(1) Coroner education shall be conducted as prescribed in 7-4-2905, MCA.

(2) New coroners and deputy coroners shall, within one year of appointment as a coroner or deputy coroner, complete the 40-hour basic coroner course at the academy or other equivalent course approved by POST. The basic coroner course must be completed in accordance with 7-4-2905, MCA.

(3) Coroners and deputy coroners must complete 16 hours of continuing coroner education at least once every two years. The two-year time period begins when the coroner or deputy coroner completes the basic coroner course. Subsequent two-year time periods begin when the coroner or deputy coroner completes the 16 hours of continuing education.

(a) The council, the director, or the director's designee may extend the two-year time limit requirement for the continuation of coroner's certification, set forth in 7-4-2905, MCA, upon the written application of the coroner or the appointing authority of the deputy coroner. The application must explain the circumstances which necessitate the extension;

(b) Factors considered in granting or rejecting an extension include, but are not limited to:

(i) illness of the coroner/deputy coroner or an immediate family member;

(ii) absence of reasonable access to the continuing coroner education; or

(iii) an unreasonable shortage of personnel;

(c) The council may not grant an extension to exceed 180 days from the date the two-year time-period lapses.

(4)  Any coroner or deputy coroner who fails to complete 16 hours of continuing coroner education every two years, as required, must reattend the 40-hour coroner basic academy. Any coroner or deputy coroner who has received an extension pursuant to this rule and fails to complete 16 hours of continuing coroner education within the period of the extension, must reattend the 40-hour coroner basic academy.