64B21-502.004. Continuing Education Credit Guidelines

(1) Licensees who obtain initial licensure in the first year of a biennium will be required to demonstrate fifteen (15) hours of continuing education during the biennium in which licensure was obtained for the first renewal of their license. Persons certified for licensure in the second half of a biennium are exempt from the continuing education requirements for that biennium. Continuing education requirements must be met for each biennium thereafter.

(2) For the purpose of renewing or reactivating a school psychologist license, only those continuing education hours approved by the Department of Health will be acceptable for credit. Credit will be approved for programs offered by a continuing education provider approved pursuant to the requirements of this rule.

(3) One (1) hour of continuing education credit is defined as no less than fifty (50) minutes of uninterrupted learning in one (1) hour.

(4) Programs approved for continuing education credits will contain the following characteristics:

(a) Continuing education speakers must:

1. Be faculty, post-graduate faculty or former faculty of a university or college accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education, or

2. Have been awarded a doctorate which is psychological in nature or is directly related to the topic of their presentation from a college or university which is accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education, or

3. Are licensed as medical doctors in the state of their residence and can document completion of a residency in psychiatry which was approved by the American Medical Association, or

4. Be able to present two (2) signed affidavits from persons licensed under Chapter 490, F.S., which can verify that the presenter has extensive experience, to include not less than two (2) years of practical application or research, involving the subject area being taught in the program.

(b) The content of all continuing education programs must be psychological in nature or directly relevant to the practice of school psychology and provide information concerning human behavior and/or methods of providing school psychological services. Continuing education credit will be granted only for those courses designed to improve the counseling or other school psychological skills of the licensee.

(c) Programs accepted for continuing education credit shall fall into one of the following categories.

1. Post-graduate courses and seminars related to school psychology and approved courses given by universities accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education, or recognized hospitals and training institutes.

2. Continuing education programs presented at international, national, regional and state school psychology and psychology association conferences.

3. Post masters graduate level courses completed at an accredited college or university.

4. Continuing education courses approved by any Board within the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the Department of Health, provided that such courses enhance the school psychological skills and/or school psychological knowledge of the licensee.

(5) Continuing education credit received during conventions or conferences must be verified by the provider of the continuing education credit. Continuing education credit will be awarded for preparing to teach a continuing education program.

(6) Presenters/Moderators of programs designed for continuing education may receive credit on a one (1) time basis for programs where they are actually in attendance for the complete program. A maximum of ten (10) hours of credit per biennium may be received for presenting/moderating a program.

(7) A licensee attending a continuing education program must have that attendance verified in writing by the program’s registrar or sponsor. Such verification will only be submitted to the Department if the licensee’s file is audited.

(8) Continuing education providers will be approved for one (1) biennial renewal cycle who meet to the Department’s satisfaction the following criteria:

(a) Provide to the Department:

1. A proposed program which meets the criteria of subsection (3);

2. A signed and completed Application for Continuing Education Provider Status for School Psychologists form, DH-MQA 1049. Form DH-MQA 1049, effective 8/01, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, and can be obtained from the Department of Health, Office of School Psychology, at: 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3255.

(b) Sign and abide by a written agreement to:

1. Provide an identifiable person to act as the Continuing Education Director and be responsible for each presentation of the continuing education programs,

2. Retain a list of attendees for at least three (3) years,

3. Provide all programs for continuing education credit in accordance with subsection (4),

4. Assign an identifiable person to be present at each continuing education activity whose responsibilities will include recording of attendance and monitoring of attendance to assure that credit is awarded only for those hours actually attended,

5. Provide the participants with the Department approved certificate of attendance containing the provider’s name and number, title of the program, instructor, date of the program, location, number of hours of continuing education credit and the participant’s license number(s),

6. Notify the Department of any significant changes relative to the maintenance of standards as set forth in these rules,

7. The Department retains the right and authority to audit and/or monitor programs given by the provider. The Department may rescind provider status or reject individual programs given by the provider if the provider has disseminated any false or misleading information in connection with the continuing education program; or if the provider has failed to conform to and abide by the written agreement and rules of the Department.

Rulemaking Authority 490.015 FS. Law Implemented 490.0085 FS. History–New 7-3-83, Amended 11-27-83, 2-21-85, Formerly 21U-502.04, Amended 12-26-91, 6-24-92, Formerly 21U-502.004, 61E9-502.004, Amended 10-16-01, 12-31-02.