Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-30-01-.12 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

Level I Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors and Level II Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors must complete thirty (30) contact hours of alcohol and drug abuse continuing education every two (2) calendar years. Eighteen (18) hours must be face to face and twelve (12) hours may be via multi-media with at least six (6) of the thirty (30) hours relating to ethics. A Qualified Clinical Supervisor (QCS) must complete a minimum of ten (10) additional contact hours of training every two (2) years, in addition to the normal thirty (30) contact hours necessary to maintain licensure. Such additional contact hours must be specific to alcohol and drug clinical supervision. Six (6) hours of the ten (10) additional total hours of continuing education must be specific to clinical supervision ethics. Beginning January 1, 2020, Level I, Level II Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and Qualified Clinical Supervisors (QCS) must complete a Board approved training program relative to suicide prevention at least once every four (4) years.

(1) Continuing education for new licensees - For new licensees, submitting proof of successful completion of all education and training requirements required for licensure in Tennessee, pursuant to subparagraphs 1200-30-01-.04(1)(c) and 1200-30-01-.05(1)(a), shall be considered proof of sufficient preparatory education to constitute continuing education credit for the calendar year in which such education and training requirements were completed. An applicant applying for initial licensure on or after January 1, 2020 is not required to complete a training program on suicide prevention for two (2) years after the date of initial licensure if the applicant can demonstrate successful completion of a two (2) hour academic training program that meets criteria established by the Board and that was completed no more than two (2) years prior to the application for initial licensure.

(2) The following organizations and entities are authorized to present, sponsor, or approve continuing education courses, events, and activities related to the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling:

(a) Nationally or regionally accredited institutions of higher education

(b) NAADAC (The National Association for Addiction Professionals)

(c) TAADAC (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors)

(d) Tennessee Department of Health

(e) TAADAS (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services)

(f) TAMHO (The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations)

(g) Tennessee Department of Mental Health.

(3) Continuing education program approval process for providers of education.

(a) All providers of continuing education not authorized by paragraph (2) must request and receive approval of their program content by the Board to fulfill the continuing education requirements set forth in this rule. Providers who intend to offer more than one (1) presentation of the same course, event, or activity during one (1) calendar year may combine in a single application the information required by subparagraph (3)(b) for the multiple presentations.

(b) Application for approval shall contain the topic, credentials of the speaker or presenter, a brief description of program content or content objectives, the date and length in minutes of each presentation, the place of instruction and the sponsoring institution or organization. Application for approval of Multi-Media courses, as provided in subparagraph (5)(c), shall submit this information on an annual basis as applicable, and shall also submit a brief description of the course format.

(c) All applications for approval must be submitted to the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that precedes the educational offering. The Board shall review each application and shall rule on whether the offering(s) in whole or in part shall be accepted as valid for the purposes of the continuing education requirements of this rule. The decision of the Board shall be final in all such matters.

(4) Documentation.

(a) On a Board provided form, each licensee must check a box and/or enter his signature which indicates attendance and completion of all the required contact hours of continuing education and that such hours were obtained.

(b) Each licensee shall retain independent documentation of attendance and completion of all continuing education courses. This documentation must be retained for a period of three (3) years from the end of the renewal period in which the course is completed. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its verification process.

(c) Documentation of continuing education includes:

1. A certificate verifying the individual's attendance at the continuing education program.

2. An original letter on official institution letterhead from the instructor of the graduate level course verifying that the course was completed and listing the number of credit hours of attendance completed by the individual.

3. An official transcript verifying credit hours earned. One semester academic credit hour is equivalent to fifteen (15) contact hours. One quarter academic credit hour is equivalent to twelve (12) contact hours.

4. A certificate or letter verifying successfully passing a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention upon completion of a Multi-Media course, as provided in subparagraph (5)(c). The certificate or letter must include the contact hours awarded (continuing education units must be converted to contact hours), date completed, program title, licensee's name, and license number.

(5) It is the licensee's responsibility, using his professional judgment, to determine whether or not a particular educational/training experience is applicable and appropriate to his professional development and meets the standards specified in these rules.

(a) If a person submits documentation for training that is not clearly identifiable as appropriate continuing education, the Board may request a written description of the training and how it applies to the individual's professional practice. If the Board determines that the training cannot be considered appropriate continuing education, the individual will be given ninety (90) days to replace the hours not allowed. Those hours will be considered replacement hours and cannot be counted during the next year.

(b) Continuing education credit or contact hours of training will not be allowed for the following:

1. Regular work activities, administrative staff meetings, case staffing/reporting, etc.;

2. Membership in, holding office in, or participation on boards or committees, business meetings of professional organizations or banquet speeches;

3. Independent, unstructured or self-structured learning; or

4. Training specifically related to policies and procedures of an agency.

(c) Multi-Media

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of part (5)(b)3., continuing education courses may be presented in the traditional lecture and classroom formats or, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) and with successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention, courses may be presented in Multi-Media formats. Multi-Media courses may include courses utilizing:

(i) The Internet

(ii) Closed circuit television

(iii) Satellite broadcasts

(iv) Correspondence courses

(v) Videotapes

(vi) CD-ROM

(vii) DVD

(viii) Teleconferencing

(ix) Videoconferencing

(x) Distance learning

2. A maximum of six (6) contact hours may be granted for multi-media courses during each calendar year.

(d) Voluntary Provision of Healthcare Services.

