GENERAL GOVERNMENT CABINET
Board of Licensure of Marriage and Family Therapists
(As Amended at ARRS, November 10, 2015)
201 KAR 32:060. Continuing
education requirements.
RELATES
TO: KRS 194.540, 210.366, 335.300(4), 335.340
STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: KRS 335.320(4), (9), 335.340(7)
NECESSITY,
FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 335.340(7) authorizes the board to promulgate
administrative regulations to establish the fees and other requirements for
a permit as a marriage and family therapist and associate[requiring
marriage and family therapists to complete continuing education requirements as
a condition of renewal of their license]. This administrative regulation establishes[delineates]
the requirements for continuing education and the[prescribes]
methods and standards for the accreditation of continuing education courses.
Section
1. Accrual of Continuing Education Hours; Computation of Accrual. (1) Effective
January 1, 2017, a minimum of fifteen (15) approved continuing
education hours shall be accrued by each licensee and a minimum of ten (10)
approved continuing education hours shall be accrued by each associate
during each[the] one (1) year renewal period[licensure
period for renewal].
(2)
All hours shall be in[or related to] "the practice[field]
of marriage and family therapy" as defined by[in]
KRS 335.300(4) and shall relate to the professional application of psychotherapeutic
and systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals,
couples, and families.
(3)
Three (3) hours of the fifteen (15) hours required by subsection (1) of this
section shall be accrued in the field[fields] of professional
ethics.
(4)
Commencing on January 1, 2017, each licensee and associate shall be
required to show proof of completion of six (6) hours of continuing education
in suicide assessment, treatment, and management every six (6) years beginning
January 1, 2015[Every six (6) years licensees and associates shall be
required to show proof of completion of six (6) of the hours of continuing
education on suicide assessment, treatment, and management] as
required by KRS 210.366. These hours shall be in addition to the requirements
set forth in subsection (1) of this section unless preapproved by the board as
meeting the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section or meets
requirements of Section 2 of this administrative regulation.
(5)
Within three (3) years of initial licensure or certification, all mental health
professionals shall successfully complete a three (3) hour training that[which]
covers dynamics of domestic violence, elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
effects of domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation on
adult and child victims; legal remedies for protection; lethality and risk
issues; model protocols for addressing domestic violence and elder abuse,
neglect, and exploitation; available community resources and victim services
and reporting requirements as required by KRS 194.540.
Section
2. Methods of Acquiring Continuing Education Hours. Continuing education hours
applicable to the renewal of the license or permit shall be directly
related to the professional growth and development of marriage and family
therapy practitioners and associates. Education hours shall[They
may] be earned by completing any of the[following]
educational activities established in this subsection.[:]
(1)
Programs not requiring board review and approval. Programs from the following
sources shall be deemed to be relevant to the practice of marriage and family
therapy and shall be approved without further review by the board:
(a)
Programs provided or approved by the American Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and its state affiliates;
(b)
Academic courses as defined in 201 KAR 32:010; and
(c)
Continuing education programs offered by Commission on Accreditation for
Marriage and Family Therapy Education accredited institutions.
(2)
Programs requiring board review and approval. Programs from the following
sources shall be reviewed and may be determined to be relevant and[therefore]
subsequently approved by the board:
(a)
Relevant programs including[may include]
online study courses, manualized training, and face-to-face workshops,[including
home study courses and in-service training provided] by other organizations,
educational institutions, or other service providers approved by the board;
(b)
Relevant programs or academic courses presented by the licensee. Presenters of
relevant programs or academic courses may earn full continuing education credit
for each contact hour of instruction, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the
continuing education renewal requirements. Credit shall not be issued for
repeated instruction of the same course; and
(c)
Relevant publications in a professionally recognized or juried publication. Credit
shall not be granted except for those publications that were published within
the one (1) year period immediately preceding the renewal date. A licensee
shall earn one-half (1/2) of the continuing education hours required for a
relevant publication. More than one (1) publication shall not be counted during
each renewal period[; and
(d)
Related areas not specifically a part of the field of marriage and family
therapy may be approved for up to two (2) continuing education hours out of the
fifteen (15) required if the board believes the related areas may serve to
enhance the licensee’s ability to practice].
Section
3. Continuing Education Sponsors. (1) Any entity seeking to obtain approval of
a continuing education program prior to its offering shall pay the fee as
established in 201 KAR 32:030, Section 7, and submit an ["]Application
for Continuing Education Sponsor Approval["] to the board at least
sixty (60) days in advance of the program. The application shall include the:
(a)
Type of learning activity;
(b)
Subject matter;
(c)
Names and qualifications of the instructors; and
(d)
Number of continuing education hours offered.
