Continuing Education Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the requirements for continuing education. (1) Pursuant to section 337.510.5, RSMo, all licensed professional counselors shall complete at least forty (40) hours of continuing education (CE) prior to the expiration date of the license. Such hours shall be relevant to the practice of professional counseling as defined in sections 337.500(5), (6), and (7), RSMo. (2) For the purpose of the regulation an hour of continuing education shall be defined as fifty (50) minutes of instruction or study. (3) For the license renewal due on June 30, 2007, and each renewal cycle thereafter, the licensee shall certify completion of the required continuing education hours on the renewal form. (4) A licensee shall obtain forty (40) hours of continuing education prior to the expiration date of a license, and such hours shall consist of at least twenty (20) hours of formal continuing education hours and not more than twenty (20) hours of self study. (5) Formal continuing education is defined as follows: (A) Post-graduate course work offered by an acceptable education institution as defined in 20 CSR 2095-2.010(4)(A)–(J). Such course work shall be relevant to professional counseling as defined in section 337.500(5), (6), and (7), RSMo, and shall not be part of the graduate course work required for licensure. One (1) semester hour of graduate credit constitutes fifteen (15) hours of continuing education; (B) Presenting research at a formal professional meeting. A presentation shall include a paper presented in a professional journal, book, or original chapter in an edited book. Credit will be given at the rate of four (4) hours for each paper or presentation. No credit shall be granted for any subsequent presentation on the same subject matter during the same renewal period; (C) Attending relevant professional meetings when such meetings include verification of attendance. Such meetings can be international, national, regional, state, or local and must be related to the profession. The licensee shall receive three (3) hours of continuing education credit for a full day of meeting attendance; (D) Attending workshops, seminars, or continuing education courses relevant to counseling as defined in section 337.500(5), (6), and (7), RSMo. The licensee shall provide verification of attendance such as a certificate or letter of attendance indicating the date, time, and number of hours of continuing education from the workshop, seminar, or course provider; (E) Written contributions to relevant professional books, journals, or periodicals. A licensee is eligible to receive three (3) hours of continuing education for publication in a non-referee journal, six (6) hours of continuing education for publication in a referee journal, eight (8) continuing education hours for each chapter in a book, ten (10) continuing education hours for editing a book, and fifteen (15) continuing education hours for the publication of a book; (F) Presenting at relevant professional meetings such as international, national, regional, state, or local professional associations. A licensee shall be eligible for a maximum of three (3) hours per presentation. No credit shall be granted for any subsequent presentation on the same subject matter during the same renewal period; (G) Licensees who are faculty members at an approved educational institution as defined in 20 CSR 2095-2.010(4)(A) may receive up to a maximum of twenty (20) hours per year of continuing education credit for teaching at the educational institution. The areas of study shall be in compliance with 20 CSR 2095-2.010(4)(A)–(J). For the purpose of this regulation, the licensee must teach for a minimum of four (4) clock hours as defined in 20 CSR 2095-1.064(2); and (H) A licensee who teaches formal continuing education hours may receive up to a maximum of four (4) hours per biennial cycle of continuing education credit for teaching courses relating to core areas as defined in 20 CSR 2095-2.010(4) (A)–(J). For the purpose of this regulation the licensee must teach for a minimum of four (4) clock hours as defined in 20 CSR 2095-1.064(2). (6) A licensee may obtain no more than twenty (20) hours of self study continuing education. (A) Self study of professional material includes relevant books, journals, periodicals, tapes, and other materials and preparation for relevant lectures and talks to public groups. (B) Preparation credit may not be claimed pursuant to this regulation for presentations that are credited under 20 CSR 2095-1.064(5)(B) and (F). (7) Personal counseling, psychotherapy, workshops on personal growth, supervision of applicants for licensure, or services provided to professional associations or organizations shall not meet the requirements for continuing education. (8) Acceptable providers of continuing education programs include: (A) American Counseling Association (ACA) and any chapter or division of the American Counseling Association; (B) National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); (C) Local, state, regional, or national psychological associations; PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS AND INSURANCE (D) Local, state, regional, or national social worker associations; (E) Local, state, regional, or national marital and family associations; (F) State and national school counselor associations; (G) State and national substance abuse counselor associations; (H) American Medical Association; and (I) Professional organizations or groups recognized by continuing education providers listed in this regulation. AUTHORITY: sections 337.507 and 337.510, RSMo Supp. 2008 and sections 337.515 and 337.520(1), RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Nov. 21, 2008, effective May 30, 2009. *Original authority: 337.507, RSMo 1985, amended 1989, 2004; 337.510, RSMo 1985, amended 1989, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007; 337.515, RSMo 1985, amended 1989; and 337.520, RSMo 1985, amended 1989, 1993, 1995.