262 CMR 7.00 — Continuing education

262 CMR: BOARD OF ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONS 262 CMR 7.00: CONTINUING EDUCATION Section 7.01: Scope and Purpose 7.02: Definitions 7.03: Continuing Education Requirements 7.04: Verification of Continuing Education Activities

262 CMR 7.00 Continuing education

7.01 Scope and Purpose

7.01: Scope and Purpose The purpose of continuing education is to maintain high standards for the practice of mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, educational psychology, and applied behavior analysis by requiring licensees to participate in on-going educational activities. Through these activities, licensees increase their competence and enhance their knowledge.

7.02 Definitions

7.02: Definitions Board. The Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions established under M.G.L. c. 13, § 88. Board-recognized Entities. Entities that the Board has designated as appropriate to approve sponsors of continuing education activities. Entities may define continuing education content areas appropriate for the specific license. Designated entities may define procedures for the sponsors to follow in the delivery of continuing education activities. Contact Hour. The unit of measurement for an organized learning experience lasting 50 consecutive minutes. Entity-approved Sponsors. Continuing education providers that have been approved by Board-Recognized Entities to sponsor continuing education activities. Sponsors may include, but are not limited to, colleges and universities, professional institutes, other workshop providers, and other professional training organizations.

7.03 Continuing Education Requirements

7.03: Continuing Education Requirements (1) All licensees are required, as a condition of license renewal, to complete a minimum of 30 Contact Hours of continuing education activities per licensure/renewal period (every two years). These Contact Hours must be obtained from Board-recognized Entities. (2) Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 264, applicants and licensees shall participate in domestic violence and sexual violence training as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure. (a) The Board, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, will identify programs or courses of study that meet the standards required by this provision and provide its licensees with a list of such programs or courses. (b) An applicant for renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure, who has previously completed a program or course approved by the Board shall not be required to participate in a subsequent program or course of domestic violence and sexual violence training except where the Board, in its discretion, requires completion of such a program or course as a condition of renewal, revival, or reinstatement of licensure. (3) Failure to comply with the continuing education requirements of 262 CMR 7.00 is grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to 262 CMR 6.03(l) and may result in the non-renewal of the license.

262 CMR: BOARD OF ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONS

7.04 Verification of Continuing Education Activities

7.04: Verification of Continuing Education Activities (1) Effective for each licensure/renewal period commencing January 1996, each licensee will be required to submit a statement on the license renewal form provided by the Board attesting to satisfaction of the continuing education requirements of 262 CMR 7.00. (2) For each contact hour earned by participation in continuing education activities offered by Entity-approved Sponsors, the licensee must provide documentation of the following information upon request of the Board: (a) the title of the program; (b) the number of program hours completed; (c) the name of the Entity-approved Sponsors of the program; (d) the name of the Board-recognized Entities approving the programs; (e) the date of the program; and (f) official verification of attendance at such program. (3) The Board may audit licensees for compliance with the continuing education requirements of 262 CMR 7.00. (4) The Board may request each licensee to provide the Board with the information described in 262 CMR 7.04(2) for two prior licensure/renewal periods. (5) Entity-approved sponsors of continuing education activities will be expected to maintain records of the names of all program attendees and the number of hours awarded for attendance at each program for a minimum period of five years from the date of the program. REGULATORY AUTHORITY 262 CMR 7.00: M.G.L. c. 13, § 90.