satisfied in order to obtain approval of a proposed elective course:

(1)           The applicant shall submit the application form and pay the application fee, both of which are required in Rule .0303 of this Section, including any additional application fee set forth in Subparagraph (a)(12) of this Rule if applicable;

(2)           The applicant shall satisfy the requirements of Section .0400 of this Subchapter relating to the qualifications or eligibility of course sponsors;

(3)           The subject matter of the course shall satisfy the elective course subject matter requirements set forth in Rule .0305 of this Section and all information to be presented in the course shall be current and accurate;

(4)           The course shall involve a minimum of four classroom hours of instruction on acceptable subject matter, as defined in Rule .0305 of this Section.  A classroom hour consists of 50 minutes of instruction and 10 minutes of break time;

(5)           The applicant and the continuing education coordinator required by Rule .0405 of this Subchapter shall be truthful, honest and of high integrity.  To do this, the Commission may consider the reputation and character of any owner, officer and director of any corporation, association or organization applying for sponsor approval;

(6)           The proposed instructor(s) for the course shall possess the qualifications described in Rule .0306 of this Section;

(7)           The instructional delivery methods to be utilized in the course shall either involve live instruction in a traditional classroom setting or comply with the requirements described in Rule .0310 of this Section;

(8)           The applicant shall submit an instructor guide that includes:

(A)          a course outline describing the subject matter and topics to be taught in sufficient detail to permit an evaluation by the Commission of the depth and accuracy of the subject matter and topics to be covered;

(B)          the amount of time to be devoted to each major topic and to breaks;

(C)          the learning objective(s) for each major topic; and

(D)          the instructional methods and instructional aids that will be utilized in the course.

(9)           The proposed time allotments shown in the instructor guide shall be appropriate for the proposed subject matter to be taught.  Unless the applicant can demonstrate that straight lecture is the most effective instructional method for the course, the instructor guide must provide for the use of a variety of instructional methods and instructional aids intended to enhance student participation, attentiveness, and learning.  Examples of instructional methods that may be appropriate include, but are not limited to, instructor-led class discussion, role-playing, and in-class individual or group work assignments.  Examples of instructional aids that may be appropriate include, but are not limited to, PowerPoint slides, overhead transparencies, video recordings, and information from the Internet displayed on a large screen;

(10)         The course shall include handout materials for students that provide, in narrative or text form, all the information to be presented in the course.  This requirement shall not be satisfied by using only copies of PowerPoint slides or a detailed course outline.  All information included in the student materials shall be up-to-date, without error, explanatory of topics covered, consistent with course learning objectives, grammatically correct, and organized.  The scope and depth of information presented shall be appropriate in view of course learning objectives and subject matter time allotments, and the information presented must, except for instruction on changes in laws, rules, or practices, include coverage of subject matter at a cognitive level higher than that expected of entry-level real estate brokers.  The quality of reproduced student materials shall be generally comparable to that commonly seen in education materials produced by professional publishers.  These standards for student materials also apply, to the extent they are relevant, to student materials other than paper materials such as material to be viewed by computer that are provided for use by students in distance education courses;

(11)         If an applicant proposes to use copyrighted materials in the course, such materials shall be used in a form approved by the copyright holder.  If any copyrighted material is to be duplicated by the applicant for use in the course, the sponsor must have the specific permission of the copyright holder; and

(12)         When an applicant resubmits an elective course approval application after a previous application for the same course has been twice reviewed and found unsatisfactory by the Commission, the resubmitted application shall be treated as an original application for approval and shall be subject to the application fee prescribed in Rule .0303 of this Section.

(b)  An application for elective course approval shall be found unsatisfactory if the applicant fails to fulfill one or more of the requirements set forth in this Rule.

(c)  Applicants requesting approval of distance education courses shall also comply with the requirements described in Rule .0310 of this Section.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 93A-3(c); 93A-4.1;

Eff. July 1, 1994;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2014; July 1, 2010; April 1, 2004; July 1, 2000; July 1, 1996; July 1, 1995.