Contract says we get 16 paid hours a year for CE, and the hall’s running a 2024 code update and a backflow recert on March 12. If you’ve taken them, which paid off more on site — burn the hours on code or knock out backflow — since tuition’s covered in our contract thanks to collective bargaining?
For me, ‘code or knock out backflow’ comes down to the next job — doing the code update first saved us a failed rough on trap primers, and the backflow recert paid off later with OT on testing days. One tip: ask your foreman this week what site you’re headed to in March and spend the hours on the class that matches it. Is your backflow cert close to expiring?
I’d burn March 12 on the backflow recert if your card is up before summer; I’ve been the only one who could sign the test sheets and an expired card meant “no current tester on site, no water,” which pushed our TCO two days. Code update’s valuable, but since tuition’s covered you can catch the 2024 changes after hours — paid time is better on the credential you need to touch a valve. When does your backflow card expire?