| (a) Continuing professional education in speech-language
pathology and audiology as required by the Act consists of a series
of planned individual learning experiences beyond the basic educational
program which has led to a degree or qualifies one for licensure.
(b) A continuing education unit (CEU) is the basic
unit of measurement used to credit individuals with continuing education
activities for licensure. One CEU is defined as 10 contact hours of
participation in an approved continuing education experience.
(c) A minimum of twenty clock hours (two CEUs) shall
be required to renew a license issued for a two-year term. The holder
of dual licenses, meaning both a speech-language pathology license
and an audiology license, shall be required to earn 30 clock hours
(three CEUs) to renew a license issued for a two-year term. Effective
April 30, 2009, a license holder must complete a minimum of 2.0 clock
hours (0.2 CEUs) in ethics as part of the continuing education requirement
each renewal term.
(d) When renewing an initial license, the licensee
shall submit 10 continuing education hours if the initial license
was issued for less than 12 months and 20 continuing education hours
if the initial license was issued for more than 12 months. Continuing
education hours earned before the original effective date of a license
are not acceptable.
(e) Continuing professional education shall be earned
in one of the following areas:
(1) basic communication processes;
(2) speech-language pathology;
(3) audiology; or
(4) an area of study related to the areas listed in
paragraphs (1) - (3) of this subsection.
(f) Any continuing education activity shall be provided
by an approved sponsor with the exception of activities referenced
in subsections (g) - (i) of this section. A list of approved sponsors
designated by the board shall be made available to all licensees and
updated as necessary.
(g) University or college course work completed with
a grade of at least a "C" or for credit from an accredited college
or university in the areas listed in subsection (e)(1) - (3) of this
section shall be approved for 10 continuing education clock hours
per semester hour.
(h) University or college course work in a related
area or events approved by the American Medical Association (Category
I) in a related area as referenced in subsection (e)(4) of this section
may be approved if the activity furthers the licensee's knowledge
of speech-language pathology or audiology or enhances the licensee's
service delivery. A licensee shall complete the board's approved form
for prior approval of such events. Partial credit may be awarded.
(i) Earned continuing education hours exceeding the
minimum requirement in a previous renewal period shall first be applied
to the continuing education requirement for the current renewal period.
(1) A maximum of 10 additional clock hours may be accrued
during a license period to be applied to the next consecutive renewal
period.
(2) A maximum of 15 additional clock hours may be accrued
by dual speech-language pathology and audiology licensees during a
license period to be applied to the next consecutive renewal period.
(j) The licensee shall be responsible for maintaining
a record of his or her continuing education experiences for a period
of at least three years.
(k) Proof of completion of a valid continuing education
experience shall include the name of the licensee, the sponsor of
the event, the title and date of the event, and the number of continuing
education hours earned. Acceptable verification shall be:
(1) a letter or form bearing a valid signature or verification
as designated by the approved sponsor;
(2) in the event verification referenced in paragraph
(1) of this subsection cannot be obtained, the board may accept verification
from the presenter of an approved event if the presenter can also
provide proof that the event was acceptable to an approved sponsor;
(3) an original or certified copy of the transcript
if earned under subsections (g) - (h) of this section;
(4) a letter or form from the American Medical Association
if earned under subsection (h) of this section stating the event was
approved for Category I; and
(5) if the continuing education event was earned under
subsection (h) of this section, a letter or form from the board office
granting prior board approval of the event in addition to documentation
listed in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection. If this approval
was not obtained, the licensee shall not include the event on the
documentation. The licensee shall comply with the requirements set
out in subsection (h) of this section and, if approval is granted,
add the event to the documentation.
(l) The documentation, certificates, diplomas, or other
documentation verifying earning of continuing education hours shall
not be forwarded to the board at the time of renewal unless the board
selected the licensee for audit.
(m) The audit process shall be as follows.
(1) The board shall select for audit a random sample
of licensees for each renewal month. The renewal form shall indicate
whether the licensee has been selected for audit.
(2) A licensee selected for audit shall submit documentation
defined in subsections (l) and (m) of this section at the time the
renewal form and fee are submitted to the board.
(3) Failure to furnish this information in a timely
manner or providing false information during the audit or renewal
process are grounds for disciplinary action against the licensee.
(4) A licensee who is selected for continuing education
audit may renew through the online renewal process. However, the license
will not be considered renewed until required continuing education
documents are received, accepted and approved by the board office.
(n) Completion of the jurisprudence examination shall
count as one hour of the continuing education requirement for professional
ethics, as referenced in subsection (c) of this section per renewal
period.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §741.162 adopted to be effective March 22, 2006, 31 TexReg 2160; amended to be effective May 18, 2008, 33 TexReg 3742; amended to be effective August 27, 2009, 34 TexReg 5691; amended to be effective January 16, 2011, 36 TexReg 43; amended to be effective March 18, 2012, 37 TexReg 1706 |
