2003 Minnesota Statutes

     148.5193 Continuing education requirements. 

    Subdivision 1.    Number of contact hours required.  (a) 
 An applicant for licensure renewal must meet the requirements 
 for continuing education stipulated by the American 
 Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the American Board of 
 Audiology, or satisfy the requirements described in paragraphs 
 (b) to (e).  

    (b) An applicant for licensure renewal as either a 
 speech-language pathologist or an audiologist must provide 
 evidence to the commissioner of a minimum of 30 contact hours of 
 continuing education offered by a continuing education sponsor 
 within the two years immediately preceding licensure renewal.  A 
 minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing education must be 
 directly related to the licensee's area of licensure.  Ten 
 contact hours of continuing education may be in areas generally 
 related to the licensee's area of licensure.  

    (c) An applicant for licensure renewal as both a 
 speech-language pathologist and an audiologist must attest to 
 and document completion of a minimum of 36 contact hours of 
 continuing education offered by a continuing education sponsor 
 within the two years immediately preceding licensure renewal.  A 
 minimum of 15 contact hours must be received in the area of 
 speech-language pathology and a minimum of 15 contact hours must 
 be received in the area of audiology.  Six contact hours of 
 continuing education may be in areas generally related to the 
 licensee's areas of licensure.  

    (d) If the licensee is licensed by the Board of Teaching: 

    (1) activities that are approved in the categories of 
 Minnesota Rules, part 8700.1000, subpart 3, items A and B, and 
 that relate to speech-language pathology, shall be considered: 

    (i) offered by a sponsor of continuing education; and 

    (ii) directly related to speech-language pathology; 

    (2) activities that are approved in the categories of 
 Minnesota Rules, part 8700.1000, subpart 3, shall be considered: 

    (i) offered by a sponsor of continuing education; and 

    (ii) generally related to speech-language pathology; and 

    (3) one clock hour as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 
 8700.1000, subpart 1, is equivalent to 1.0 contact hours of 
 continuing education.  

    (e) Contact hours cannot be accumulated in advance and 
 transferred to a future continuing education period.  

    Subd. 2.    Continuing education provided by sponsors.  
 The commissioner will accept continuing education provided by 
 sponsors if the continuing education activity meets the 
 following standards:  

    (1) constitutes an organized program of learning; 

    (2) reasonably expects to advance the knowledge and skills 
 of the speech-language pathologist or audiologist; 

    (3) pertains to subjects that relate to the practice of 
 speech-language pathology or audiology; 

    (4) is conducted by individuals who have education, 
 training, and experience by reason of which said individuals 
 should be considered experts concerning the subject matter of 
 the activity; and 

    (5) is presented by a sponsor who has a mechanism to verify 
 participation and maintains attendance records for four years. 

    Subd. 3. Repealed, 2000 c 460 s 66 

    Subd. 4.    Earning continuing education contact hours 
 through contact hour equivalents.  (a) A licensee who teaches 
 continuing education courses or presents or publishes for 
 educational purposes may obtain contact hour equivalents 
 according to paragraphs (b) to (d). 

    (b) The sponsor of the course must meet the requirements of 
 subdivision 2.  

    (c) A licensee may not obtain more than six contact hours 
 in any two-year continuing education period by teaching 
 continuing education courses.  

    (d) A licensee may obtain two contact hours for each hour 
 spent teaching a course.  Contact hours may be claimed only once 
 for teaching the same course in any two-year continuing 
 education period.  

    Subd. 5. Repealed, 2000 c 460 s 66 

    Subd. 6.    Records of attendance.  (a) A licensee must 
 maintain for four years records of attending the continuing 
 education contact hours required for licensure renewal.  

    (b) An applicant for licensure renewal must submit 
 documentation demonstrating compliance with continuing education 
 requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
 or the American Board of Audiology or an equivalent, or the 
 following information on a form provided by the commissioner:  
 the sponsoring organization, the dates of the course, the course 
 name, the number of contact hours completed, and the name and 
 signature of the licensee.  The form must be submitted with the 
 renewal application under section 148.5191, subdivision 1.  

    Subd. 6a.    Verification of attendance.  An applicant 
 for licensure renewal must submit verification of attendance as 
 follows: 

    (1) a certificate of attendance from the sponsor with the 
 continuing education course name, course date, and licensee's 
 name.  If a certificate is not available, the commissioner may 
 accept other evidence of attendance such as a confirmation or 
 statement of registration for regional or national annual 
 conferences or conventions of professional associations, a copy 
 of the continuing education courses indicating those attended, 
 and an affidavit of attendance; 

    (2) a copy of a record of attendance from the sponsor of 
 the continuing education course; 

    (3) a signature of the presenter or a designee at the 
 continuing education activity on the continuing education report 
 form; 

    (4) a summary or outline of the educational content of an 
 audio or video educational activity if a designee is not 
 available to sign the continuing education report form; 

    (5) for self-study programs, a certificate of completion or 
 other documentation indicating that the individual has 
 demonstrated knowledge and has successfully completed the 
 program; or 

    (6) for attendance at a university, college, or vocational 
 course, an official transcript. 

    Subd. 7.    Verification of continuing education reports. 
  The commissioner may request a licensee or continuing 
 education sponsor to verify the continuing education to which 
 the licensee attested.  Documentation may come directly from the 
 licensee, the continuing education sponsor, or from a national 
 accrediting or certifying organization which maintains the 
 records.  

    Subd. 8.    Waiver of continuing education requirements. 
  The commissioner may grant a waiver of the requirements of 
 this section in cases where the requirements would impose an 
 undue burden on the licensee.  A licensee must request in 
 writing a waiver of the requirements of this section.  The 
 request for a waiver must cite this section, the reasons for 
 requesting the waiver, the period of time the licensee wishes to 
 have the continuing education requirement waived, and the 
 alternative measures that will be taken if a waiver is granted.  
 The commissioner shall set forth, in writing, the reasons for 
 granting or denying the waiver.  Waivers granted by the 
 commissioner shall specify in writing the time limitation and 
 required alternative measures to be taken by the licensee. 

    HIST: 1996 c 363 s 11; 2000 c 460 s 26-30; 2003 c 87 s 31-36