Continuing Education

(1) Hours required for Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, Psychological Examiners, Certified Psychological Assistants, and Certified Psychological Testing Technicians: (a) Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, and Psychological Examiners are required to obtain forty (40) hours of continuing education (CE) credit every two (2) years. This CE shall be acquired in the two (2) calendar years (January 1 – December 31) prior to the licensure renewal year. A minimum of twenty (20) of these hours must involve the opportunity for real time interaction during the event. At least nine (9) of the forty (40) hours must consist of continuing education provided by an APA-approved sponsor. (b) Notwithstanding Rule 1180-01-.08(1)(a), licensees whose initial term of licensure was less than two (2) years must obtain at least thirty (30) CE hours to satisfy the CE requirement for the first renewal cycle. A minimum of twenty (20) of these hours must involve the opportunity for real time interaction during the event. At least nine (9) of the thirty (30) hours must consist of continuing education provided by an APA-approved sponsor. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHAPTER 1180-01 SENIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANTS, AND CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING TECHNICIANS (c) Certified Psychological Assistants are required to obtain fifteen (15) hours of CE credit every two (2) years. These CE credits shall be acquired in the two (2) calendar years (January 1–December 31) prior to the licensure renewal year as provided in Rule 1180- 04-.01(4)(f). (d) Three (3) CE hours shall pertain to cultural diversity as specifically noted in the title, description of objectives, or curriculum of the presentation, symposium, workshop, seminar, course or activity. Cultural diversity includes aspects of identity stemming from age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religious/spiritual orientation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other cultural dimensions. The topic of the presentation, symposium, workshop, seminar, course or activity need not be on cultural diversity, but one of the objectives or descriptions of the topics covered, shall clearly indicate attention to cultural diversity. (e) Certified Psychological Testing Technicians are required to pursue continuing educa- tion activities as directed by their supervisor, as provided in Rule 1180-06-.01(4)(f); however, are not subject to the requirements in 1180-01-.08 (d) or (f). (f) A total of three (3) hours of continuing education provided by an APA-approved spon- sor or other sponsor approved continuing education, as referenced below in Rule 1180- 01-.08(2)(a) and (b), shall pertain to a combination of all of the following areas: 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 11; and 2. Official Compilation, Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Chapters 1180-01, 1180-02, 1180-03, 1180-04, and 1180-06; and 3. Professional ethics for psychologists. (g) Experiences unacceptable as continuing education include, but are not limited to, administrative activities; psychotherapy; personal growth or enrichment; regular work activities as a psychologist; independent, unstructured or self-structured learning; and home study (unless it constitutes continuing education provided by an APA-approved sponsor, or other sponsor approved continuing education, as referenced below in Rule 1180-01-.08(2)(a) and (b)). (2) Acceptable Continuing Education (a) Continuing Education Provided by an APA-Approved Sponsor – These are continuing education programs which are postdoctoral in nature and include formal learning objectives and evaluation of learning activities. At least nine (9) hours of CE must be obtained from an APA-approved sponsor each license cycle and may include CE hours referenced in Rule 1180-01-.08(1)(e) above. (b) Other Sponsor Approved Continuing Education – These are formal activities which are psychological in nature, provide documentation of attendance, and have a pre- assigned number of CE credits. Offerings can be sponsored by a regional psychological association, a state psychological association, a recognized and relevant national, regional or state professional credentialing body, an institution housing an APA-approved internship program, or a nationally recognized accredited college or university with a health-related professional training program. (c) Professional GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHAPTER 1180-01 SENIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANTS, AND CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING TECHNICIANS 1. Clinical peer consultation groups - “Peer Consultation” refers to a structured and organized system of interaction with colleague(s) designed to help broaden professional knowledge and expertise and reduce professional isolation. Examples of peer consultation include meeting with colleague(s) in research groups, journal clubs, and case consultations, with a structured, organized format, in person or electronically, with a focus on professional practice. In order to obtain CE hours for peer consultation, a minimum of ten (10) hours is required per renewal cycle. One hour of peer consultation is equal to one CE credit hour. A maximum amount of twenty (20) CE hours can be received biennially. Acceptable documentation will consist of date, time, duration, location, attendees, and topic. 2. Workshops, seminars or courses - Relevant non-accredited psychology workshops, seminars or courses can be completed for a maximum of ten (10) hours of CE credit per year. Acceptable documentation will consist of certificates of attendance or registration receipts. 