4 CCR 748-1.11 - Continuing Professional Competency
The purpose of this Rule is to establish a program of ongoing continuing professional competency as set forth in section 12-305-109, C.R.S., wherein a certified speech-language pathologist shall maintain and demonstrate continuing professional competency in order to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a certificate to practice speech-language pathology in the state of Colorado.
A.
Definitions
1.
Continuing Professional Competency: the ongoing ability of a
speech-language pathologist to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge,
skill, and judgment to practice as a speech- language pathologist according to
generally accepted standards and professional ethical standards.
2.
Continuing Professional
Development (CPD): the Director's program through which a certificate
holder can satisfy the continuing professional competency requirements in order
to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a certificate.
3.
Deemed Status: a
certificate holder who satisfies the continuing professional competency
requirements of an accrediting body or entity approved by the Director pursuant
to section
12-305-109(2),
C.R.S., may qualify for "Deemed Status."
4.
Learning Plan: the
Director-approved form through which a certificate holder documents his/her
goals and plans of learning that were developed from his/her reflective
self-assessment (RSAT), which is defined below. A certificate holder shall
execute his/her learning plan by completing professional development activities
(PDA) as required before a certificate is renewed.
5.
Military Exemption: as
set forth in section
12-20-302, C.R.S., a certificate
holder who has been called to federally funded active duty for more than 120
days for the purpose of serving in a war, emergency or contingency may request
an exemption from the continuing professional competency requirements for the
renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation of his/her certification for the one
year renewal period that falls within the period of service or within six
months following the completion of service.
6.
Professional Development
Activities (PDA): learning activities undertaken to increase the
certificate holder's knowledge and skill or hone existing knowledge and skill
for the purpose of continuing professional competency. PDA are equivalent to
clock hours; one PDA is equal to one clock hour (60 minutes).
7.
Program Manual: an
instructional guide to assist the certificate holder in understanding the
continuing professional competency requirements and the CPD program.
8.
Reflective Self-assessment Tool
(RSAT): a reflective practice tool in which a certificate holder can
reflect upon his/her knowledge and skills pertaining to the foundational areas
of speech- language pathology taking into account the certificate holder's
current level and area of practice.
B.
Continuing Professional
Competency Requirements
1. At the
time of each certificate renewal, the certificate holder shall demonstrate
continuing professional competency in order to renew by:
a. Participation in the Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) program;
b. Participation in a program of continuing
professional competency through an accrediting body or an entity approved by
the Director as set forth in section
12-305-109(2),
C.R.S. this status is hereafter known as "Deemed Status" as defined herein; or
c. Receiving an exemption for
military service as defined in section
12-20-302, C.R.S. Military
exemptions must be approved by the Division of Professions and Occupations. A
certificate holder seeking a military exemption shall submit a request in
writing with evidence that his/her military service meets the criteria
established in section
12-20-302, C.R.S., and section (E)
of this Rule.
2. A
certificate holder shall attest at the time of the renewal of a certificate to
his/her compliance with continuing professional competency
requirements.
C.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program
1. The CPD Program entails the following:
a. The certificate holder shall complete the
Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT) once per renewal period. A certificate
holder shall use the form approved by the Director.
b. The execution of a Learning Plan once per
renewal period that is based upon the certificate holder's RSAT. The
certificate holder shall use the form approved by the Director.
c. Accrual of ten PDA per year of each
renewal period.
2.
Professional Development Activities (PDA)
a.
PDA must be relevant to the certificate holder's practice as a speech-language
pathologist and pertinent to his/her learning plan. The Director will not
pre-approve specific courses or providers. The certificate holder shall
determine which activities and topics will meet his/her learning plan, and
select an appropriate course and provider.
b. PDA are organized into the following six
categories. One PDA is granted per one clock hour of qualifying activity with
the exception of the category "Presentations" in which two PDA are credited for
every one hour of presentation delivery. This 2:1 ratio acknowledges the
preparation of the presentation. PDAs are credited only once per presentation.
