Ohio Administrative Code
Title 4757 - Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Chapter 4757-9 - Continuing Education
Section 4757-9-05 - Approval of continuing professional education programs required for renewal of licenses and certificates of registration issued by the board

Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 4757-9-05

Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024

The goals of the board's continuing professional education requirements are to assist licensees in maintaining and expanding professional competence and expertise, in becoming aware of new professional issues and developments; and in providing responsible, quality and competent service to clients and community. Continuing education to promote personal growth of the licensee or to develop general business skills , or to develop skills such as in CPR or first aid, shall not be accepted.

Continuing education credits may be obtained in several ways: attendance at programs offered by approved providers, approved programs, and publications as cited in paragraph (B) of rule 4757-9-06 of the Administrative Code and presentations as cited in paragraph (C) of rule 4757-9-06 of the Administrative Code. The board or its designee shall approve providers under the following guidelines:

Any individual or business providing continuing education courses for this board's licensees shall comply with federal law title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act "ADA." Continuing education programs shall be offered in locations and in a manner, which are accessible to persons with disabilities, or offer alternative accessible arrangements for such persons. Individuals or businesses who hold provider status or are approved to provide individual programs are required to provide auxiliary aides and services that are necessary to ensure equal access to the goods, services, facilities, privileges or accommodations that it offers unless an undue burden or a fundamental alteration would result.

(A) The following meanings shall apply to all continuing education rules promulgated by the counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapy board.

"Provider Status" means an individual or entity granted approval to develop continuing education program offerings without prior approval from the board for each program offered. All continuing education offerings shall utilize the same provider authorization number assigned by the board. A licensed individual shall review each continuing education program as noted on the provider application or most recent renewal application on file with the board.

(B) Requirements for continuing education programs offered by approved providers:

(1) Academic courses offered in accredited education institutions by counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy degree programs as defined in paragraphs (A) of rule 4757-13-01, (C)(1)(g) of rule 4757-19-01 and (A)(1) of rule 4757-25-01 of the Administrative Code, are automatically granted program approval. Transcripts and/or grade reports shall be used to document this training. If the licensee audits an approved course, a letter from the professor shall be required to verify actual number of hours of attendance, which shall be used to determine hours of continuing education credit granted.
Continuing education programs presented by academic departments or programs of counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy are accepted by the board for continuing education credit regardless of the provider status of the department or program.

(2) Programs may be sponsored by departments of accredited educational institutions; national, regional, state, or local professional organizations or associations; public or private human service agencies or organizations; private consultants; or individuals. In order to obtain approved status from the board, a program shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The program shall be presented by competent individuals as documented by appropriate academic training and professionally recognized experience. Presenters should have an identifiable involvement with human services. In approving a particular presenter the board shall be guided by the following range of presenter qualifications.
(i) Persons licensed by the board, or those holding similar licenses in other states, with appropriate expertise in the content area may be accepted.

(ii) Related professionals with the ability to connect content to the professions licensed by the board counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy practice shall usually be accepted.

(iii) Expert presenters with no apparent link to professions licensed by the board, or related practice may or may not be acceptable based upon content to be presented and intended audience.

(iv) Presenters with no apparent professional qualifications nor link to the professions licensed by the board shall not be accepted.

(v) Presenters providing training in practice areas that would require licensure shall show evidence of current licensure in Ohio or another state.

(b) The program shall have a minimum duration of one clock hour.

(c) The program shall have goals and objectives which are responsive to the needs of licensees and attendees. Applications shall include agendas with content and time frames for each session of the program.

(d) The program shall be related to counseling, social work and/or marriage and family therapy content areas as listed in rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02 and 4757-9-03 of the Administrative Code.
Peer reviewed journals shall meet the following criteria:
(i) have an independent editorial board,

(ii) be sponsored by a national professional society for counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, art therapy, music therapy, psychology or psychiatry, and

(iii) have paid subscribers. Articles appearing in publications dealing with the specific program topic area shall not constitute validation.

(e) The program shall be disseminated via appropriate instructional methods, such as lecture, group discussion, video, film, computer or other electronic means, written materials, or interactive teleconferencing.

(f) The program shall include an evaluation component directly related to its stated goals and objectives.

(g) The program shall be offered in a place and manner which is accessible to persons who are physically challenged.

(h) The program approval request shall be submitted for review, in a format designated by the board, at least sixty days prior to the scheduled program date. Program approval requests received on or after the date of the program shall be denied.

(i) The program's promotional information shall state that program approval has either been applied for or has been granted, and to which license(s) renewal requirements the program shall apply.

