Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 750-X-3A — Continuing Education

750 Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.01 Rationale

Continuing education is the process through which professional licensees review psychological concepts and techniques, acquire new knowledge or skills relevant to their work, and improve their competence in current skills. These activities are intended to supplement what has already been attained in training and practice, and shall be relevant to the practice of psychology or applicable within the practice of psychology.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq., 34-26-22.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed November 27, 2013; effective February 1, 2014 pursuant to Act No. 2013-386.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.02 Responsibility For Continuing Education Compliance

(1) Compliance with the continuing education requirement is the responsibility of every licensee. It is the responsibility of each licensee to provide the Board with appropriate documentation of continuing education credits. On request, the Board will provide the licensee with information about his or her documented credits.

(2) Any activities submitted in satisfaction of the continuing education requirement must be relevant to psychology and acceptable to the Board. The Board is vested with the authority to audit and/or monitor programs given by any provider of programs submitted for continuing education credit.

(3) The Board may reject any credit applied for continuing education by a licensee if the licensee has either failed to demonstrate the validity of the continuing education experience to the standards of the Board or falsified any information provided to the Board regarding the continuing education credit sought.

(4) Making any fraudulent or untrue statement to the Board in regard to continuing education credits is a violation of the law and will be cause for disciplinary action.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed August 27, 2003; effective October 1, 2003.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.03 Requirements

(1) The continuing education requirement for license renewal for psychologists is 20 hours per year. One hour of continuing education is defined as no less than 50 minutes of learning in one hour. Credit is accrued on an annual basis (October 1 - September 30). A maximum of 6 hours accrued during a given year may be credited (carried over) to the subsequent year and must be submitted by the annual renewal date of October 15. Hours cannot be carried over for more than one year.

(2) The continuing education requirement for license renewal for psychological technicians is 10 hours per year. One hour of continuing education is defined as no less than 50 minutes of learning in one hour. Credit is accrued on an annual basis (October 1 - September 30). A maximum of 3 hours accrued during a given year may be credited (carried over) to the subsequent year and must be submitted by the annual renewal date of October 15. Hours cannot be carried over for more than one year.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.
• Filed April 15, 1990. Amended: Filed December 6, 1991; Filed February 4, 1993. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed September 17, 2002; effective October 22, 2002. Amended: Filed August 27, 2003; effective October 1, 2003.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.04 Prorated Continuing Education

Individuals licensed for less than 12 months must acquire continuing education credit by the following formula: (20 credits/12 months (number of months licensed) and rounded to the nearest whole number. Begin counting with the first full month following the month of licensure. For example, an individual is licensed on January 6, the continuing education requirement is (20/12) X 8 = 13.34; rounded to 13 hours.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed August 2, 1991. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed August 27, 2003; effective October 1, 2003.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.05 Definition Of Continuing Education Activity

The American Psychological Association (APA) describes Continuing Professional Education (CPE) in psychology as an ongoing process consisting of formal learning activities that are relevant to psychological practice, education, and science, and that also enable psychology professionals to keep pace with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, intervention and education as well as important legal, statutory or regulatory issues, and that also allow psychology professionals to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.

(1) Programs offered by agencies which have been approved to provide continuing education activities by the APA qualify for continuing education credit, including, but not limited to home, independent, distance, book-based, or online study programs approved by the APA.

(2) Programs, other than home, independent, distance, book-based, or online study programs, will be accepted for credit if, in the opinion of the Board, the topic of the program clearly reflects the interface with the professional or scientific applications of psychology and provide the equivalent of APA-defined credit. Typically, such programs are offered or sponsored by other professional organizations, which are directly related to the practice of psychology (e.g., AMA, NASW, NIMH) and provide formal documentation of continuing education activity. The applicant will provide to the Board documentation that the program met all of the following criteria:

(i) A clear statement of the relevance of the program to the science or profession of psychology.

(ii) Objectives of the program are clearly and specifically stated.

(iii) Programs are publicized in brochures which identify faculty and describe the educational objectives.

(iv) Course leaders, teachers, or faculty are professionally qualified people who have demonstrated their ability, either by advanced degrees or publications in professional journals.

(v) Provision of a certificate of continuing education that supports participation in the activity for the hours indicated.

(3) It is the responsibility of the licensee to provide adequate documentation that the educational activity qualifies for credit according to the criteria above.

(4) Credit may be given for up to six hours per annual renewal cycle for being the presenter at continuing education activities/programs provided that all of the requirements of 750-X-3A-.05 are met.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology; Lori H. Rall
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed October 5, 1990; June 4, 1992. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed September 17, 2002; effective October 22, 2002. Amended: Filed August 27, 2003; effective October 1, 2003. Amended: Filed January 20, 2006; effective February 24, 2006. Amended: Filed May 16, 2007; effective June 20, 2007. Amended: Published December 30, 2021; effective February 13, 2022.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.06 Fees

The annual fee is due at the time of license renewal. This fee is due annually at the time of license renewal. The fee covers the administrative costs for registration of continuing education credits with the Board and verification of compliance with the continuing education requirement by the Board.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.07 Renewal Period

Continuing education requirements are on an annual basis. It is the responsibility of each licensee to demonstrate compliance with the continuing education requirements by September 30th.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq.; 34-26-22.
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed December 6, 1991. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 750-X-3A-.08 Failure To Comply With Continuing Education Requirements

Licensees will be reviewed for compliance with continuing education requirements not later than October 15 of each year. Failure to engage in continuing education or failure to pay fees for registration of continuing education credits shall result in a lapsed license. A licensee may have his or her lapsed license reinstated upon satisfaction of the following:

(1) Payment of all accrued annual fees.

(2) Payment of all late penalties.

(3) Submission of proof of compliance with continuing education requirements.

(4) If a psychologist or psychological technician is alleged to have violated any prohibition on professional conduct as referenced in the law, the Board, upon a hearing and proof of the violation, may deny reinstatement of the license or prohibit the psychologist or psychological technician from applying for reinstatement of licensure.

History

• Author: Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
• Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-26-1, et seq., 34-26-22
• Filed April 5, 1990. Amended: Filed December 6, 1997. Amended: Filed November 25, 1997; effective December 30, 1997. Amended: Filed May 16, 2007; effective June 20, 2007. Amended: Filed November 27, 2013; effective February 1, 2014 pursuant to Act No. 2013-386.