D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-7707

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 17-7707 - CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

7707.1

Except as provided in § 7707.2, this section shall apply to applicants for the renewal, reactivation, and reinstatement of a license.

7707.2

This section shall not apply to applicants for an initial license or applicants for the first renewal of a license after the initial grant.

7707.3

Continuing education credit shall be granted only for programs or activities approved by the Board in accordance with section 7708.

7707.4

To qualify for the renewal of a license, an applicant shall have completed thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education during the two (2)-year period preceding the date the license expires, subject to the following requirements:

(a) A minimum of fifteen (15) of the thirty (30) hours shall be completed in a live, face-to-face setting that provides for direct, real-time interaction between presenter(s) and participants;

(b) Six (6) hours of the thirty (30) hours shall be in ethics;

(c) Ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed appropriate;

(d) Continuing education may be in current and emerging issues in marriage and family therapy such as the study of

(1) Non-traditional families;

(2) Domestic violence;

(3) HIV;

(4) Aging;

(5) End-of- life issues;

(6) Addiction and psychopharmacology; or

(7) Trauma; and

(e) Applicants seeking the renewal of a license after December 31, 2018, shall also have completed two (2) hours of LGBTQ continuing education.

7707.5

To qualify for a license, a person in inactive status within the meaning of Section 511 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.11) who submits an application to reactivate a license shall have completed thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education meeting the requirements of § 7707.4 for each licensing period that the license was in inactive status.

7707.6

To qualify for a license, an applicant for reinstatement of a license to practice marriage and family therapy pursuant to Section 512 of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.12 ) shall have completed fifteen (15) hours of approved continuing education for each year that the applicant was not licensed, up to a maximum of seventy- five (75) hours, provided further that the necessary continuing education shall meet the requirements of § 7707.4, as appropriate.

7707.7

An applicant for license renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement under this section shall prove completion of required continuing education credits by submitting with the application the following information with respect to each program:

(a) The name and address of the sponsor of the program;

(b) The name of the program, its location, a description of the subject matter covered, and the names of the instructors;

(c) The dates on which the applicant attended the program;

(d) The hours of credit claimed; and

(e) Verification by the sponsor of completion, by signature or stamp.

7707.8

The Board shall accept for continuing education credit any credits or courses approved or accredited by the following organizations:

(a) The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT);

(b) The National Association of Social Workers (NASW);

(c) The American Psychological Association (APA);

(d) The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC);

(e) The American Counseling Association (ACA); or

(f) Other state Marriage and Family Therapy boards.

7707.9

The Board may require proof of a licensee's completion of continuing education at the completion of a renewal period. A licensee shall:

(a) Maintain the required proof of completion for each continuing competence activity as specified in these regulations; and

(b) Retain documentation of a continuing competence activity for a minimum of two (2) years following the last day of the license renewal period for which the continuing competence activity was completed.

7707.10

The Board may audit up to twenty percent (20%) of the number of licensees to determine compliance with the continuing education contact hour requirements.

7707.11

Upon notification by the Board that a licensee has been selected for an audit, the licensee shall submit the required documentation within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice.

7707.12

Licensees who fail to provide proof of continuing education compliance during an audit may be subject to an audit in the subsequent renewal cycle.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-7707

Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 7845 (September 29, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 8247 (August 24, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 9260 (October 28, 2011); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 1288 (February 14, 2014); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 6627 (7/14/2017); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 6828 (6/7/2019)

Authority: Section 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 ("Act"), effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02(14) (2012 Repl.)), and Mayor's Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998.