(j) The sponsor of the program shall provide program participants certificates of completion on paper or electronically, which contain the information in paragraphs (B)(2)(k)(i) to (B)(2)(k)(vi) of the Administrative Code.
(i) The title and date(s) of the program and the board's program approval number;

(ii) The name of the sponsoring agency or organization;

(iii) The name of the participant, which may be legibly handwritten, and the number of clock hours of continuing professional education earned by the participant;

(iv) The signature of the instructor or the official representative of the sponsoring organization;

(v) The hours of ethics, distance learning and/or supervision included in the program, if any; and

(vi) A blank space on the certificate of completion in which the participant may place their registration or license number.

(k) The sponsor shall ensure that the program conforms to the planned hours of attendance, attendance certificates are given to attendees after the end of the program and that any late arrivals or early departees are given certificates accurately reflecting their actual times of attendance.

(l) The sponsor shall maintain records of program content, presenter qualifications and individual participation, and individual evaluation forms for five years and make such records available, if the board requests them;

(C) Guidelines for provider approval:

(1) Continuing education providers authorized to provide continuing education as defined in paragraphs (F) and (G) of this rule and paragraph (F) of rule 4757-9-06 of the Administrative Code are ineligible to apply for provider approval as described in this rule.

(2) Approved provider status for newly approved providers shall be granted for up to a to four year period and is subject to renewal for up to a four year year period if the provider meets the requirements of this rule. At its discretion, the board may establish an initial approval period or renewal period of less than four years based on the experience and performance of the provider.

(3) Providers may use their own approval numbers for presentations by this board's staff members, for example ethics or licensing presentations.

(4) The board may refuse to renew the approved status of any provider who fails to comply with the requirements of this rule. Approved provider status may be withdrawn for cause.

(5) Programs offered by a provider while that provider does not have approved status shall not be accepted by the board toward fulfillment of license renewal requirements unless program approval for such programs was obtained as set forth in this rule.

(6) The board may grant provider status, which may include but are not limited to: degree programs, national regional, state, or local professional organizations, public or private human service agencies, private consultants or individuals. The applicant for approved provider status shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Make application for approval status in a format required by the board at least two months prior to the date of the first scheduled program offering. A list of proposed programs and program goals shall be included with the application.

(b) Apply for renewal of approved provider status two months prior to the expiration date;

(c) Provide or arrange for appropriate educational facilities and instructional aids and offer programs and facilities that are accessible to persons who are handicapped.

(d) Have program presenters who have the professionally recognized skills to conduct the programs being offered in accordance with paragraph (A) of this rule;

(e) Conduct programs that satisfy one or more of the program areas in the professions licensed by the board as defined in rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02 and 4757-9-03 of the Administrative Code and/or as defined in division (A), (C) or (H) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code;

(f) Include an evaluation component in all programs offered;

(g) Maintains records of program content, presenter qualifications and individual participation, and individual evaluation forms for five years and make such records available, if the board requests them;

(h) The provider shall give program participants certificates of completion on paper or electronically, which contain the information in paragraphs (C)(6)(i)(i) to (C)(6)(i)(vi) of the Administrative Code.
(i) Name of the provider and the approved provider number;

(ii) The name of the participant, which may be legibly handwritten, and provide a blank space on the certificate of completion in which the participant may place his or her registration or license number;

(iii) The title and date(s) of the program;

(iv) The hours of ethics, distance learning and/or supervision included in the program if any;

(v) The signature of the instructor or the official representative of the sponsoring organization; and

(vi) The number of clock hours of continuing professional education earned by the participant.

(i) Indicate, on any promotional literature disseminated, the provider number issued by the board and the license(s) renewal requirements to which the program(s) shall apply.

(j) Each program shall have review and or input by a licensee of the board.

The provider shall ensure that the program conforms to the planned hours of attendance, attendance certificates are given to attendees after the end of the program and that any late arrivals or early departees are given certificates accurately reflecting their actual times of attendance.

Providers may purchase and/or contract for the provision of continuing education programs that are not co-sponsored provided the provider retains control of the contracted or purchased program.

Applicants shall use the form prescribed by the board for approval of the continuing education provider status. Applicants shall pay a fee set in rule 4757-1-05 of the Administrative Code for each provider application submitted or renewed. Initial provider status is valid for a period to be established by the board upon status approval.

(D) Guidelines for continuing education program advertising: All advertising by approved continuing education providers shall clearly indicate the target audience of any program being advertised. A provider or sponsor offering continuing education programs shall include:

(1) Approved for counselors and/or social workers and/or marriage and family therapists each listed as appropriate;

(2) If ethics or supervision, then include: Approved for number of hours of ethics and/or number of hours of supervision each listed as appropriate; and approved for counselors and/or social workers and/or marriage and family therapists each listed as appropriate.

