4757-9-05 Approval of continuing professional education programs required for renewal of licenses and certificates of registration issued by the board.

The goals of the board’s continuing professional education requirements are to assist licensees: in maintaining and expanding professional competence and expertise, in becoming aware of new professional issues and developments; and in providing responsible, quality and competent service to clients and community. Continuing education to promote personal growth of the licensee will not be accepted.

Continuing education credits may be obtained in several ways: attendance at programs offered by approved providers, approved programs, post-approved programs, publications as cited in paragraph (B) of rule 4757-9-06 of the Administrative Code and presentations as cited in paragraph (C) of rule 4757-9-06 of the Administrative Code. The board or its designee will approve providers, programs, and offer post-program approval under the following guidelines.:

Any individual or business providing continuing education courses for this board’s licensees shall comply with federal law title III of the Americans with disabilities act “ADA”. Continuing education programs shall be offered in locations and in a manner, which are accessible to persons with disabilities, or offer alternative accessible arrangements for such persons. Individuals or businesses who hold provider status or are approved to provide individual programs are required to provide auxiliary aides and services that are necessary to ensure equal access to the goods, services, facilities, privileges or accommodations that it offers unless an undue burden or a fundamental alteration would result. Issues on undue burden or disability accommodations should be addressed to the federal department of justice “ADA” technical assistance section. The technical assistance section can be reached through searching online for the contact number. In May 2007 the number was 800-514-0301 and online at www.ada.gov.

(A) Guidelines for continuing education program approval:

(1) Academic courses offered in accredited education institutions by counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy degree programs as defined in paragraphs (A) of rule 4757-13-01, (C)(1)(g) of rule 4757-19-01 and (A)(1) of rule 4757-25-01 of the Administrative Code, are automatically granted program approval. Transcripts and/or grade reports shall be used to document this training.

(2) Approved programs may be sponsored by departments of accredited educational institutions; national, regional, state, or local professional organizations or associations; public or private human service agencies or organizations; private consultants; or individuals. In order to obtain approved status from the board, a program shall meet the following requirements:

(a) The program shall be presented by competent individuals as documented by appropriate academic training and professionally recognized experience. Presenters should have an identifiable involvement with human services. In approving a particular presenter the board will be guided by the following range of presenter qualifications.

(i) Counselors, social workers, or marriage and family therapists with appropriate expertise in the content area will clearly be accepted.

(ii) Related professionals with the ability to connect content to counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy practice will usually be accepted.

(iii) Expert presenters with no apparent link to counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy, or related practice may or may not be acceptable based upon content to be presented and intended audience.

(iv) Presenters with no apparent professional qualifications nor link to social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or human services will not be accepted.

(v) Presenters providing training in practice areas that would require licensure shall show evidence of current licensure in Ohio or another state.

(b) The program shall meet the professional needs of the intended clientele, which shall include counselors, social workers, and/or marriage and family therapists.

(d) The program shall have written goals and objectives which are responsive to the needs of prospective counselor, social worker and marriage and family therapist attendees.

(e) The program shall be related to counseling, social work and/or marriage and family therapy content areas as listed in rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02 and 4757-9-03 of the Administrative Code. Individuals or organizations seeking approval for programs with content which is not clearly related to these content areas for generalist theory or practice; or specifically referenced in counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy accredited academic training programs may be required to provide the following additional information to substantiate the direct applicability of the content to social work, marriage and family therapy, and/or counseling professionals.

(i) Explain and justify the content applicability to counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy theory or practice and the implications for generalist practice.

(ii) Program content in areas or subjects not specifically taught or referenced in counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy curriculum, in order to be approved, shall provide the board with copies of peer reviewed journal articles which validate the direct application to counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists of the theory or intervention which is the focus of the continuing education program.

(iii) Peer reviewed journals shall meet the following criteria: (a) have an independent editorial board, (b) be sponsored by a national professional society for counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology or psychiatry, and (c) have paid subscribers. Articles appearing in publications dealing with the specific program topic area will not constitute validation.

(f) The program shall be disseminated via appropriate instructional methods, such as lecture, group discussion, video, film, computer or other electronic means, written materials, or interactive teleconferencing.

(g) The program shall include an evaluation component directly related to its stated goals and objectives.

(h) The program shall be offered in a place and manner which is accessible to persons who are physically challenged.

(i) The program approval request shall be submitted for review, on a form designated by the board, at least sixty days prior to the scheduled program date. Program approval requests received on or after the date of the program shall be denied.

(j) The program’s promotional information shall state that program approval has either been applied for or has been granted, and to which license(s) renewal requirements the program will apply.

(k) The sponsor of the program shall provide program participants certificates of completion which contain the following information:

(i) The title and date(s) of the program and the board’s program approval number;

(ii) The name of the sponsoring agency or organization;

(iii) The name of the participant and the number of clock hours of continuing professional education earned by the participant;

(iv) The signature of the instructor or the official representative of the sponsoring organization;.

