La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LXXV-127

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section LXXV-127 - Continuing Education Requirements

A. Each licensee shall complete continuing professional education activities of at least 10 clock hours each license period, July 1-June 30.

B. Of the 10 hours, five shall be educational activities directly related to the scope of practice of the licensee and must be designed to increase the knowledge and skills in the area of licensure.

C. Of the 10 hours, five may be in areas related to the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. Such activities shall increase knowledge and skills pertinent to practice. Examples include: billing; coding and reimbursement; record-keeping; ethics; supervision.

D. Audiologists who dispense shall ensure that at least 3 of the total 10 hours are in areas directly related to hearing aid dispensing, such as business/practice management, marketing, aural habilitation/ rehabilitation, diagnostic assessment, characteristics of hearing aids and their application, etc.

E. Dual licensees shall complete 15 hours per year with a minimum of five hours in audiology and five hours in speech-language pathology; the remaining five may be in areas related to the professions of audiology and speechlanguage pathology. Related activities shall increase knowledge and skills pertinent to practice. Examples include: billing; coding and reimbursement; record-keeping; ethics; supervision.

F. Out-of-state audiologists and speech-language pathologists who hold telehealth registration shall complete the continuing education requirements consistent with the license the individual possesses for the state in which the provider is located. Telehealth registrants residing in states which do not require continuing education for audiologists and/or speech-language pathologists shall complete the annual continuing education requirements specified in this Section and may be audited.

G. Continuing education events occurring in the month of June will be accepted for the collection period in which they occur or they may be counted in the following collection period which begins on July 1. Hours from one event may not be divided between two collection periods.

H. The graduated scale for the collection of continuing education hours is based on the date an applicant receives his/her initial license or registration.

License/Registration Received	Hours Required
April, May, June	0
January, February, March	3
October, November, December	6
July, August, September	10

I. In the case of extenuating circumstances, when the licensee does not fulfill the continuing education requirements, the licensee shall submit a written request for extension to the board for consideration.

J. Continuing education hours accrued during the applicant's grace period will be accepted.

K. Acceptable continuing education sponsors and activities that are directly related to the practice of audiology and/or speech-language pathology:

1. board-sponsored activities;

2. presentations that are directly in the area of communication disorders sponsored by professional organizations such as American Academy of Audiology (AAA), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Louisiana Academy of Audiology (LAA), Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA), Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools (SPALS), Louisiana Society for Hearing Aid Specialists, etc. Business meetings, luncheons, award ceremonies, receptions, and other non-content area events are not recognized as acceptable continuing education activities;

3. activities provided by ASHA-approved continuing education providers or AAA-approved continuing education activities that are directly in the area of communication disorders;

4. meetings of related professional organizations that are directly in the area of communication disorders (e.g., Council for Exceptional Children, International Dyslexia Association);

5. college courses in the area of licensure, with the exception of clinical practicum, taken for credit or official audit (3 semester hours or 6 quarter hours=10 hours of continuing education);

6. distance learning (video conferences, telephone seminars and internet courses sponsored by universities, schools, clinics, state agencies, hospitals, professional organizations, or related professional organizations) that are directly in the area of communication disorders;

7. workshops and in-services that are university, school, clinic, hospital or state agency sponsored (maximum of five hours in a related area) that are directly in the area of communication disorders. Only content area workshop and in-service time shall count as earned continuing education. Documentation of staff development content must be separated from employee meeting activities such as announcements, review of deadlines, event planning, and other non-content area activities.);

8. publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal for the year in which it was published;

9. digital media (e.g. CD, DVD, online webinars, etc.) which is ASHA-approved or AAA-approved continuing education media that are directly in the area of communication disorders;

10. the presenting licensee may count 1 1/2 times the value of an activity the first time it is presented to allow for preparation time (example: a 3 hour workshop=4 1/2 hours). The activity will count for the actual hour value for each subsequent presentation of the same activity;

11. teaching at the college level in the area of communication disorders is not acceptable.

L. Pre-Approval Policy

1. Pre-approval is required for continuing education events that do not meet the requirements as listed under §127.K.1 -11, and pre-approval of continuing education events is required in those situations where it is unclear whether the topic is relevant to the profession or will further a professional's expertise in a particular area.

2. The licensee shall request pre-approval (minimum of 30 days in advance) of self-study activities, or other appropriate activities.

3. Individuals not licensed by LBESPA as well as corporations offering continuing education not addressed under §127 K, must submit a $50 continuing education review fee along with the pre-approval request.

4. Licensees who elect to attend university classes/courses in audiology and/or speech-language pathology without payment of the university fee shall submit a self-study plan for pre-approval from the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology to receive continuing education credits.

5. Self-study activities in the area of communication disorders:

a. digital media (maximum of 5 hours);

b. reading of journal articles that contain selfexamination questions. Articles shall be submitted for preapproval (maximum of 5 hours).

6. Publication of diagnostic and/or therapeutic materials (maximum of 5 hours).

M. Recording of Continuing Education Activities

1. Licensees shall record all continuing education activities as prescribed by the board and submitted at the time of renewal.

2. Licensees shall maintain records of continuing education activities completed for three years.

3. Licensees shall not submit repeated continuing education activities for credit within a three-year period.

4. A percentage of licensees will be audited each year as a means of evaluating compliance with the continuing education requirements. The board may request, through random audit, verification of clock hours submitted, including information regarding content and attendance. If the title of the activity does not clearly state the content, a description and/or time-ordered agenda may be required.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LXXV-127

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, LR 22:351 (May 1996), amended LR 27:199 (February 2001), LR 28:1973 (September 2002), LR 30:2314 (October 2004), LR 33:2196 (October 2007), LR 37:2395 (August 2011), LR 39:1043 (April 2013), amended by the Department of Health, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, LR 42:1667 (October 2016), LR 45257 (2/1/2019), Amended LR 482743 (11/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 492959 (12/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2650 et seq.