Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1370 - Communication Disorders
Chapter 1370-01 - Rules for Speech Pathology and Audiology
Section 1370-01-.12 - CONTINUING EDUCATION
Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 1370-01-.12
Current through April 3, 2024
All Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Speech Language Pathology Assistants must comply with the following continuing education rules as a prerequisite to licensure and registration renewal.
(1) Continuing Education - Hours Required
(a) All Speech Language Pathologists and
Audiologists must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education during the
two calendar years (January 1 - December 31) that precede the licensure renewal
year.
1. Ten (10) hours of the twenty (20)
hour requirement must have been obtained in the licensee's area of practice
(Speech Language Pathology or Audiology); and
2. Ten (10) hours of the twenty (20) hour
requirement may regard either Speech Language Pathology or Audiology.
3. For new licensees, proof of successful
completion of all education and training requirements required for licensure in
Tennessee, pursuant to Rule
1370-01-.04,
which have been completed during the twelve (12) months preceding licensure,
shall constitute continuing education credit for the initial period of
licensure.
(b) All
Speech Language Pathology Assistants must complete a minimum of ten (10) hours
of continuing education during the two (2) calendar years (January 1 - December
31) that precede the licensure renewal year cycle. For new registrants, proof
of successful completion of all education and training requirements required
for registration in Tennessee, pursuant to Rule
1370-01-.14,
which have been completed during the twelve (12) months preceding registration,
shall constitute continuing education credit for the initial period of
registration.
(c) The Board does
not pre-approve continuing education programs. It is the responsibility of the
licensee or registrant, using his/her professional judgment, to determine
whether or not the continuing education course is applicable and appropriate
and meets the guidelines specified in this rule. Continuing education credit
will not be allowed for the following
1.
Regular work activities, administrative staff meetings, case
staffing/reporting, etc.
2.
Membership or holding office in or participation on boards or committees, or
business meetings of professional organizations.
3. Independent unstructured, or
self-structured, learning.
4.
Training specifically related to policies and procedures of an
agency.
5. Seminars, conferences or
courses not directly related to Speech Language Pathology or Audiology (i.e.
computers, finance, business management, etc.) or inconsistent with the
requirements of subparagraph (a).
(d) Persons who hold dual licenses (Speech
Language Pathology and Audiology) must complete a minimum of twenty (20) hours
of continuing education during the two (2) calendar years that precede the
licensure renewal cycle. The hours must be distributed equally between each
specialty.
(e) For purposes of
these Rules, one-tenth (0.1) Continuing Education Unit (CEU), as defined by
ASHA and other CE course providers, is equivalent to sixty (60) minutes or one
(1) hour of continuing education.
(f) Multi-Media - With successful completion
of a written post-experience examination to evaluate material retention,
multi-media courses may be taken for continuing education credit.
1. For Speech Language Pathologists and
Audiologists, all of the hours required in subparagraph (a) may be granted for
multi-media courses during each calendar year.
2. For Speech Language Pathology Assistants,
all of the hours required in subparagraph (b) may be granted for multi-media
courses during each calendar year.
3. Multi-Media courses may include courses
utilizing:
(i) Group: Synchronous, live event.
Instruction requires the simultaneous participation of all students and
instructors in real time. Learners interact with the learning materials and the
instructor at a specific location and time. Examples include but are not
limited to workshops, seminars, symposium, webinar/videoconference, journal
group, grand rounds, conventions, and conferences.
(ii) Individual: Asynchronous. Learners
choose their own instructional time frame and location and interact with the
learning materials and instructor according to their own schedules. Examples
include but are not limited to video recordings, correspondence courses, audio
recordings, programmed study, computer-assisted learning, and reading peer
review journals/newsletters.
(iii)
Blended: Combines elements of both group and individual learning experiences.
These may be distance learning/online as well as face-to-face/in person. These
courses might have prerequisite reading, videotaping/case study viewing that
must be completed prior to, during, or after the face-to-face/in person
portion. Examples include but are not limited to live webinar that has required
reading/case study review for which the participant will earn credit for
successfully completing prior to, during, or after the live segment.
(iv) Independent Study: A learning event
proposed by the learner and reviewed, monitored and approved by a Board
approved independent study provider.
(g) The Board, in cases of documented
illness, disability, other undue hardship or retirement, may
1. Waive the continuing education
requirements; or
2. Extend the
deadline to complete continuing education requirements.
(h) To be considered for a waiver of
continuing education requirements, or for an extension of the deadline to
complete the continuing education requirements, a licensee or registrant must
request such in writing with supporting documentation before the end of the
calendar year in which the continuing education requirements were not
met.
(2) Documentation - Proof of Compliance.
(a) Each licensee and
registrant must retain documentation of attendance and completion of all
continuing education. If asked by the Board for inspection and/or verification
purposes, the licensee or registrant must produce one (1) of the following:
1. Verification of continuing education by
evidencing certificates which verify attendance at continuing education
program(s); or
2. An original
letter on official stationery from the continuing education's program's sponsor
verifying the continuing education and specifying date, hours of actual
attendance, program title, licensee or registrant name and number.
(b) Each licensee and registrant
on the biennial renewal form must attest to completion of the required
continuing education hours and that such hours were obtained during the two (2)
calendar years (January 1 - December 31) that precede the licensure or
registration renewal year.
(c) Each
licensee and registrant shall maintain, for a period of not less than four (4)
years, all documentation pertaining to continuing education.
(3) Violations.
(a) Any licensee or registrant who falsely
certifies attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing
education requirements, or who does not or can not adequately substantiate
completed continuing education hours with the required documentation, may be
subject to disciplinary action pursuant to Rule
1370-01-.13.
1. Prior to the institution of any
disciplinary proceedings, a letter shall be issued to the last known address of
the individual stating the facts or conduct which warrants the intended
action.
2. The licensee or
registrant has thirty (30) days from the date of notification to show
compliance with all lawful requirements for the retention of the license or
registration.
3. Any licensee or
registrant who fails to show compliance with the required continuing education
hours in response to the notice contemplated by part (3)(a)1. above may be
subject to disciplinary action
(4) Continuing Education for Reactivation or Reinstatement of Retired or Expired Licenses and Registrations.
(a) An individual whose license or
registration has been retired or has expired must complete the continuing
education requirements for each year the license or registration was retired or
expired as a prerequisite to reactivation or reinstatement. The number of
continuing education hours to be obtained, and the modality through which the
continuing education hours may be obtained, shall be in accordance with the
continuing education rules in place at the time the application for
reactivation or reinstatement is submitted. The number of continuing education
hours required for reactivation or reinstatement shall not exceed 100 hours.
The continuing education hours obtained will be considered replacement hours
and cannot be counted during the next licensure or registration renewal
period.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-17-105, 63-17-124, and 63-17-128.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee 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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