Section 645.303.3. Standards.

         303.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education program or activity that meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education program or activity:

            a.               Meets the definition of continuing education as defined in rule 645—303.1(147);

            b.               Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;

            c.               Fulfills state program goals, objectives, or both; and

            d.               Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:

             (1)             Date(s), location, course title, presenter(s);

             (2)             Number of program contact hours; and

             (3)             Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor.

         303.3(2) Specific criteria.

            a.               Subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of speech pathology or audiology or both that will be considered for approval are:

             (1)             Basic communication processes. Information (beyond the basic licensure requirements) applicable to the normal development and use of speech, language, and hearing, i.e., anatomic and physiologic bases for the normal development and use of speech, language, and hearing; physical bases and processes of the production and perception of speech, language, and hearing; linguistic and psycholinguistic variables related to normal development and use of speech, language, and hearing; and technological, biomedical, engineering, and instrumentation information which would enable expansion of knowledge in the basic communication processes.

             (2)             Professional areas. Information pertaining to disorders of speech, language, and hearing, i.e., various types of disorders of communication, their manifestations, classification and causes; evaluation skills, including procedures, techniques, and instrumentation for assessment; and management procedures and principles in habilitation and rehabilitation of communication disorders. The board shall accept dysphagia courses provided by qualified instructors.

             (3)             Related areas. Study pertaining to the understanding of human behavior, both normal and abnormal, as well as services available from related professions which apply to the contemporary practice of speech-language pathology/audiology, e.g., theories of learning and behavior; services available from related professions that also deal with persons who have disorders of communication; information from these professions about the sensory, physical, emotional, social or intellectual states of child or adult; professional ethics; clinical supervision; counseling; and interviewing.

Unacceptable subject matter includes personal development, human relations, collective bargaining, and tours. While desirable, these subjects are not applicable to licensees’ skill, knowledge and competence as expressed in Iowa Code section 272C.2, paragraph “g.” Such courses will receive no credit toward the minimum 30 hours required for license renewal.

            b.               A licensee may elect to take the Praxis Examination in speech pathology or audiology in lieu of earning continuing education credits. The licensee shall have the results of the examination sent to the board by the agency administering the examination.

            c.               A licensee may present professional programs which meet the criteria in this rule. Two hours of credit will be allowed for each hour of newly developed presentation material. A course schedule or brochure must be maintained for audit.

            d.               A combined total of six hours per biennium may be used for the following activities:

             (1)             Government regulations;

             (2)             CPR, child abuse and dependent adult abuse; and

             (3)             A maximum of two hours may be used for business-related topics.

            e.               An applicant shall provide official transcripts indicating successful completion of academic courses which apply to the field of speech pathology and audiology in order to receive the following continuing education credits:

1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours of credit

1 academic trimester hour = 12 continuing education hours of credit

1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours of credit

            f.                A maximum of 16 hours of continuing education credit may be earned per biennium by participation in continuing education programs and activities which meet the criteria in this rule and which are completed through journal readings, teleconference or videoconference participation, and online program participation. In addition, such programs and activities must include a posttest that the participant must pass in order to receive continuing education credit.

[ARC 1397C, IAB 4/2/14, effective 5/7/14]