(1) Volunteer Service
(2) Mentoring/Supervision
(3) Presentations
(4) Coursework
(5) Independent Learning
(6) Group Study
c. PDA must be earned through a minimum of
two categories. Specifically, for each year of a renewal period, no more than
five PDA will be credited in any one category. The exception to this
requirement is the "Coursework" category in which all ten PDA may be accrued
and credited.
d. PDA will be
accepted if the activity is included in the current Program Manual. The current
Program Manual will be available to all certificate holders through the program
and will set forth accepted PDA within each category. The Director has sole
discretion to accept or reject PDA that are not identified in the current
program manual.
e. The total
required annual PDA must be earned within the same year in which credit is
requested. PDA will be credited toward only one renewal period.
D. Audit of Compliance
1. The following documentation is required
for an audit of compliance of a certificate holder's participation in the CPD
program:
a. a signed Learning Plan that
contains the certificate holder's goals in the form and manner set forth in the
current Program Manual as approved by the Director.
b. documentation of the required PDA in
compliance with the current Program Manual and this Rule.
c. the Director has sole discretion to accept
or reject PDA that do not meet the criteria established by the Director as
defined in the current Program Manual and this Rule.
2. As set forth in section
12-305-109(4),
C.R.S., records of assessments or other documentation developed or submitted in
connection with the CPD Program are confidential and not subject to inspection
by the public or discovery in connection with a civil action against a
speech-language pathologist or other professional regulated under this title. A
person or the Director shall not use the records or documents unless used by
the Director to determine whether a speech-language pathologist is maintaining
continuing professional competency to engage in the profession.
3. The current Program Manual will set forth
the documentation methods and standards for compliance with this
Rule.
E.
Deemed Status
1.
Qualification. In order to qualify for "Deemed Status" upon renewal, the
certificate holder shall:
a. Attest to his/her
deemed status; and;
b. Attest that
the requested continuing professional competency program is substantially
equivalent to the CPD program administered by the Director and must include, at
a minimum each renewal period, the following components:
(1) An assessment of knowledge and
skills;
(2) Ten contact hours of
continuing education or learning activities per year of the renewal period;
and
(3) Demonstration of completion
of continuing competency activities.
2. Administrative Approval. The Director has
sole discretion to administratively approve accrediting bodies and/or entities
meeting the criteria established in this section. Once an accrediting body
and/or entity is approved, such approval will be publically
published.
3. Compliance Audit. A
Certificate holder claiming "Deemed Status" is subject to an audit of
compliance. To satisfy an audit of compliance, the certificate holder shall
submit appropriate evidence of participation in a qualifying program through
submission of:
a. A letter from the
accrediting body or entity approved by the Director specifying that the
certificate holder has completed the continuing professional competency
program, or
b. Other documentation
approved by the Director which reflects the certificate holder's completion of
a program of continuing professional competency.
F.
Military
Exemption.
1. Military exemptions
must be approved by the Division of Professions and Occupations. A certificate
holder seeking a military exemption shall submit a request in writing with
evidence that his/her military service meets the criteria established in
section 12-20-302, C.R.S.
2. After being granted a military exemption,
in order to complete the renewal process, a certificate holder shall attest to
his/her military exemption.
G.
Records
Retention. A certificate holder shall retain documentation
demonstrating his/her compliance for either two complete renewal periods or
four years, whichever period is longer.
H.
Non-Compliance.
Falsifying an attestation or other documentation regarding the certificate
holder's compliance with continuing professional competency requirements
constitutes the falsification of information in an application and may be
grounds for discipline pursuant to sections
12-305-112(2)(b) and
(k), C.R.S.
I.
Reinstatement and
Reactivation. A certificate holder seeking to reinstate or
reactivate a certificate shall meet the continuing professional competency
requirements detailed in Rule 1.7 and Rule 1.8.
Notes
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