Md. Code Regs. 10.41.03.06

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 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 that includes a minimum of 1 CEU in each of the following areas:

(i) Cultural competency; and

(ii) Ethics;

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

(i) Supervision;

(ii) Billing; and

(iii) Interdisciplinary collaboration; and

(c) Related training that does not include annual training requirements for:

(i) Job orientation;

(ii) Job maintenance; or

(iii) Other general training or information related to human health.

(2) It is recommended that a licensee applying for the renewal of a license successfully complete, within the 2-year licensing period as a part of the required 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education programs, a minimum of 2 CEUs in the area of supervision.

(3) 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 that includes a minimum of 1 CEU in each of the following areas:

(i) Cultural competency; and

(ii) Ethics;

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

(i) Supervision;

(ii) Billing; and

(iii) Interdisciplinary collaboration; and

(c) Related training that does not include annual training requirements for:

(i) Job orientation;

(ii) Job maintenance; or

(iii) Other general training or information related to human health.

(4) It is recommended that a licensee applying for the renewal of a license successfully complete, within the 2-year licensing period as a part of the required 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education programs, a minimum of 2 CEUs in the area of supervision.

(5) 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 immediately preceding the license expiration.

(3) An individual licensed as both an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist shall complete the required CEUs within the 2-year period immediately preceding the license expiration.

(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) Course title;

(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:

(a) Request for approval of the program, using the form available on the Board's website; and

(b) Biography for each course presenter.

(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, using the approved form available on the Board's website.

(b) Not later than 30 days after a program, the licensee shall submit to the Board a request for approval of continuing education units for individual participation, using the approved form available on the Board's website.

(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 where, along with the submission of an unofficial transcript and course description:

(i) 15 CEU credit hours will be awarded for each 3 credit course earned;

(ii) 10 CEU credit hours will be awarded for each 2 credit course earned; or

(iii) 5 CEU credit hours will be awarded for each 1 credit course earned;

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

(c) Attendance at lectures, workshops, or in-service programs;

(d) Other professional activities such as presentations, books, papers, or publications, where:

(i) 1 hour of CEU credit may be earned by the presenter for each hour of presentation of a program, with a maximum of 3 CEUs;

(ii) 10 hours of CEU credit may be earned for a professional or scientific paper prepared by the licensee or certificate holder, with a maximum per paper of 10 CEUs for the first author, 8 CEUs for the second author, 6 CEUs for the third author, and 4 CEUs for all other authors;

(iii) Authoring of a book chapter may earn a maximum of 10 CEUs, only in the year of publication; and

(iv) Editing or reviewing of a scientific or professional journal recognized by the Board, with a maximum of 8 CEUs for each year of service; 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 performed outside of a place of employment at the rate of 1 Maryland CEU per hour of Board-approved CEU activity, up to a maximum of 10 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 to the Board via mail or by electronic means 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 official certificates or transcripts via mail or by electronic means showing evidence of the continuing education hours required for renewal by the date indicated on the audit notification.

(5) The Board may take formal disciplinary action against the licensee, if the licensee:

(a) Submits a false statement of continuing education; or

(b) Fails to submit the required documents by the date indicated on an audit notification.

F. Reactivation.

(1) If a license has been in an inactive status for no more than three 2-year renewal cycles of inactivity, the licensee may apply for reactivation of the inactive license.

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

(a) Submits to the Board satisfactory proof of completion of at least 30 hours of CEU activity for every 2-year cycle of inactivity; and

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

G. 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 at least 30 hours of CEU activity for every 2-year cycle of inactivity; and

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

H. 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 speechlanguage pathologist or audiologist:

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

(b) Submits to the Board satisfactory proof of completion of at least 30 hours of CEU activity for every 2-year cycle 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); amended effective 51:15 Md. R. 708, eff. 8/5/2024.