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Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) A licensee shall earn twenty continuing education hours within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding the licensee’s renewal application.
(1) One continuing education hour is equivalent to one clock hour of continuing education. Only actual hours of education activity shall be counted. Lunches, breaks and other interruptions of the education program shall not count toward the required hours.
(2) Ten continuing education hours shall be acquired in the area of licensure. For a speech-language pathology license the ten hours shall be specific to the clinical practice of speech-language pathology; for an audiology license the ten hours shall be specific to the clinical practice of audiology. Ten continuing education hours may be acquired in areas related to speech-language pathology or audiology or both.
(3) An individual licensed as both an audiologist and speech-language pathologist shall earn twenty continuing education hours for each license within the two-year period immediately preceding the licensee’s renewal applications. However, appropriate continuing education hours may be used for both licenses. Ten continuing education hours shall be acquired in each area of licensure.
(4) Continuing education hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next and may not be used for more than one renewal or relicensure.
(5) A licensee is not required to obtain continuing education for the first renewal.
(6) An individual who previously held an Ohio license in either speech-language pathology or audiology must as part of an application for relicensure submit documentation of completing the continuing education hours required, or as approved by the board.
(B) Continuing education programs:
Continuing education hours may be earned in the following continuing education experiences:
(1) Academic coursework, including distance learning, in areas of speech-language pathology or audiology, or both, or related disciplines, taken through accredited colleges or universities;
(2) Any activity approved for continuing education hours in related disciplines by any licensure board of the state of Ohio or any other state;
(3) 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 activity approved for 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 speech-language pathology or audiology;
(4) 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
(5) The equivalent as determined by the board.
(C) Documentation of continuing education hours:
(1) Documentation shall be written verification of successful completion by the applicant or licensee from a board approved continuing education registry or the provider of the continuing education hours.
(2) Documentation shall include the name of the continuing education provider, date, subject, number of clock hours, and attendance of the licensee.
(3) Continuing education and documentation may be provided by the following:
(a) Accredited colleges and universities;
(b) Any licensure board of the state of Ohio or any other state or any continuing education provider approved by any licensure board of the state of Ohio or any other state in related disciplines;
(c) Any department or agency of the state of Ohio or any other state including local professional development committees for the Ohio department of education;
(d) The “American-Speech-Hearing Association” or the “American Academy of Audiology”;
(e) Any activity approved for continuing education in related disciplines by an authorized “International Association of Continuing Education and Training” provider;
(f) Any continuing education presenter for paragraphs (C)(3)(a) to (C)(3)(d) of this rule; and
(g) The equivalent as determined by the board.
(4) Licensees shall provide any and all additional information the board may request to substantiate the continuing education.
(5) Licensees shall retain documentation of continuing education hours for inspection by the board for four years after the date of renewal.
(D) Continuing education audit:
(1) The board may audit the continuing education of any licensee.
(2) Licensees to be audited shall receive notification of audit from the board. The licensee being audited shall submit to the board documentation of continuing education hours as defined by paragraph (C) of this rule.
(3) The board may disapprove continuing education hours and shall notify the licensee of this action according to the provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(4) The failure to comply with an audit notification may, for purposes of disciplinary action pursuant to section 4753.10 of the Revised Code, be considered to be unprofessional conduct in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology and/or misrepresentation in obtaining or attempting to obtain a license.
(5) The board may disapprove continuing education hours for renewal, relicensure, audit, or ethical practice and shall notify the applicant or licensee of this action according to the provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(6) Submission of false statement or documentation of continuing education shall result in reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license according to the provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(7) Failure to meet continuing education requirements or failure to substantiate continuing education hours upon request of the board shall result in reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license according to the provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
Effective: 12/10/2007
R.C. 119.032 review dates: 09/12/2007 and 12/01/2012
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4753.05
Rule Amplifies: 4753.09
Prior Effective Dates: 9-10-94; 1-1-99; 9-1-03; 8-23-04