All licensees must complete in each twenty-four-month period
preceding the renewal of a license, forty (40) contact hours of continuing
education. A contact hour is one (1) hour of actual participation in a
continuing education activity, exclusive of breaks. (3-28-23)
01.
Contact Hours. The contact
hours of continuing education must be obtained in areas of study germane to the
practice for which the license is issued as approved by the Board. No less than
six (6) contact hours for each renewal period must be in ethics, which must be
specific to legal issues, law, or ethics. Therapeutic workshops, retreats and
other self-help activities are not considered continuing education training
unless specific parts of the experience are applicable to counseling or therapy
practice. (3-28-23)
02.
Documentation of Attendance. Each licensee must maintain
documentation verifying hours of attendance by securing authorized signatures
or other documentation from the course instructors, providers, or sponsoring
institution. This documentation is subject to audit and must be provided upon
request by the Board or its agent. (3-28-23)
03.
Approved Contact Hours,
Limitations, and Required Documents. (3-28-23)
a. College or University Courses for Credit
or Audit. There is no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain in
this category during each reporting period. However, all courses are subject to
Board approval. For college or university courses, one (1) semester credit
equals fifteen (15) contact hours; one (1) quarter credit equals ten (10)
contact hours. The licensee must provide the Board with a copy of the
licensee's transcript substantiating any hours attended by the licensee.
(3-28-23)
b. Seminars, Workshops,
Conferences. There is no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain
in this category during each reporting period. Verifying documentation is a
copy of the certificate, or letter signed by course instructors, providers, or
sponsoring institution substantiating any hours attended by the licensee.
(3-28-23)
c. Publications. A
maximum of eight (8) contact hours may be counted in this category during each
reporting period. Publication activities are limited to articles in journals, a
chapter in an edited book, or a published book or professional publication.
Verifying documentation is a copy of the cover page or the article or book in
which the licensee has been published. For a chapter in an edited book the
licensee must submit a copy of the table of contents. (3-28-23)
d. Presentations. A maximum of eight (8)
contact hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period.
Class, conference, or workshop presentations may be used for contact hour
credit if the topic is germane to the field. A specific presentation given
repeatedly can only be counted once. A particular presentation will qualify for
contact hour credit one (1) time in a five (5) year period. Only actual
presentation time may be counted; preparation time does not qualify for contact
hour credit. Verifying documentation is a copy of the conference program or a
letter from the sponsor, host organization, or professional colleague.
(3-28-23)
e. Clinical Supervision
and Case Consultation. A maximum of ten (10) contact hours of received
supervision/consultation may be counted in this category during each reporting
period. In order to qualify for contact hour credit, supervision/consultation
must be received on a regular basis with a set agenda. No credit will be given
for the licensee's supervision of others. Verifying documentation is a letter
from the supervisor or consultant listing periods of supervision or
consultation. (3-28-23)
f.
Dissertation. A maximum of ten (10) contact hours may be counted in this
category during each reporting period. Verifying documentation is a copy of the
licensee's transcript and the title of the dissertation. (3-28-23)
g. Leadership. A maximum of eight (8) contact
hours may be counted in this category during each reporting period. Verifying
documentation is a letter from a professional colleague listing the position of
leadership, periods of leadership, and the name of the organization under which
the leadership took place. The following leadership positions qualify for
continuing education credits: (3-28-23)
i.
Executive officer of a state or national counseling or therapy organization;
(3-28-23)
ii. Editor or editorial
board service of a professional counseling or therapy journal;
(3-28-23)
iii. Member of a national
ethics disciplinary review committee rendering licenses, certification, or
professional membership; (3-28-23)
iv. Active member of a counseling or therapy
working committee producing a substantial written product; (3-28-23)
v. Chair of a major counseling or therapy
conference or convention; or (3-28-23)
vi. Other leadership positions with
justifiable professional learning experiences. (3-28-23)
h. Home Study and On-line Education. There is
no limit to the contact hours that a licensee may obtain in this category
during each reporting period. Home study or on-line courses qualify for contact
hours, provided that the course is provided by a Board-approved continuing
education provider or a course pre-approved by the Board. Verifying
documentation is a copy of the certification that is verified by the authorized
signatures from the course instructors, providers, or sponsoring institution
and substantiates any hours completed by the licensee. A licensee seeking
contact credit for reading a publication must submit results from a test on the
information contained within the publication and administered by an independent
third-party. (3-28-23)
i. Board
Meetings. Continuing education credit may be granted for a maximum of four (4)
hours each renewal period for time spent attending two (2) Board meetings.
(3-28-23)
04.
Waiver. The Board may waive continuing education requirements for
reasons of individual hardship, including health (certified by a medical
doctor) or other good cause. The licensee must request such waiver prior to
renewal and provide any information requested by the Board to assist in
substantiating hardship cases. This waiver is granted at the sole discretion of
the Board. (3-28-23)
