Section 1465.85  Continuing Education

 

a)         Continuing Education (CE) Hours Requirements

 

1)         In order to renew a speech-language pathology or audiology license, a licensee will be required to complete 20 hours of CE in accordance with this Section.  In order to renew a speech-language pathology assistant license, a licensee will be required to complete 10 hours of CE in accordance with this Section.

 

2)         A prerenewal period is the 24 months preceding October 31 of each odd-numbered year.

 

3)         Except as otherwise provided, CE requirements shall be the same for licensed speech-language pathologists and licensed audiologists.  Individuals who hold a license as a speech pathologist and as an audiologist will be required to complete 20 hours of CE for each license held. 

 

4)         An audiologist may not obtain more than 10 clock hours of CE during the 2-year licensing cycle through programs sponsored by hearing instrument or auditory prosthetic manufacturers.

 

5)         An audiologist must provide proof that at least 2 clock hours of training in ethics or legal requirements pertaining to the practice of audiology was completed during the 2-year licensing cycle for which he or she is currently licensed. 

 

6)         A speech-language pathologist must provide proof that at least one clock hour of ethics training was completed during the 2-year licensing cycle for which he or she is currently licensed.

 

7)         One CE hour shall equal one clock hour of attendance.  Credit may be given in one-half hour increments.

 

8)         A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois license.

 

9)         Speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states shall comply with the CE requirements set forth in this Section.

 

b)         Approved Continuing Education 

 

1)         CE hours shall be earned by verified attendance (e.g., certificate of attendance or certificate of completion) at, or participation in, a program or course (program) that is offered or sponsored by an approved CEsponsor who meets the requirements set forth in subsection (c), except for those activities provided in subsections (b)(2), (3) and (4).

 

2)         CE credits may be earned for completion of a distance learning course that is offered by an approved sponsor who meets the requirements set forth in subsection (c).  Each distance learning course shall include an examination.

 

3)         CE credit may be earned through postgraduate training programs in speech-language pathology or audiology (e.g., extern, residency or fellowship programs) or completion of speech-language pathology or audiology related courses that are a part of the curriculum of a college, university or graduate school.  Courses that are part of the curriculum of a university, college or other educational institution shall be allotted CE credit at the rate of 15 CE hours for each semester hour or 10 CE hours for each quarter hour of school credit awarded.

 

4)         CE credit may be earned for authoring papers, publications, dissertations or books and for preparing presentations and exhibits in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology.  The preparation of each published paper, book chapter or professional presentation dealing with speech-language pathology or audiology may be claimed for a maximum of 5 hours of CE credit.  A presentation must be before an audience of speech-language pathologists, audiologists or related professionals.  Five credit hours may be claimed for only the first time the information is published or presented.

 

c)         Approved CE Sponsors and Programs

 

1)         Sponsor, as used in this Section, shall mean:

 

A)        American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its affiliates;

 

B)        American Academy of Audiology and its affiliates;

 

C)        Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its affiliates.

 

D)        Illinois Academy of Audiology and its affiliates;

 

E)        Any other accredited college or university, State agency, or any other person, firm, or association that has been approved and authorized by the Division in accordance with subsection (c)(2)  to coordinate and present CE courses and programs in conjunction with this Section.

 

2)         An entity, not listed in subsection (c)(1), seeking approval as a CE sponsor shall submit an application, on forms supplied by the Division, along with a $500 application fee.  (State agencies, State colleges and State universities in Illinois shall be exempt from paying this fee.)  The application shall include:

 

A)        Certification:

 

i)          That all programs offered by the sponsor for CE credit shall comply with the criteria in subsection (c)(3)  and all other criteria in this Section;

 

ii)         That the sponsor shall be responsible for verifying full-time continuous attendance at each program and shall provide a certificate of attendance as set forth in subsection (c)(9);

 

iii)        That, upon request by the Division, the sponsor shall submit evidence (e.g., certificate of  attendance or course material) as is necessary to establish  compliance with this Section.  Evidence shall be required when the Division has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the statute and this Part and that this information is necessary to ensure compliance;

 

iv)        That each sponsor shall submit to the Division written notice of program offerings, including program offerings of subcontractors, 30 days prior to course dates.  Notice shall include the description, location, date and time of the program to be offered;

 

B)        A copy of a sample program with faculty, course materials and syllabi.

