Renewal Continuing Education (CE) Requirement – LA

Renewal Continuing Education (CE) Requirement – LA A. A minimum of 40 successfully completed continuing education (CE) hours/units taken during the appropriate licensure time period is required for renewal. B. Continuing education hours or college course work counted for renewal must have been successfully completed during the current two-year licensure period. Renewal periods run from July 1st to June 30th of the appropriate two-year renewal cycle. C. CEs earned outside of the current two-year licensure period will not be counted; CEs may not be carried over from one renewal cycle to the next. D. Continuing education unit time calculation requires a minimum of 30 consecutive minutes in an appropriate CE activity. E. Up to 8 of the required 40 hours may be obtained by presenting applicable (management/behavioral health/ID/DD-related) training events. F. At least two (2) of the required CE hours must be in the area of cultural competency. G. At least two (2) of the required CE hours must be in the area of ethics. H. At least 20 percent of the required CE hours (8 hours) must be accrued through participation in live, face-to-face or interactive online continuing education activities; thus, no more than 80 percent of the required CE hours may be earned through non- interactive online or distance learning continuing education (CE) activities (applicable management, behavioral health intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities-related online college courses from an approved educational institution taken during the appropriate licensure time period are exempt from this provision). I. One three-semester hour (or equivalent) graduate-level management/behavioral health/ intellectual disabilities/developmental disabilities-related college course from an approved educational institution, taken during the appropriate licensure time period, will be considered to meet the entire continuing education hour (CE) requirement for renewal, contingent upon also meeting the requirements pertaining to ethics and cultural competence continuing education activities. J. Courses claimed for continuing education hours must be beyond the course work necessary to meet the educational requirement for DMH professional credentialing. K. CE hours will not be prorated. L. The renewal fee is not prorated. M. DMH allows for the preapproval of various conferences, workshops/educational activities, etc., for DMH professional credentialing continuing education hours. Information on activities which have received CE preapproval will be maintained by DMH and may also be maintained on the agency (DMH) website. N. For continuing education activities which have not been through the CE preapproval process, the continuing education activities will be subject to the approval of the Division at the time of renewal. O. Within the parameters outlined above, opportunities for CE accrual include, but are not limited to: training provided through the licensed individual’s place of employment (including DMH- required training as indicated in the Mississippi Department of Mental Health Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers), DMH-sponsored training opportunities, and/or conferences/workshops approved by the Division. P. Relevant training which is completed on an annual basis may only be counted once during the two-year renewal cycle period. Q. Continuing education activities should be presented by a qualified presenter and contain clearly-outlined learning objectives. Meetings, regular work activities, staffing sessions, breaks, social activities, etc., do not count towards fulfilling the CE requirement. R. Any activity completed for the purpose of achieving the DMH Licensed Administrator credential is not eligible for CE credit.