(1) On a form prescribed by the board, an applicant shall apply for and the board may issue a sanitarian-in-training permit to an applicant who meets the minimum educational requirements for a registered sanitarian under 37-40-301 and 37-40-302, MCA, and ARM 24.216.502. A person who has not completed an approved general microbiology course, but who otherwise meets the minimum standards for licensure, may be approved as a sanitarian-in-training.

(2) A sanitarian-in-training must work under the supervision of a licensed sanitarian. As part of the application, an applicant for sanitarian-in-training shall include a plan of supervision, signed by the supervising sanitarian.

(a) The plan of supervision shall include:

(i) the estimated start and end date of supervision;

(ii) number of hours of supervision and/or training to be provided per month;

(iii) method of maintaining contact and supervision, including an alternate supervisor in cases of unavailability of designated supervisor; and

(iv) an affirmation that the supervision and/or training must be conducted pursuant to practicing the profession of a sanitarian, as defined in 37-40-101(3), MCA.

(b) A record of supervision must be maintained by the sanitarian-in-training and submitted to the board at the end of the supervision relationship. The record of supervision must include:

(i) dates of supervision and/or training;

(ii) content summary, reflecting the training and supervision the sanitarian-in-training received regarding practicing the profession of a sanitarian as defined in 37-40-101(3), MCA; and

(iii) attestation of the record by the supervising sanitarian. Falsification or misrepresentation of the record of supervision shall be considered unprofessional conduct and may result in discipline of the supervisor's license.

(3) "Supervision," for purposes of this rule, means the availability of a licensed sanitarian for purposes of immediate communication and consultation on a weekly and as-needed basis as identified in the approved plan of supervision.

(4) A sanitarian-in-training permit is valid for a period of one year. A sanitarian-in-training who meets all the minimum standards for licensure is eligible to take the examination.