 

3)         All programs shall:

 

A)        Contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional skills and scientific knowledge of the licensee in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;

 

B)        Foster the enhancement of general or specialized speech-language pathology or audiology practice and values;

 

C)        Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program;

 

D)        Specify the course objectives, course content and teaching methods to be used; and

 

E)        Specify the number of CE hours that may be applied to fulfilling the Illinois CE requirements for license renewal.

 

4)         Each CE program shall provide a mechanism for evaluation of the program and instructor by the participants.  The evaluation may be completed on-site immediately following the program presentation or an evaluation questionnaire may be distributed to participants to be completed and returned by mail.  The sponsor and the instructor, together, shall review the evaluation outcome and revise subsequent programs accordingly.

 

5)         An approved sponsor may subcontract with individuals and organizations to provide approved programs.  All advertising, promotional materials, and certificates of attendance must identify the approved sponsor.  The presenter of the program may also be identified but should be identified as a presenter.  When an approved sponsor subcontracts with a presenter, the approved sponsor retains all responsibility for monitoring attendance, providing certificates of attendance and ensuring the program meets all the criteria established by the Act and this Part, including the maintenance of records.

 

6)         All programs given by approved sponsors shall be open to all licensed speech-language pathologists, licensed audiologists and licensed speech-language pathology assistants and not be limited to members of a single organization or group.

 

7)         To maintain approval as a sponsor, each shall submit to the Division by October 31 of each odd-numbered year a renewal application, a $250 fee and a list of courses and programs offered within the last 24 months. The list shall include a brief description, location, date and time of each course given by the sponsor and by any subcontractor.

 

8)         Certification of Attendance.  It shall be the responsibility of a sponsor to provide each participant in a program with a certificate of attendance or participation.  The sponsor's certificate of attendance shall contain:

 

A)        The name, address and license number, if applicable, of the sponsor;

 

B)        The name and address of the participant;

 

C)        A brief statement of the subject matter;

 

D)        The number of hours attended in each program;

 

E)        The date and place of the program; and

 

F)         The signature of the sponsor.

 

9)         The sponsor shall maintain attendance records for not less than 5 years.

 

10)         The sponsor shall be responsible for assuring that no renewal applicant shall receive CE credit for time not actually spent attending the program.

 

11)         Upon the failure of a sponsor to comply with any of the foregoing requirements, the Division, after notice to the sponsor and hearing before and recommendation by the Board (see 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1110), shall thereafter refuse to accept for CE credit attendance at or participation in any of that sponsor's CE programs until the Division receives assurances of compliance with this Section.

 

12)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Division or Board may evaluate any sponsor of any approved CE program at any time to ensure compliance with requirements of this Section.

 

d)         Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements

 

1)         Each renewal applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the CE requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b).

 

2)         The Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE requirements (e.g., certificate of attendance).  This additional evidence shall be required in the context of the Division's random audit.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.

 

3)         When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant shall be notified in writing and may request an interview with the Board.  At that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-65].

 

e)         CE Earned in Other Jurisdictions

 

1)         If a licensee has earned CE hours offered in another jurisdiction not given by an approved sponsor for which the licensee will be claiming credit toward full compliance in Illinois, the applicant shall submit an individual program approval request form, along with a $25 processing fee, prior to participation in the program or 90 days prior to expiration of the license. The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of the program using the criteria set forth in subsection (c)(3).

 

2)         If a licensee fails to submit an out of state CE approval form within the required time frame, late approval may be obtained by submitting the approval request form with the $25 processing fee plus a $10 per hour late fee not to exceed $150.  The Board shall review and recommend approval and disapproval of the program using the criteria set forth in subsection (c)(3).

 

f)         Waiver of CE Requirements

 

1)         Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with these CE requirements shall file with the Division a renewal application along with the required fee set forth in Section 1465.75 of this Part, a statement setting forth the facts concerning non-compliance and request for waiver of the CE requirements on the basis of these facts.  A request for waiver shall be made prior to the renewal date.  If the Division, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from the  affidavit or any other evidence submitted that extreme hardship has been shown for granting a waiver, the Division shall waive enforcement of CE requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

 

2)         Extreme hardship shall be determined on an individual basis by the Board and be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the CE requirements during the applicable prerenewal period because of:

 

A)        Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States of America during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;

 

B)        An incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;

 

C)        Any other similar extenuating circumstances.

 

3)         Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the license, submits a request for a waiver, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final decision on the application is made by the Division.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 13072, effective August 7, 2020)