201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 26:175

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 26:175 - Continuing education

RELATES TO: KRS 210.366, 319.032(1)(f), 319.050, 319.053, 319.064, 319.071

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 319.032(1)(f) requires the board to promulgate an administrative regulation establishing a requirement for continuing education as a condition for renewal of a license. This administrative regulation establishes the continuing education requirements for renewal of a license.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Continuing education" means participation in an approved program of professional education beyond the basic educational requirements that meets the requirements established in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation.

(2) "Continuing education hour" means a fifty-five (55) minute clock hour of instruction.

Section 2.

(1) Each credential holder shall document the completion of at least thirty-nine (39) continuing education hours approved by the board pursuant to this administrative regulation within each three (3) year renewal period.

(2) A credential holder shall complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment, and management within the first year of licensure and every six (6) years thereafter as required by KRS 210.366.

(a) A credential holder shall be exempted from the requirement to complete a continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management for the credential holder's first six (6) years of licensure if the credential holder completes a three (3) semester hour graduate course in suicide and crisis assessment, prevention, and intervention during the course of the credential holder's graduate education.

(b) A credential holder shall be exempted from the requirement to complete a continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from the six (6) year continuing education if, during the six (6) year period, the credential holder:

1. Is primarily employed in a clinical setting accredited by the Joint Commission or another nationally accrediting healthcare entity that requires the completion of a suicide risk assessment with each patient being seen within the setting;

2. Teaches a graduate-level psychology course in suicide assessment, training, and management; or

3. Teaches a continuing education course in suicide assessment, training, and management at least once during the six (6) year period.

(c) The continuing education course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management shall be approved in accordance with Section 5 of this administrative regulation.

(3) The continuing education shall:

(a) Provide specific content planned and evaluated to improve the credential holder's professional competence;

(b) Make possible the acquisition of new skills and knowledge required to maintain competence;

(c) Strengthen the habits of critical inquiry and balanced judgment; and

(d) Include a minimum of three (3) hours in either ethical practice or risk management with each three (3) year renewal period.

(4)

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a licensed psychologist with the health service provider designation who provides supervision to an applicant for licensure, or a certified psychologist or a licensed psychological associate shall include as part of the thirty-nine (39) hours of continuing education required by subsection (1) of this section a minimum of three (3) continuing education hours in the area of supervision theory or techniques for each three (3) year renewal period.

(b) The requirement established in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall begin with the renewal period immediately following the period in which the original supervisory training required by 201 KAR 26:171, Section 4(1) and (2), is received.

Section 3.

(1) Hours required to satisfy the continuing education requirement shall be completed prior to the renewal date of a license.

(2) The credential holder shall:

(a) Maintain and provide adequate records including certificates of attendance and documentation of completion of the required continuing education hours; or

(b) Provide documentation through a board-approved registry, which shall certify the name and license number of the license holder, date and title of each program and the number of hours earned, and confirmation that the programs were given by a board-approved provider.

Section 4. Only continuing education activities approved by the board shall be accepted toward the continuing education requirements for renewal of a license.

Section 5. Approved Sponsoring Organizations and Approved Programs.

(1) Participation in a continuing education program that is approved, offered, or sponsored by an organization listed in this subsection shall be accepted toward the requirement for continuing education established in Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation:

(a) An affiliated state chapter of the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, or National Association of Social Workers;

(b) A recognized state, regional, national, or international psychological association;

(c) A state or provincial psychology licensure board; and

(d) A course for graduate-level academic credit in psychology or psychiatry offered by a national, regional, or state accredited academic institution.

(2)

(a) The board may approve an organization that is not listed in subsection (1) of this section as a sponsor of continuing education for a twelve (12) month period if the organization:

1. Files a completed Continuing Education Sponsorship Application;

2. Pays an initial application fee of $250; and

3. Proposes to sponsor continuing education programs that meet the requirements established in Sections 2(1) and 6 of this administrative regulation.

(b) An approved sponsor shall submit an annual report of the continuing education programs offered during that year.

(c) A sponsor that is approved pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection may request renewal of its approval for subsequent years by filing a $150 renewal fee annually.

(d) A workshop in psychology or psychiatry offered by a national, regional, or state accredited academic institution's medical center or affiliated hospital shall comply with paragraph (a)1 of this subsection. The fees required under paragraphs (a)2 and (c) of this subsection are waived.

