Florida Qualified Inspector- ACCT's Support

As a brief overview, in 2020, Florida enacted revisions to its statutes concerning amusement ride inspections aiming to enhance the qualifications required for inspectors.

Guidelines for Amusement Ride Compliance in Florida:

Amusement activities such as Zip lines, Aerial Adventures, and Ropes Courses in Florida are governed by comprehensive regulations. It is essential to familiarize oneself with the pertinent statutes delineated in documents such as the PERMITTING AND INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR AMUSEMENT DEVICES AND AMUSEMENT ATTRACTIONS (5J-18) and the 2023 Florida Statutes (616-242).

Definition of a Qualified Inspector in Florida:

The state sets forth criteria for individuals aspiring to become Qualified Inspectors. These prerequisites include:

• A minimum of 5 years experience in the amusement ride industry, with at least 2 years dedicated to inspections.

• Completion of 32 hours per year of approved continuing education.

• Acquisition of at least 80 hours of formal education from accredited institutions in amusement ride safety within the preceding 5 years.

ACCT's Role and Verification Process:

While educational materials provided either by ACCT or at the ACCT Conference may align with certain aspects of Florida's requirements, the ultimate validation lies with Florida's regulatory authorities. ACCT has been approved to provide a letter confirming education received through ACCT or at our conferences, which can contribute to the Florida Qualified Inspector application process.

Procedure for Verification Requests:

The Education/CEU Request Form serves as a tool for inspectors to identify content necessitating verification to contribute towards attaining Qualified Inspector status in the State of Florida. This form must be included in the Portfolio Review-Florida’s Qualified Inspector Form.

The Portfolio Review-Florida’s Qualified Inspector Form is a Jotform and will be submitted and assessed by the Program Manager. The content specified in the Education/CEU Request Form and the accompanying portfolio will be meticulously reviewed to ensure the approval of pertinent material.

Subsequently, the inspector will be furnished with a letter detailing the number of approved education hours and/or CEUs attained to include with their application to the State of Florida.

This is a new process, and we understand that there will be questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Heather Brooks at heather@acctinfo.org if you need any additional assistance.