(E) The board has the right to have a board employee attend unannounced any approved continuing education program offered under this rule. The staff member or board member attending the program may not claim continuing education credit for the course without paying the requisite fee, if any.

(F) Association approval status:

(1) National associations or associations of state regulatory boards composed of licensed members or stakeholders of the counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy professions that provide or approve continuing education for use in multiple jurisdictions, or Ohio-based associations representing the professions licensed by the board may apply to the board for association approval status.
(a) National associations may apply to approve continuing education programs, providers, or providers and programs.

(b) Ohio-based associations may apply to approve programs only.

(c) Association approval status is approved by the board upon recommendation of the appropriate professional standards committee.

(d) Initial association provider approval status will be valid for one year from the date of approval.

(e) After the expiration of the initial one year approval, the board, at its discretion, may award association approval status for up to three years.

(f) Association approval status may be restricted for cause or revoked for cause. In such instances when the board intends to restrict or revoke an approval status, the association will be provided an initial ninety-day period, which may be extended at the board's discretion for a one time sixty day period, in which to respond. During the response period the association may continue to approve programs or providers. All restrictions, non-renewals and revocations must be approved by the board upon a recommendation of the appropriate professional standards committee. Associations subject to a restricted approval status, non-renewal, or revocation may reapply to the board for full approval status after one year.

(g) Associations applying for association approval status must do so on a form provided by the board and pay any fees assessed by the board for continuing education approvals as defined in rule 4757-1-05 of the Administrative Code.

(h) The association must agree to approve programs and providers in accordance with rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02, and 4757-9-03 of the Administrative Code.

(2) Annually the association must report to the board the number of programs and providers approved; the number of programs and providers denied and a reason for the denial; apprise the board of any relevant issues related to the approval of programs or providers.

(3) Continuing education provided by associations with association approval status will be accepted to meet continuing education renewal requirements without further action by the board.

(G) Programs sponsored by or offered by the following agencies of the state of Ohio or state of Ohio constitutional offices shall be considered approved for continuing education credit provided the subject matter of the training is relevant to the professions licensed by the board : chemical dependency professionals board, state medical board of Ohio, , department of developmental disabilities, bureau of workers compensation, department of education, department of health, department of job and family services, department of mental health and addiction services, board of nursing, state board of psychology, depart of rehabilitation and corrections, department of public safety, department of youth services, attorney general of Ohio, and supreme court of Ohio.

(1) By a vote of the board state agencies or constitutional offices not listed in paragraph (G) of this rule may be approved to provided continuing education programs.

(2) The board may restrict licensees from claiming continuing education credits for programs provided by any agency listed in paragraph (G) of this rule or approved under paragraph (G)(1) of this rule if the board determines a program or programs offered by such an agency do not provide continuing education appropriate to the scopes of practice defined in agency 4757 of the Administrative Code.

(3) Certificates for programs offered may include the following statement to denote acceptance by the board: "Accepted for continued education credit by the Ohio CSWMFT Board under rule 4757-9-05 of the Administrative Code"

(H) Post program discontinued: approval:

(1) Effective with the effective date of this rule, the board will discontinue review of continuing education programs for post program approval. Programs previously eligible for post program approval, as described in paragraph (H)(3) of this rule, will be submited via the board's chosen system for continuing education program without pre or post review by the board. Such programs are subject to audit and may be rejected for license renewal if the program is determined not to be qualified continuing education.

(2) Programs taken in person in the state of Ohio that are not preapproved by the board or offered by an approved provider, cannot be submitted as continuing education.

(3) , The licensee shall provide the following in a manner required by the board:
(a) If a book, a copy of the front matter indicating the title, author, and year of publication. Self-published books do not qualify for continuing education credit.

(b) If a journal article, the first page(s) of the article that includes the article title, abstract, and name of the journal.

(c) If a presentation of an of in-service training workshops, seminars and/or conference presentations, a copy of the presenation or training agenda; or

(d) If an in-person, out of state conference or training:
(i) Documentation that the program presenter(s) met the requirements of paragraph (B)(2)(a) of this rule; and

(ii) A copy of the program brochure and other documentation to demonstrate that the program met the requirements of paragraphs (B)(2)(b) to (B)(2)(f) of this rule; and

(iii) A certificate of completion, transcripts, grade card, or signed statement from the presenter to demonstrate the licensee's attendance at the program or course.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Ohio may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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