201 KAR 32:060. Continuing education requirements.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 335.340

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 335.320(9),

335.340(7)

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS

335.340(7) authorizes the board to promulgate administrative regulations

requiring marriage and family therapists to complete continuing education

requirements as a condition of renewal of their license. This administrative

regulation delineates the requirements for continuing education and prescribes

methods and standards for the accreditation of continuing education courses.

 

      Section 1. Accrual of Continuing

Education Hours; Computation of Accrual. (1) A minimum of fifteen (15)

continuing education hours shall be accrued by each licensee during the one (1)

year licensure period for renewal.

      (2) All hours shall be in or related to

the field of marriage and family therapy.

      (3) Three (3) hours of the fifteen (15)

hours required by subsection (1) of this section shall be accrued in the fields

of professional ethics.

 

      Section 2. Methods of Acquiring

Continuing Education Hours. Continuing education hours applicable to the

renewal of the license shall be directly related to the professional growth and

development of marriage and family therapy practitioners. They may be earned by

completing any of the following educational activities:(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 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 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;

      (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 which

integrally relate to the practice of marriage and family therapy;

      (c) Contributes to the professional

competency of the licensee; and

      (d) Is conducted by individuals who have

educational training or experience acceptable to the Board.

 

      Section 4. Responsibilities and Reporting

Requirements of Licensees. 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;

      (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 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 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;

      (4) Document attendance and participation

in a continuing education activity in the form of official documents including

transcripts, certificates, 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

      (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 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 When Approval Denied. In the event of denial, in whole

or part, of any application for approval of continuing education hours, the

licensee 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

and shall be accompanied by a verifying document signed by a licensed physician.

      (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 shall reapply for the waiver or extension

in writing, prior to the expiration of the 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 at the Division of Occupations and Professions, 911 Leawood

Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (23 Ky.R. 215; Am. 1584;

eff. 9-18-96; 26 Ky.R. 426; 728; eff. 10-20-99; 30 Ky.R. 981; 1766; eff.

1-23-2004; 38 Ky.R. 1378; 1557; eff. 3-21-12.)