(v) The hours of ethics, distance learning and/or supervision included in the program if any; and

(vi) A blank space on the certificate of completion in which the participant may place their registration or license number.

(B) Guidelines for provider approval:

(1) Approved provider status for newly approved providers will be granted for a one-year period and is subject to renewal for two year periods if the provider meets the requirements of this rule.

(2) The board may refuse to renew the approved status of any provider who fails to comply with the requirements of this rule. Approved provider status may be withdrawn for cause.

(3) Programs offered by a provider while that provider does not have approved status shall not be accepted by the board toward fulfillment of license renewal requirements unless program approval for such programs was obtained as set forth in this rule.

(4) Provider status is automatically accorded to counseling degree programs, social work degree programs and , marriage and family therapy degree programs as defined in rules 4757-13-01, 4757-19-01 and 4757-25-01 of the Administrative Code, in accredited educational institutions. Transcripts or grade cards will serve as evidence of completed coursework. If the licensee audits an approved course, a letter from the professor will be required to verify actual number of hours of attendance, which will be used to determine hours of continuing education credit granted. Continuing education programs offered by these providers shall meet the requirements from paragraphs (B)(5)(c) through (B)(5)(j) of this rule and the following:

(a) Make application on a form as required by the board, which shall be approved for two years; and

(b) Apply for renewal of approved provider status two months prior to the desired two-year period with a synopsis of all programs provided during the prior two years.

(5) The board may grant approved status to providers not automatically approved in paragraph (B)(4) of this rule. Such providers may include but are not limited to: national regional, state, or local professional organizations, public or private human service agencies, private consultants or individuals. The applicant for approved provider status shall meet the following requirements:must

(a) Make application for approval status on a form provided by the board at least two months prior to the date of the first scheduled program offering. A list of proposed programs and program goals shall be included with the application.

(b) Submit to the board, no later than two months before the end of the probationary period, a synopsis of all programs during the previous ten months;

(d) Provide or arrange for appropriate educational facilities and instructional aids and offer programs and facilities that are accessible to persons who are handicapped.

(e) Have program presenters who have the professionally recognized skills to conduct the programs being offered in accordance with paragraph (A) of this rule;

(f) Conduct programs that satisfy one or more of the program areas in counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy as defined in rules 4757-9-01, 4757-9-02 and 4757-9-03 of the Administrative Code and/or in counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy as defined in division (A), (C) or (H) of section 4757.01 of the Revised Code;

(g) Include an evaluation component in all programs offered;

(h) Maintains records of program content, presenter qualifications and individual participation, and summary of evaluation forms for five years and make such records available if the board requests them;

(i) Furnish to each participant a certificate of completion that includes the following information:

(i) Name of the provider and the approved provider number;

(ii) The name of the participant and a blank space on the certificate of completion in which the participant may place their registration or license number;

(iii) The title and date(s) of the program;

(iv) The hours of ethics, distance learning and/or supervision included in the program if any;

(v) The signature of the instructor or the official representative of the sponsoring organization; and

(vi) The number of clock hours of continuing professional education earned by the participant.

(j) Indicate, on any promotional literature disseminated, the provider number issued by the board and the license(s) renewal requirements to which the program(s) will apply.

(k) Each program is required to have review and or input by a counselor, social worker and/or marriage and family therapist as appropriate.

(l) Provider status shall not be approved for applicants that plan to provide less than five programs during the initial approval year nor renewed for applicants that plan to offer less than eight programs during a two-year renewal period. These applicants should request individual program approvals.

(1) Social work licensees or registrants shall apply on a form prescribed by the board for post-approval for relevant distance learning, out of state continuing professional education programs and coursework in related disciplines.

(2) Counselor licensees shall apply on a form prescribed by the board for post-approval for relevant distance learning, out of state continuing professional education programs and coursework in related disciplines.

(3) Licensees shall apply for post-program approval, on a form designated by the board, within ninety days of completing a program.

(4) Marriage and family therapists may apply on a form prescribed by the board for post-approval for relevant distance learning, out of state continuing professional education programs and coursework in related disciplines.

(5) To obtain a post-program approval, the licensee must provide the following:

(a) Documentation that the program presenter(s) met the requirements of paragraph (A)(2)(a) of this rule;

(b) A copy of the program brochure and other documentation, if necessary, to demonstrate that the program met the requirements of paragraphs (A)(2)(b) to (A)(2)(f) of this rule;

(c) A certificate of completion, transcripts, grade card, or signed statement from the presenter to demonstrate the licensee’s attendance at the program or course.

Effective: 09/20/2007

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 04/10/2009

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4757.10

Rule Amplifies: 4757.33

Prior Effective Dates: 5-22-86; 9-26-88; 7-3-97; 7-10-00; 4-10-04