The Arizona Process Servers Association recently requested comments from those members & non-member process servers to be posted on this subject. For those unable to log into or create an account on the forum, we offered to forward their unedited email to the AOC. Please see the following unedited email reprinted with the writer’s permission:

from: Vicki Rieffer <[email protected]>

Based on what I have read the main issue would be the requirement that continuing education can only be 50% online self study. This requirement appears to move in the opposite direction of current standards for other professions. My concern is that the parties that are pushing this change have been influenced financially or stand to gain financially from this change. Process serving is not as financially rewarding as other careers, such as attorneys, who are required to maintain a continuing education, and this move will force us to pay more for classes.

Another major issue with forcing process server's to attend at least 5 hours of CE in person is the lack of available classes, especially for process server's that live in rural areas. The only resource available to most process servers is the AZ Supreme Court web site which currently lists 20 approved companies and of those, only a handful that are not online self teaching courses. These changes that I read are basically making changes but not providing assistance with those changes.

Sincerely,
Vicki Rieffer

Good morning,
My name is Matthew Uthe. I am a Certified Arizona Process server, Arizona Private Investigator, Illinois Private Investigator and Illinois Process server. I agree with most of the proposed changes, making the Clerk more transparent and holding them to a higher standard with dates and must do, rather than shall or may do is a great idea since they are in control of the certification process. Holding our profession to a higher standard with continuing education is imperative to command a higher standard with serving court documents, but in accordance to Section 4n (paragraph) and somehow making it mandatory in person training is a bit too aggressive. Why should I be penalized for performing court approved online continuing education credit but be disqualified half of my hours because it was not "in person"? How are process servers being held to a higher standard than police or constable's or attorneys? They (police or constable's and attorneys) can do all online training or videos, self study. For all intents and purposes, the courts do not even protect certified process servers from the threat of trespass while serving legal documents. I learned that online, not in person. Since the courts want to intervene and have control of the certification process, it has to be sensible. Is online learning any less effective than in person learning? Thousands of online colleges beg to differ. I attended online college in Illinois and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Magna cum Laude. Did I receive any less of an education? No. I actually was more focused than if I sat in the class room. Additionally, by forcing up to meet in person at a certain date, certain time, there are many negatives to this as well, for example, if someone has the flu or a cold, all of us could be exposed. Taking away valuable work time to attend in person classes rather than being able to attend late in the evening after work hours, therefor not interfering with real business activities. Thousands of companies hire remote employees every day. "In person" is nothing more than antiquated thinking. There is no reason for "in person anything". When you order a pizza, do you drive to the store and order? No, you call or order online, by the court's own determination, you have to go to the pizza place to order, that makes zero sense. It is a waste of time and energy and an exercise in futility. In summation, allowing self study and online study courses without the impendence of "in person" learning is imperative moving towards a common goal of continuing education. Whether it is in person or online, it is still continuing education, which sets us apart from the average process server.

Respectfully
Matthew L Uthe
AZCPS MC-8934
AZ PI 1714938

The Arizona Process Servers Association recently requested comments from those members & non-member process servers to be posted on this subject. For those unable to log into or create an account on the forum, we offered to forward their unedited email to the AOC. Please see the following unedited email reprinted with the writer’s permission:

from: Thomas Zollars <[email protected]>

To whom it may concern,

I'm not really fond of having to do in person study for our continuing education. Having said that, I fully concur with Ratcliff's response.

Thank you,

Matthew Umbower,
You make many valid points in your post, however, you are biased in demanding process servers get continuing education in person. By your own admission, you teach continuing education and profit from teaching in person. Therefore, you are biased because you profit from in person teaching. Are you trying to tell me my online college education is invalid because I put myself through college on off duty hours and was able to take classes at midnight? Are you trying to say that online approved or self study is any less valid? Are you saying that Police, Constables and attorneys that receive their continuing education by distance learning are not worthy of their positions? Arizona DPS disagrees with you. Distance learning is the future and in person learning is an antiquated system of leaning which will eventually disappear in the corporate world. Just because you thrive and profit from in person learning does not mean it is for everyone nor make it any more valid.

Matthew Uthe
AZ CPS MC-8934
AZ Private Investigator 1714938
Illinois Private Investigator 115-001701

The Arizona Process Servers Association recently requested comments from those members & non-member process servers to be posted on this subject. For those unable to log into or create an account on the forum, we offered to forward their unedited email to the AOC. Please see the following unedited email reprinted with the writer’s permission:

from: Glen Duke <[email protected]>


Live participation for 50% of CE is absurd. We're in a digit world.

Furthermore, 30 hours in a 3 year period should satisfy the requirement. The need for us to obtain 10 hours each year is absurd. Other industries allow for individuals to obtain their continuing education anytime prior to renewal. To name a few, Physicians, Realtors and Insurance Agents can complete their hours anytime prior to submitting their renewal for licensure. Pretty certain this is a court mandate and is out of our control.