Questions
and Answers About Continuing Education Requirements:
Continuing Education
Rule - Section 4753-4-01, Ohio Administrative Code
Refer to OAC for complete information regarding continuing education.
Frequently asked questions and answers about Continuing Education
Requirements:
1. How can
I learn the requirements for continuing education for renewal of my
speech-language pathology or audiology license?
Copies of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code are available
at any
public library, on the internet, and may also be obtained from the
Board office.
Continuing education is addressed on pages 42 & 43 in the Ohio
Administrative Code.
2. How much
continuing education is required?
A licensee must earn twenty continuing education hours within the
two-year period
immediately preceding the licensee's renewal application. Actual contact
hours spent in a
continuing education activity will be considered. Lunches, breaks
and other interruptions
shall not count toward the required hours. For example, attending
a three hour
presentation earns three continuing education hours.
3. When is continuing education required?
Continuing education is required at each renewal with the exception
of the very first
renewal.
4. What topics may be used to meet the continuing education requirements?
Ten continuing education hours must be specific to clinical practice
in the area of
licensure. Ten continuing education hours may be acquired in areas
related to speechlanguage
pathology or audiology or both. All twenty hours may be in the area
of
licensure.
5. What is the "area of licensure"?
The area of licensure is speech-language pathology or audiology as
indicated by the
license.
6. What are "related areas"?
Related areas are topics not specific to the area of licensure but
would enhance the
practice of the licensee.
7. How will licensees know when to renew the license?
No less than thirty days prior to the deadline for licensure renewal
all licensees will be
notified by the Board office of the requirement to renew their license.
Visit our web site
at http://slpaud.ohio.gov
8. How will
the Board know that a licensee has met the continuing education
requirements for renewal?
With payment of the renewal fee the licensee will submit an application
attesting to the
completion of required continuing education hours.
9. When must the continuing education hours be earned?
Beginning in year 2008, all timely renewals must be submitted by December
31st of the
biennial renewal. Licensees have from the date they renewed in
2006 until expiration of their
license on 12/31/08 to obtain the required CEU's. OAC 4753-4-01
(A) A licensee shall earn twenty
continuing education hours (CEU) within the two-year period.Beginning
in year 2009, all CEU's will begin
on 1/1/2009 and have until 12/31/2010 to obtain the required credits.
10. How much continuing education is required for re-licensure?
A license expired for more than one year cannot be renewed. The licensee
must re-apply
for licensure. Applicants previously licensed in the State of Ohio
are required to submit
to the Board documentation of completion of continuing education hours
equivalent to
those required of a licensee during the period of expiration to the
Board or 40 hours of
continuing education obtained within the last 2 years from the date
of application.
11. How long may continuing education hours be carried?
Continuing education hours may not be carried over from one renewal
period to the next.
If the license was expired more than one year, continuing education
may have been
earned during the period of expiration.
12. What continuing education programs meet requirements for license
renewal?
(a) Academic coursework, including distance learning, in areas
of speech-language
pathology or audiology, or both, or related disciplines, taken through
accredited colleges
or universities.
(b) Any activity approved for continuing education hours in
related disciplines by any
licensure board of the state of Ohio or any other state;
(c) Any activity approved for continuing education in related
disciplines by any
department or agency of the state of Ohio or any other state; including
any continuing
education hours by a local professional development committee for
renewal of a teaching
certificate/license issued by the state's department of education
to practice speechlanguage
pathology or audiology;
(d) Any activity, including distance learning or independent or
self-directed study,
approved for continuing education credit by an authorized provider
of the "International
Association of Continuing Education and Training,"; or
(e) The equivalent as determined by the board.
13. What is ASHA Independent-Study credit?
ASHA sponsors can offer independent-study credit to individuals who
wish alternatives
to group programs. Independent study is a self-designed educational
experience for the
enhancement of one's knowledge in a specific area relevant to the
field of
communication disorders. A plan of study must be completed by an ASHA
sponsor and
the licensee and submitted for ASHA continuing education credit. ASHA
membership is
not required for credit but, reporting of credit is done through the
ASHA registry. For a
list of sponsors and complete procedures call (301) 897-5700 ex-4481.
14. How can a licensee determine whether a Continuing Education
activity meets
the criteria defined by (a) through (d) above?
Licensees may contact the continuing education provider or an agency
defined by (a)
through (d) above, if announcement and registration materials do not
indicate sponsorship
or approving authorities.
15. Is it necessary to register for university credit for continuing
education?
If a transcript is not available because the licensee was not registered,
some alternative
proof of successful completion of the course must be available.
16. How are credit hours, semester hours or quarter hours for academic
coursework
converted to continuing education units?
For license renewal, each hour spent in class can be counted toward
your 20 hours of
required continuing education for license renewal.
17. Will continuing education approved by the Ohio licensure boards
for
occupational therapists, physical therapist, doctors, nurses, psychologists,
counselors and social workers, etc. be accepted for speech-language
pathology and
audiology license renewal?
If topics of continuing education are related to the practice of speech-language
pathology
or audiology, they will be accepted.
18. Can continuing education credit be earned for presenting or
teaching continuing
education?
ASHA continuing education credit for instructors will be accepted.
19. Is continuing education required for licensees who are ill,
disabled, retired or
who are not required to obtain continuing education for other certifications
or
memberships?
Continuing education requirements can not be extended, reduced, or
waived.
20. Can I earn continuing education without leaving my home?
Many continuing education activities on video, audio and computer
learning programs
meet requirements for license renewal. Continuing education may be
earned at home in
any programs approved by agencies defined in (a) through (d). For
example, accredited
colleges and universities offer correspondence courses, distance learning
programs and
courses via the internet; ASHA offers independent study programs,
journal study groups
and self-paced home-study packages.
21. When is verification of continuing education submitted to the
Board?
Documentation of continuing education should be submitted when a licensee
is audited or
when reapplying for licensure after a license has expired for more
than one year.
22. What documentation is required?
Documentation shall be written verification of successful completion
by the applicant or
licensee from a board approved continuing education registry or provider
of the
continuing education hours. Documentation shall include the name of
the continuing
education provider, dates, subject, number of clock hours, and attendance
of the licensee.
23. How long must continuing education records be saved?
Licensees must save documentation of continuing education hours for
four years after the
date of renewal.
