TēCA FAQ’s

A: CDT stands for Cannabis Dispensary Technician. Unfortunately, the industry has termed the name “budtender” for those employees that work in a dispensary and deal directly with the customer. Those individuals with the title CDT will have a standardized level of formal training and will have a quantifiably high level of proficiency of information on cannabis.

A: Your online CDT certificate course will include the following:

A: The “exam prep module” contains step-by-step review and preparation information for the proctored exam.

A: The quizzes provide assistance in the retention of the course material. You are not required to pass the quizzes. However, experience has shown that individuals who faithfully use and pass the quizzes achieve greater understanding of the learning materials than those who do not use the quizzes as a study tool. TēCA recommends that you actively use the quizzes to prepare for the certificate examination.

A: You must meet the following:

A: Yes. Online testing for the quizzes and proctored final exam is completed online.

A: The CDT certificate examination is not without difficulty. Remember, if becoming a professional in any field were without challenge, the profession’s credibility would be questioned. Please note, our Educational Support Team is here to help! Please contact our Educational Support Team with any questions.

A: If you fail your CDT Certificate exam, you will be required to retake the exam. We highly recommend you go back through the learning modules and refresh yourself on the content before you take the retest. Each retest (e.g., second attempt, third attempt) will incur a $99 administrative fee. You can retake the exam 3 times within a 12-month time frame.

A: No. We do not place a time limit on the learning module completion. You study at your own pace and take the final CDT Certificate exam when you feel you are ready to pass the exam.

A: You will get your pass or fail score immediately at the conclusion of taking your CDT Certificate exam. For those that pass the exam, TēCA CDT certificates are processed and mailed within three weeks. Within your portal, you will have the ability to print yourself a temporary certificate. It will be valid for 30 days.

A: All TēCA Professionals are required to maintain a current adult HIPAA Certification. If your HIPAA Certification expires before your renewal, you are responsible for updating your HIPAA status. Your HIPAA Certification must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the date of submission.

A: The following providers offer the opportunity to receive your HIPAA Certification:

A: You must have your HIPAA Certification to take the CDT Certificate exam.

A: The TēCA-approved online course also automatically updates the TēCA database with your documentation upon your successful completion. Otherwise, TēCA requires a copy of the front and back of your HIPAA Certification. Copies can be scanned and submitted via email to support@theelearnacademy.com. Please contact Customer Services with any questions you might have regarding HIPAA submission.

A: TēCA Customer identification numbers are printed at the bottom of each CDT Certificate and can be accessed through the TēCA customer portal.

A: TēCA aims to provide its customers with valuable resources such as educational support. Customers may contact the TēCA Educational Support line as often as necessary to facilitate learning, even post-certification. TēCA is here to help customers succeed! The TēCA Technical and Educational Support Department is available between 7am and 5pm Pacific Time, Monday through Friday at (623) 289-2185.

A: TēCA Professionals are required to renew their certification every 2 years. This process consists of a renewal fee, updated HIPAA certification, and documentation stating the completion of 15 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Please note, fulfillment of this specification is required of professionals only after they have received credentialing through TēCA. CEUs are not a prerequisite to receiving credentials.

Or, you can pay a $99 Certificate Exam fee and retake the TēCA Certificate Exam.

All TēCA Professionals maintain their professional status by:

1. Submission of the CEU Report Form and accompanying documentation of acceptable CEU hours completed during the previous 2-year certification cycle. These documents can be uploaded online at: theelearncannabisacademy.com, under My Account.

2. Proof of a valid HIPAA certification.

3. Payment of renewal fees.

A: Member Renewal: $99. The fee must be paid at the time of renewal. The $99 renewal fee is waived if all 15 CEU’s are earned through TēCA-specific CEU’s.

A: All TēCA Professionals are required to keep a current HIPAA Certification. If your HIPAA card expires before your renewal, you are responsible for updating your HIPAA status. Your HIPAA card must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the date of submission.

A: One CEU credit is equal to 1 contact hour of instruction. All 15 units or contact hours must be taken through TēCA, a TēCA Continuing Education Provider, or other TēCA-approved continuing education activity. To be sure that a specific cannabis education and training module is approved, please contact the Continuing Education department at (623) 289-2185 — Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm PST.

A: No, CEUs are not issued for HIPAA training. HIPAA training is a separate requirement for your CDT certificate, therefore, it will not count toward your CEU requirement.

A: TēCA seeks to uphold its standards of providing top-notch cannabis training education and information to its customers. TēCA also encourages its customers to continue their learning with the most cutting-edge information available to the industry. As a result of our commitment toward learning, CEUs earned in excess of the required amount cannot carry over.

A: Upon completion of any TēCA module or approved provider courses, customers will receive a certificate of completion/attendance. This documentation confirms completion of the CEU module.

A: No, customers should keep their CEU documentation in a safe place until it is time to renew the CDT certificate. It is recommended customers submit all required documents and fees in 1 consolidated renewal packet.

A: TēCA customers may submit a petition for an unapproved provider’s course. The course must be directly related to the cannabis profession and educational growth within the cannabis industry. A petition for each CEU program approval must be submitted in writing and must be accompanied by all appropriate documentation and fees. Each petition is reviewed at the discretion of the TēCA advisory board. Please allow 30 days for review.

A: CDT renewal packets may be submitted up to 1 year from the original expiration date. Late fees will be assessed to all applications received after the expiration date. If your TēCA certification has been expired for more than 1 year, you will be required to pay the appropriate fees and CDT certification retest prior to reinstatement.

A: Failure to complete CEU requirements and timely renewal of your CDT certificate status may result in the forfeiture of your CDT certificate. We encourage you to complete all CEU requirements on time. A late fee will be assessed for applications not postmarked by the expiration date. The late fee is in addition to the renewal fee. The following late fees will apply:

Once the completed renewal packet is received, your professional status will be renewed for two years from the date your renewal application is processed. For example, when your completed renewal packet is received after your original expiration date:

A: Once the completed CDT certificate renewal packet is received, it will take three to four weeks for processing and mailing of the updated CDT certificate. Incomplete packets will be returned and issuance of the updated CDT certificate will be delayed. Customers should make sure the renewal packet contains all the required material and fees prior to submission to prevent delays.

A: Credentialing is a process by which TēCA, as a non-governmental agency or association, recognizes the competency of individuals who have met certain qualifications as determined by TēCA. To achieve your CDT certificate from TēCA, individuals must meet the eligibility requirements for credentialing and pass our proctored CDT certificate examination.

Credentialing provides both personal validation and validation for employers and consumers of the certificate holder’s professional competence within the cannabis industry including, but not limited to:

A: Accreditation by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) assures customers that TēCA provides the highest quality in education. IAS is a nonprofit, public-benefit corporation that has been providing accreditation services since 1975. IAS accredits a wide range of companies and organizations including governmental entities, commercial businesses, and professional associations. IAS accreditation programs are based on recognized national and international standards that ensure domestic and/or global acceptance of its accreditations. IAS is a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC), a leader in building safety, and professional association that develops the International Codes.