2006 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) Within one month following expiration of a license, 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 obtained within
the two years immediately preceding licensure expiration. 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.
Licensees who are issued licenses for a period of less than two years shall prorate the number of
contact hours required for licensure renewal based on the number of months licensed during the
biennial licensure period. Licensees shall receive contact hours for continuing education activities
only for the biennial licensure period in which the continuing education activity was performed.
(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. Licensees who are issued licenses for a period of less than two years
shall prorate the number of contact hours required for licensure renewal based on the number
of months licensed during the biennial licensure period. Licensees shall receive contact hours
for continuing education activities only for the biennial licensure period in which the continuing
education activity was performed.
(d) If the licensee is licensed by the Board of Teaching:
(1) activities that are approved in the categories of Minnesota Rules, part 8710.7200, 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 8710.7200, 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 8710.7200, subpart 1, is equivalent
to 1.0 contact hours of continuing education.
(e) Contact hours may not 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 of attendance 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.
History: 1996 c 363 s 11; 2000 c 460 s 26-30; 2003 c 87 s 31-36; 2004 c 279 art 1 s 15,16;
2006 c 267 art 2 s 8