Continuing Education Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule details the board’s minimum continuing education requirement for renewal or reinstatement of a speechlanguage pathology and/or audiology license, and specifies the record documentation requirements. (1) Each licensee shall biennially complete and report at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education. A person holding licensure in both speech-language pathology and audiology shall biennially collect and report at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education in speech-language pathology and at least thirty (30) hours in audiology. The board shall not issue a renewal of a licensee’s certificate of registration unless the licensee documents completion of thirty (30) hours of continuing education in the immediately preceding reporting period. (2) The period for completion of the continuing education requirements shall be the twenty-four (24)-month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of each reporting period. Continuing education hours cannot be carried over into the next reporting period. A licensee who has failed to obtain and report, in a timely fashion, the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education shall not engage in the practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology unless an extension is obtained and approved pursuant to rule 20 CSR 2150-4.054. (3) Each licensee shall certify by attestation, on his/her licensure renewal form, under penalty of perjury, that he/she has completed the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education, and that the continuing education obtained meets the qualifying criteria specified in rule 20 CSR 2150-4.053. (4) Each licensee shall retain records documenting his/ her attendance at and completion of the required hours of continuing education for a minimum of three (3) years after the reporting period in which the continuing education was completed. The records shall document the titles of the courses taken, dates, locations, course sponsors, category of hours earned, and number of hours earned. The board may conduct an audit of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirement. Licensees shall assist the board in its audit by providing timely and complete responses to the board’s inquiries. (5) Reinstatement. (A) To reinstate the license of a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist whose license has been in a noncurrent state for any reason, for a period of three (3) years or less, that licensee shall submit, in addition to any other requirements of law, thirty (30) hours of continuing education completed in the two (2)-year period preceding the reinstatement of the license, as defined in rule 20 CSR 2150-4.053; or (B) To reinstate a license which has been noncurrent for any reason, for more than three (3) years, that licensee shall submit sixty (60) hours of continuing education completed within the last four (4) years as defined in rule 20 CSR 2150-4.053 or comply with rule 20 CSR 2150-4.030 and any other requirements of law. No license shall be reinstated unless and until all required continuing education is obtained and reported to the board and all other requirements of law have been satisfied. (6) Violation of any provision of this rule shall constitute misconduct, fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, unethical conduct or unprofessional conduct in the performance of the functions or duties of a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist depending on the licensee’s conduct. In addition, a licensee who has failed to complete and report in a timely fashion the required hours of continuing education and engages in the active practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology without the express written authority of the board shall be deemed to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology and punishable as such under section 345.075, RSMo. (7) Provisional licensees are exempt from obtaining continuing education until such time as a permanent license is issued. AUTHORITY: sections 345.030, 345.051 and 345.075, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 150-4.052. Original rule filed Nov. 17, 1997, effective June 30, 1998. Amended: Filed Nov. 16, 1998, effective July 30, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2150-4.052, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed June 27, 2007, effective Dec. 30, 2007. *Original authority: 345.030, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1995, 1998; 345.051, RSMo 1990, amended 1995, 1998; and 345.075, RSMo 1973, amended 1981, 1995, 1998.