(A) A licensee shall earn twenty continuing education hours within the two-year licensure 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, including practice management, supervision, ethics, and one hour of which may be proof of completion of a board approved training program on human trafficking.
(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. Ten continuing education hours shall be acquired in each area of licensure. The ten continuing education hours shall be specific to the clinical practice of speech-language pathology and the other ten continuing education hours shall be specific to the clinical practice of audiology. Appropriate continuing education hours may be acquired in areas related to speech-language pathology or audiology or both, including practice management, supervision, ethics, and one hour of which may be proof of completion of a board approved training program on human trafficking and may be used for both licenses.
(4) At least two continuing education hours shall relate to ethics.
(5) 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.
(6) A licensee is not required to obtain continuing education for the first renewal.
(7) 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.
(8) If the licensee presents evidence that failure to obtain the required continuing education hours was due to personal illness, military service or other circumstances beyond the licensee's control, the board may grant an extension of time to obtain the required continuing education hours.
(9) Any extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements will be granted solely at the discretion of the board. If the board grants an extension of time to obtain the required continuing education hours, the board may require the licensee to obtain, as additional continuing education hours, not more than twice the number of missing hours in order to renew the license.
(10) The licensee shall provide full and complete written documentation of the grounds supporting the reasons for which an extension is sought. A licensee who requests an extension of time to complete the required hours of continuing education shall not engage in active practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology until the board grants the licensee's request for extension and the licensee receives express written authorization to do so.
(a) Military service extensions may be granted only to a licensee who was absent from the united states for at least a majority of the reporting period due to his/her military service commitment under combat circumstances or pursuant to a state of national emergency. At a minimum, the licensee must submit written documentation from the appropriate military authorities verifying the licensee's military service commitment and the periods during which the commitment was being fulfilled under a combat or national emergency status; the number of hours earned during the reporting period and a plan for completing the balance of the required continuing education.
(b) Illness extensions may be granted only to a licensee who has suffered a personal illness or personal disability of a nature as to prevent him/her from engaging in the active practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology for at least a majority of the reporting period. At a minimum, the licensee shall provide the board with written documentation from the licensee's treating physician stating the nature of the illness or disability, the period of the illness or disability, any limitations on the licensee's activities which resulted from the illness or disability; and a statement from the licensee reporting the number of hours earned in the reporting period and a plan for completing the balance of the required continuing education.
(11) The board may reduce the continuing education requirements for an individual under extenuating circumstances.
(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) Lectures and scheduled courses or workshops at local, regional, national, or international conferences concerning speech-language pathology or audiology, or both;
(3) Presentation or attendance at lectures, workshops, or in-service programs; or
(4) Other professional activities such as books, papers, publications, or audiovisual materials.
(5) Independent study activities.
(a) Continuing education hours may be earned through independent study activities including:
(i) Professional journals which include post-tests to document completion;
(ii) Audio or video tapes of programs approved as a continuing education experience under this paragraph with a post-test;
(iii) Internet programs approved as a continuing education experience under this paragraph with a post-test; or
(iv) Other independent study activities approved by the board.
(b) The licensee shall complete the post-test successfully for continuing education hours to be granted.
(c) If proof of passing the post-test is obtained, there is no limit on the number of credit hours that may be earned through independent study activities.
(d) A maximum of ten hours of the required twenty hours of continuing education may be obtained from internet programs approved as a continuing education experience under this section without a post-test. A maximum of twenty hours of continuing education may be obtained from internet programs approved as a continuing education experience under this section without a post-test for an individual licensed as both a speech-language pathologist and audiologist.
(6) Any activity approved for continuing education hours in related disciplines by any licensure board of the state of Ohio or any other state;
(7) 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;
(8) 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"; "American Academy of Audiology"; or the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" or
(9) The equivalent as determined by the board.
(10) In accordance with division (B) of section 4745.04 of the Revised Code, up to one-third of the biennial continuing education requirements may be completed by providing volunteer services to indigent and uninsured persons. To qualify under this rule, volunteer services shall:
(a) Be provided at a free clinic or other non-profit organization that offers health care services based on eligibility screenings identifying the client as an "indigent and uninsured person" as that term is defined in division (A)(7) of section 2305.234 of the Revised Code;
(b) Be documented in writing in the form of a certificate or a written statement on letterhead from an administrative official at the organization where services were rendered, specifying at a minimum the license holder's name, license number, date(s) of qualifying volunteer services, and number of hours of services.
(c) Not be credited for license holders in a paid position at the organization at which the services are rendered;
(d) Be provided without receiving any compensation or other form of remuneration;
(e) Be specific to the licensee's area of license, such as specific to the clinical practice speech-language pathology or audiology;
(f) Be credited as one hour of continuing education for each sixty minutes spent providing services as a volunteer, not to exceed six hours of the total biennial continuing education requirement; and
(g) Not count toward the requirements of paragraph (A)(4) of this rule to complete two hours of continuing education related to ethics.
(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-Language-Hearing Association" or the "American Academy of Audiology";
(e) Any continuing education provider approved for continuing education in related disciplines by an authorized "International Association of Continuing Education and Training" provider; "American Academy of Audiology" approved continuing education provider, or "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" approved continuing education 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.
(8) If a licensee submits the renewal form after the expiration date, the board shall assess a late fee and may audit the licensee.
(E) Continuing education audit procedures:
(1) At each renewal period, the board shall audit up to ten per cent of the renewal applications in each area of licensure.
(2) The board members shall be audited for the required continuing education hours.
(3) The board shall send notification of audit to licensees to be audited.
(4) The licensee being audited shall submit to the board a report of the continuing education hours required for renewal along with the appropriate documentation.