3. Serving as a member of the Board shall be assigned a maximum of ten (10) CE hours per year. Serving as a member of the Board will satisfy the requirement listed in 1180-01-.08(1)(e). 4. Serving in a position, for at least one (1) year, that is relevant to the practice of psychology with the state psychological association or national psychological association shall be assigned a maximum of five (5) CE hours per year. 5. Providing clinical supervision to students, interns, and post-graduate clinicians shall be assigned a maximum of five (5) CE hours per two (2) calendar years (January 1 – December 31). 6. Passing the Tennessee Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam shall be assigned a maximum of three (3) CE hours during the initial term of licensure. These three (3) hours will satisfy the requirement listed in 1180-01-.08(1)(e). (d) Academic 1. Teaching and Presentations (i) Psychology presentations at relevant professional meetings. Acceptable documentation will consist of a copy of the program or agenda and the number of clock hours. A maximum of three (3) CE hours per presentation is allowed. (ii) Preparation and delivery of guest lectures to academic or public groups. Acceptable documentation will consist of a copy of a printed agenda, program or class syllabus. A maximum of one (1) CE hour per lecture is allowed. (iii) Developing and teaching an academic psychology course in an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association. For the initial development of the course and its teaching, one semester-length, three (3) credit hour course equals twenty (20) CE hours; one quarter-length, three (3) credit hour course equals fourteen (14) CE hours. Acceptable GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHAPTER 1180-01 SENIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANTS, AND CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING TECHNICIANS documentation will consist of a letter from the department head or dean of the institution stating that the licensee taught the course for the first time and the number of credits assigned for the course. 2. Publications (i) Writing or editing a published book, or writing a book chapter or a refereed journal article shall be assigned twenty (20) hours of CE credit. Acceptable documentation will consist of proof of publication. (ii) Being the principal editor of a journal or serving on the editorial board of a journal article shall be assigned twenty (20) hours of CE credit. Acceptable documentation will consist of proof of publication. (iii) Serving as a reviewer of a journal article shall be assigned five (5) hours of CE credit per manuscript up to a maximum of twenty (20) hours per licensure cycle. Acceptable documentation will consist of confirmation of completed reviews. 3. Graduate Courses and ABPP Exam (i) Passing a graduate course in an APA-approved graduate psychology program shall be assigned five (5) CE hours per credit hour. A maximum of fifteen (15) CE hours is allowed. (ii) Passing the ABPP exam shall be assigned twenty (20) hours of CE credit. (e) Voluntary Provision of Healthcare Services – Psychologists, Senior Psychological Examiners, and Psychological Examiners may satisfy one (1) hour of continuing education through the performance of one (1) hour of voluntary provision of healthcare services. The maximum amount of annual hours that can be received by performing voluntary healthcare services is four (4) hours. Evidence of such voluntary healthcare services must include a letter on official letterhead from the sponsoring organization identifying the date that the voluntary healthcare services were completed and the number of voluntary healthcare service hours that were completed pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-6-712. (3) Each licensee shall maintain documentation of CE hours for five (5) years and should prepare a summary report with documentation yearly. Documentation of completed CE hours must be produced for inspection and verification if requested in writing by the Board. The Board shall not maintain CE files. (4) Violations (a) Any licensee who falsely certifies attendance and completion of the required CE hours may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-11-215. (b) Any licensee who fails to obtain the required CE hours may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-11-215. (5) Waiver of Continuing Education GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHAPTER 1180-01 SENIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS, CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANTS, AND CERTIFIED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING TECHNICIANS (a) The Board may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the required hours of continuing education where illness, disability, or other undue hardship beyond the control of the licensee prevents a licensee from complying. (b) Waivers will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board administrative office prior to the end of the licensure cycle in which the continuing education is due: 1. A written request for a waiver which specifies what requirement is sought to be waived and the reasons for the request. 2. Any documentation which supports the reason for the waiver requested or which is subsequently requested by the Board. (c) A waiver approved by the Board is effective for only the renewal period for which the waiver is sought unless otherwise specified in writing by the Board. (d) The Board Consultant and the designee are authorized to grant or deny requests for waivers subject to subsequent Board ratification.