1. Level I, Level II Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and Qualified Clinical Supervisors (QCS) may satisfy one (1) hour of continuing education requirement through the performance of one (1) hour of voluntary provision of healthcare services.

2. The maximum amount of annual hours of continuing education that a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor or clinical supervisor may receive by performing voluntary healthcare services is three (3) hours.

3. Documentation of such voluntary healthcare services must include an official letter on official institution, facility, clinic, or non-profit letterhead verifying that the voluntary healthcare services were completed and listing the number of hours of attendance completed by the individual.

(6) Continuing education for reactivation of license.

(a) Reactivation of retired license.

1. Any individual requesting reactivation of a license which has been retired one or more years shall so indicate on a Board-provided form which indicates the attendance and completion of fifteen (15) continuing education hours. The continuing education hours must have been begun and successfully completed within twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date of the requested reinstatement.

2. The Board, upon receipt of a written request and explanation, may waive or condition any or all of the contact hours requirement for reactivation of a retired license in emergency situations.

(b) Reactivation of revoked license - No person whose license has been revoked for failure to comply with the continuing education contact hours requirement may be reinstated without complying with the requirement. The continuing education hours will accumulate at the same rate and are required the same as those for licenses which are active. A license which has been revoked for noncompliance with the continuing education requirement shall also be subject to the late renewal fee.

(c) Reactivation of expired license - No person whose license has expired as a result of failure to comply with the renewal requirements of rule 1200-30-01-.09 may be reinstated without complying with the requirements of this rule. The continuing education hours will accumulate at the same rate and are required the same as those for licenses which are active. A license which has expired as a result of failure to comply with the renewal requirements of rule 1200-30-01-.09 shall also be subject to the late renewal fee.

(d) Any licensee requesting reactivation of either a retired or revoked license shall indicate on a Board provided form that he has complied with the continuing education requirement pursuant to this rule and that such continuing education hours were begun and successfully completed within twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date of requested reinstatement.

(e) Continuing education hours obtained as a prerequisite for reactivating either a retired or revoked license may not be counted toward the current licensure renewal year requirement.

(7) Waiver of continuing education.

(a) The Board may grant a waiver of attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing education, if it can be shown that the failure to comply was not attributable to the individual or was beyond the physical capabilities of the individual, e.g., disability, residence abroad, military service or other good cause. A request for waiver must be received by the Board on or before the license expiration date.

(b) Waiver requests will be considered only on an individual basis and may be made by submitting the following items to the Board:

1. A written request for a waiver which specifies what requirement is sought to be waived and an explanation of the reason(s) for the request, dated and signed by the licensee.

2. Any documentation which supports the reason(s) for the waiver requested or which may be subsequently requested.

(c) An approved waiver is effective only for the calendar year for which the waiver of the requirement is sought, unless otherwise specified in writing by the Board.

(8) Violations.

(a) Any licensee who falsely attests to attendance and completion of the hours of continuing education may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the provisions of these rules.

(b) Any licensee who fails to obtain the required continuing education hours may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the provisions of these rules.

(c) Continuing education hours obtained as a result of compliance with the terms of enforcement action taken by the Board shall not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained in any renewal cycle.

(d) Prior to the institution of any disciplinary proceedings, a letter shall be issued to the last known address of the individual stating the facts or conduct which warrant the intended action.

(e) The licensee has thirty (30) days from the date of notification to show compliance with all lawful requirements for the retention of the license.

(f) Any licensee who fails to show compliance with the required continuing education hours in response to the notice contemplated by subparagraph (d) above may be subject to disciplinary action.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-30-01-.12

Original rule filed May 25, 1994; effective August 9, 1994. Repeal and new rule filed January 30, 1997; effective May 30, 1997. Repeal and new rule filed December 28, 1999; effective March 12, 2000. Amendment filed September 13, 2001; effective November 27, 2001. Amendment filed August 19, 2002; effective November 2, 2002. Amendments filed October 18, 2004; effective January 1, 2005. Amendment filed November 2, 2005; effective January 16, 2006. Amendment filed May 18, 2007; effective August 1, 2007. Amendment filed July 3, 2007; effective September 16, 2007. Amendments filed August 5, 2011; effective November 3, 2011. Amendments filed March 27, 2015; effective June 25, 2015. Amendments filed February 6, 2017; effective May 7, 2017. Amendments filed May 7, 2019; effective August 5, 2019. Amendments filed October 26, 2020; effective 1/24/2021.