(3)

(a) The board may approve a specific continuing education program that is not approved, offered, or sponsored by an organization listed in subsection (1) of this section or an approved organization under subsection (2) of this section if the sponsor or a participant of the program:

1. Files a completed Continuing Education Program Application at least thirty (30) days before the program. The failure to abide by this deadline may be a reason for denial of the application;

2. Pays an application fee of fifty (50) dollars; and

3. Provides information about a continuing education program that it proposes to sponsor which meets the requirements established in Sections 2(1) and 6 of this administrative regulation.

(b) The approval of a program pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection shall permit the sponsor to offer the program one (1) time. The sponsor shall submit a request for renewal and a ten (10) dollar renewal fee for each subsequent request to offer the same approved program.

Section 6.

(1) A continuing education program that satisfies the requirements for license renewal shall be:

(a) Approved, offered, or sponsored by an organization that has been approved by the board; or

(b) A specific program approved by the board;

(2)

(a) Have a clearly stated purpose and defined content area; and

(b) Be consistent with the overall goals of continuing education as defined in Section 1 of this administrative regulation;

(3) Have a presenter who is a professional qualified in the defined content area;

(4) Clearly state the program's time. Actual contact time shall be a minimum of one (1) continuing education hour;

(5) Include attendance recorded by the program's sponsor;

(6) Documentation of completion shall be provided to the participant only after approval is granted; and

(7) Include each participant's evaluation of the program.

Section 7. Equivalencies.

(1) A graduate-level psychology course taken at an accredited academic institution shall earn continuing education hours pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(a) Each one (1) hour semester course shall be the equivalent of fifteen (15) continuing education hours for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this administrative regulation.

(b) Each one (1) hour quarter course shall be the equivalent of nine (9) continuing education hours for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this administrative regulation.

(2) A person who teaches a three (3) hour semester or quarter graduate-level course in psychology at an accredited academic institution shall:

(a) Earn six (6) continuing education hours for teaching the course; and

(b) Not receive:

1. Credit more than once for teaching a particular course during a renewal period; and

2. More than nine (9) total continuing education hours for these teaching activities.

(3) A person who teaches an approved continuing education workshop or program shall:

(a) Earn continuing education hours on a one (1) to one (1) basis; and

(b) Not receive:

1. Credit more than once for teaching a particular workshop or program during a renewal period; and

2. More than nine (9) total continuing education hours for these teaching activities.

(4) A person who completes home study or internet-based courses approved, offered, or sponsored by an organization listed in Section 5(1) shall not receive:

(a) Credit for repeating a specific study course during a renewal period; and

(b) More than twelve (12) total continuing education hours through home study or internet-based courses in a renewal period.

(5) A person who participates in videoconferencing in an interactive setting shall:

(a) Earn one (1) continuing education hour for each clock hour of participation; and

(b) Not receive more than twenty-four (24) continuing education hours through interactive videoconferencing participation.

Section 8. 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 2 of this administrative regulation into the immediately following renewal period.

Section 9. The board shall audit a minimum of ten (10) percent of all credential holders' documentation supporting the completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours through a random audit process.

Section 10. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) "Continuing Education Program Application", October 2021; and

(b) "Continuing Education Sponsorship Application", October 2016.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The material is also available on the board's Web site and the address is: https://psy.ky.gov.

201 KAR 26:175

20 Ky.R. 676; 940; eff. 10-21-1993; 24 Ky.R. 1127; 1664; eff. 2-17-1998; 28 Ky.R. 1472; 1812; eff. 2-7-2002; 31 Ky.R. 1007; 1511; eff. 3-8-2005; 37 Ky.R. 1523; eff. 3-4-2011; 42 Ky.R. 505; 1549; 1717; eff. 12-16-2015; 43 Ky.R. 1823, 2109, 2156; 44 Ky.R. 26; eff. 7-17-2017; 45 Ky.R. 1332; eff. 1-23-2019; Crt eff. 9-5-2019; 48 Ky.R. 1870; eff. 6/2/2022.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 319.032(1)(f)

The repealed version of this section by 49 Ky.R. 977; eff. 11/7/2022 is not yet available.