Md. Code Regs. 10.41.03.06

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 10.41.03.06 - Continuing Education

A. Required Continuing Education Units.

(1) Within the 2-year renewal period immediately preceding the licensee's application for renewal, the licensee shall earn 30 continuing education units (CEUs) as follows:

(a) A minimum of 20 CEUs in the area of licensure; and

(b) No more than 10 CEUs in areas related to speech-language pathology or audiology or both, including practice management.

(2) Within the 2-year renewal period immediately preceding the licensee's application for renewal, an individual licensed as both an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist shall earn 40 CEUs as follows:

(a) A minimum of 15 CEUs in each area of licensure; and

(b) No more than 10 CEUs in areas related to speech-language pathology and audiology, including practice management.

(3) The Board shall notify the licensee 60 days before the date the license expires.

B. Time Period for CEUs.

(1) An audiologist licensee shall complete the required CEUs within the 2-year renewal period.

(2) A speech-language pathologist licensee shall complete the required CEUs within the 2-year period ending December 31 of the year preceding the renewal year.

(3) An individual licensed as both an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist shall complete the required CEUs within the 2-year period ending December 31st of the year preceding renewal.

(4) Continuing education units may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next.

(5) If the licensee presents evidence that failure to obtain the required CEUs was due to circumstances beyond the licensee's control, the Board may grant an extension of time to obtain the required CEUs.

(6) If the Board grants an extension of time to obtain the required CEUs, the Board may require the licensee to obtain, as additional CEUs, not more than twice the number of missing credits in order to renew the license.

(7) The Board may reduce or waive the continuing education requirements for an individual under extenuating circumstances.

(8) The Board shall waive all continuing education requirements for a speech-language pathologist or audiologist obtaining full licensure within 6 months of the renewal cycle. This includes newly licensed individuals, reinstatements, and transfers from other states.

(9) Continuing education units shall be prorated for licensees holding a full license for at least 6 months but less than 2 years during the renewal cycle. This includes newly licensed individuals, reinstatements, and transfers from other states.

C. Approval of Continuing Education Programs.

(1) The Board shall establish a committee to evaluate and approve continuing education programs.

(2) Providers of continuing education shall give a participant a certificate of completion which includes the following information:

(a) Date of completion;

(b) Description of program;

(c) Name of participant;

(d) Name of provider; and

(e) Number of hours.

(3) Not later than 30 days before a program, a provider of continuing education shall submit to the Board a request for prior approval of the program.

(4) Individual Approval of Program.

(a) If a provider has not requested prior approval of a program, a licensee may apply to the Board for approval of continuing education units for the program.

(b) Not later than 30 days before a program, the licensee shall submit to the Board a request for approval of continuing education units for individual participation.

(c) If the activity directly concerns the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology, the licensee is not required to submit a request for approval of the program to the Board.

(5) The following are examples of areas in which CEUs may be earned in activities concerning speech-language pathology and audiology:

(a) Academic course work in areas of speech-language pathology or audiology, or both, or related disciplines, taken at accredited colleges or universities;

(b) Lectures and scheduled courses or workshops at local, regional, national, or international conferences concerning speech-language pathology or audiology, or both;

(c) Presentation or attendance at lectures, workshops, or inservice programs;

(d) Other professional activities such as books, papers, publications, or audiovisual materials; or

(e) Attendance at regularly scheduled Board meetings where:

(i) 1 hour of an open session of a Board meeting equals 1 hour of continuing education credit; and

(ii) Not more than 5 hours of continuing education credit may be earned in a single continuing education cycle.

(6) Independent Study Activities.

(a) CEUs may be earned through independent study activities including:

(i) Professional journals which include post-tests to document completion;

(ii) Audio or video tapes of programs approved by the Board for continuing education credit with a post-test;

(iii) Internet programs approved by the Board for continuing education credit with a post-test; or

(iv) Other independent study activities approved by the Board.

(b) The licensee shall complete the post-test successfully for CEUs to be granted.

(c) If proof of passing the post-test is obtained, there is no limit on the number of credit hours that may be earned through independent study activities.

(7) Pro Bono Work.

(a) CEUs may be earned for pro bono work at the rate of 1 Maryland CEU for every 8 hours of Board-approved CEU activity, up to a maximum of 3 CEU credits in any single 2-year period.

(b) The licensee shall obtain approval from the Board for all pro bono work.

(c) The licensee shall provide the Board a written description of the proposed work not later than 60 days before beginning pro bono work. The description shall include:

(i) The place where the pro bono work will take place;

(ii) The type of work to be performed;

(iii) The number of hours of actual work to be performed for which the licensee desires CEU credit;

(iv) A description of how the work will enhance the licensee's ongoing education; and

(v) A statement guaranteeing that the licensee will not receive any financial gain from the work provided.

(d) The licensee shall submit a written statement to the Board from the facility verifying the number of pro bono work hours completed.

(e) CEU credit may not be granted for work that did not receive prior approval from the Board.

D. Documentation of CEUs.

(1) A licensee shall submit a signed form attesting to the licensee's completion of the required CEUs at the time of license renewal.

(2) A licensee shall retain supporting documents for inspection by the Board for 4 years after the date of renewal.

(3) If a licensee submits the renewal form after the expiration date, the Board shall assess a late fee and may audit the licensee.

(4) Failure to meet continuing education requirements or failure to substantiate CEUs submitted upon request of the Board may result in suspension, revocation, or denial of licensure or other disciplinary action by the Board.

E. Continuing Education Audit Procedures.

(1) At each renewal period, the Board shall audit 10 percent of the renewal applications.

(2) The Board members shall be audited for the required CEUs.

(3) The Board shall send notification of audit to licensees to be audited.

(4) The licensee being audited shall submit to the Board a report of the continuing education hours required for renewal on a form approved by the Board along with the appropriate documentation.

(5) If a licensee submits a false statement of continuing education, the Board may take formal disciplinary action against the licensee.

F. Reinstatement Requirement.

(1) If a license has been expired for 5 years or less, a speech-language pathologist or audiologist may apply for reinstatement of the expired license.

(2) The Board shall reinstate the license if the speech-language pathologist or audiologist:

(a) Submits to the Board satisfactory proof of completion of continuing education hours required of a practitioner on active status during the period of inactivity; and

(b) Pays to the Board the renewal fee and the reinstatement fee set by the Board.

G. Reapplication Requirement.

(1) The Board may not reinstate the license of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who fails to apply for reinstatement of the license within 5 years after the license expires.

(2) The speech-language pathologist or audiologist whose license has been expired for more than 5 years may become licensed if the speech-language pathologist or audiologist:

(a) Meets the current requirements for obtaining a license;

(b) Submits to the Board satisfactory proof of completion of continuing education hours required of a practitioner on active status during the period of inactivity, not to exceed 100 hours; and

(c) Pays to the Board the application fee set by the Board.

Md. Code Regs. 10.41.03.06

Regulation .06 amended effective November 7, 1983 (10:22 Md. R. 1966)
Regulations .06 and new Regulation .06 adopted effective December 19, 1994 (21:25 Md. R. 2106)
Regulation .06 amended effective December 11, 2003 (30:24 Md. R. 1742)
Regulation .06A amended effective May 30, 2011 (38:11 Md. R. 672); April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 409)
Regulation .06B amended effective January 28, 2008 (35:2 Md. R. 127); March 23, 2009 (36:6 Md. R. 492); September 19, 2011 (38:19 Md. R. 1147); April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 409)
Regulation .06C amended effective March 23, 2009 (36:6 Md. R. 492); January 7, 2013 (39:26 Md. R. 1665)