(2)
A continuing education activity shall be qualified for preapproval if[the
board determines] the activity being presented:
(a)
Is an organized program of learning;
(b)
Pertains to subject matters that[which] integrally
relate to the practice of marriage and family therapy;
(c)
Contributes to the professional competency of the licensee or associate;
and
(d)
Is conducted by individuals who have relevant educational
training or experience[acceptable to the Board].
Section
4. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Licensees and Associates.
(1) Licensees and associates shall:
(a)
Be responsible for obtaining required continuing education hours;
(b)
Identify personal continuing education needs;
(c)
Take the initiative in seeking continuing professional education activities to
meet these needs; and
(d)
Seek ways to integrate new knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
(2)
Each person holding a license or permit shall:
(a)[A
licensee shall be responsible for obtaining required continuing education
hours. He shall identify his own continuing education needs, take the
initiative in seeking continuing professional education activities to meet
these needs, and seek ways to integrate new knowledge, skills and attitudes. Each
person holding licensure shall:
(1)]
Select approved activities by which to earn continuing education hours;
(b)
If seeking approval for continuing education from a program not
already approved pursuant to Section 3 of this administrative regulation and
not exempted from requiring board approval pursuant to Section 2(1) of this
administrative regulation,[An individual licensee or associate
seeking to obtain approval of a continuing education program for which the
sponsor has not applied or been approved by the board may] submit
an application to the board for consideration. The application shall include
the:
1.
Agenda that is detailed, timed, and includes topics and presenters;
2.
Presenter’s biography, including[Presenter(s) bio which
contains] education;
3.
Credentials of all presenters;
4.
All presenters’ experience related to topic;
5.
Description of training; and
6.
Objectives and goals;
(c)[(2)
Submit to the board when applicable a request for approval for continuing education
activities not approved by the board as set forth in Section 3 of this
administrative regulation;
(3)]
Maintain records of continuing education hours. Each licensee and associate
shall maintain, for a period of one (1) year from the date of renewal, all
documentation verifying successful completion of continuing education hours. During
each[licensure] renewal period, up to fifteen (15) percent of all licensees
and associates shall be required by the board to furnish documentation
of the completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours for
the current renewal period. Verification of continuing education hours shall not
otherwise be reported to the board;
(d)[(4)]
Document attendance and participation in a continuing education activity in the
form of official documents including transcripts, certificates, or
affidavits signed by instructors[, receipts for fees paid to the sponsor, or
less formal evidence including written summaries of experiences that are not otherwise
formally or officially documented in any way]. The type of documentation required
shall vary depending on the specific activity submitted to the board for approval;
and
(e)[(5)]
Fully comply with the provisions of this administrative regulation. Failure to
comply shall constitute a violation of KRS 335.340(7) and may result in the
refusal to renew, suspension, or revocation of the license or permit[licensure].
Section
5. Carry-over of Continuing Education Hours, Prohibited. There shall not be a
carry-over of continuing education hours earned in excess of those required
under Section 1 of this administrative regulation into the immediately
following[licensure] renewal period.
Section
6. Board to Approve Continuing Education Hours; Appeal Upon[When]
Approval Denial[Denied]. In the event of denial, in
whole or part, of any application for approval of continuing education hours,
the licensee or associate shall have the right to request reconsideration
by the board of its decision. The request shall be in writing and shall be
received by the board within thirty (30) days after the date of the board’s
decision denying approval of continuing education hours.
Section
7. Waiver or Extensions of Continuing Education. (1) The board may, in
individual cases involving medical disability, illness, or undue
hardship[as determined by the board], grant waivers of the
minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to
fulfill the same or make the required reports.
(2)
A request for waiver or extension shall be in writing[,] and submitted
within the[ninety (90) day license] renewal grace period.
(3)
A written request for waiver or extension of time involving medical disability
or illness shall be submitted by the licensee or associate[and shall
be] accompanied by a verifying document signed by a licensed physician,
a physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner, and shall be
received by the board within the grace period.
(4)
A waiver of the minimum continuing education requirements or an extension of
time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements may be
granted by the board for a period of time not to exceed one (1) calendar year.
(5)
If the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension has been
granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension, the licensee or
associate shall reapply for the waiver or extension in writing prior to the
expiration of the previous extension or waiver.
Section
8. Incorporation by Reference. (1) "Application for Continuing Education
Program Sponsor Approval", 10/2011 Edition, Board of Marriage and Family
Therapists, is incorporated by reference.
(2)
This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable
copyright law, at the Division of Occupations and Professions, 911 Leawood
Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MARY
BADAMI, Chairperson
APPROVED
BY AGENCY: September 24, 2015
FILED
WITH LRC: October 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.
CONTACT
PERSON: Nicole S. Biddle, Board Counsel, Asst. Attorney General, Office of the
Attorney General, 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 118, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601,
phone (502) 696-5300, fax (502) 564-6801.
