Standard VII: Maintenance of Certification
Demonstration of continued professional development is mandated for maintenance of the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. This standard took effect on January 1, 2005. The renewal period will be three years. This standard will apply to all certificate holders, regardless of the date of initial certification.
Implementation
Individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology must accumulate 30 contact hours of professional development over the 3-year period in order to meet this standard. Individuals will be subject to random review of their professional development activities.
If renewal of certification is not accomplished within the 3-year period, certification will lapse. Re-application for certification will be required, and certification standards in effect at the time of re-application must be met.
Continued professional development may be demonstrated through one or more of the following options:
- Accumulation of 3 continuing education units (CEUs) (30 contact hours) from continuing education (CE) providers approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA CEUs may be earned through group activities (e.g., workshops, conferences), independent study (e.g., course development, research projects, internships, attendance at educational programs offered by non-ASHA CE providers), and self-study (e.g., videotapes, audiotapes, journals); or
- Accumulation of 3 CEUs (30 contact hours) from a provider authorized by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET); or
- Accumulation of 2 semester hours (3 quarter hours) from a college or university that holds regional accreditation or accreditation from an equivalent nationally recognized or governmental accreditation authority; or
- Accumulation of 30 contact hours from employer-sponsored in-service or other continuing education activities that contribute to professional development.
Professional Development is defined as any activity that relates to the science and contemporary practice in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Speech, Language and Hearing sciences, and results in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills or the enhancement of current knowledge and skills. Professional Development activities should be planned in advance and based on an assessment of knowledge, skills and competencies of the individual and/or an assessment of knowledge, skills, and competencies required for the independent practice of any area of the professions.
For the first renewal cycle, beginning January 1, 2005, applications for renewal will be processed on a staggered basis, determined by initial certification dates. For individuals initially certified before January 1, 1980, professional development activities must be initiated after January 1, 2005, and completed by December 31, 2007; for individuals initially certified between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1989, professional development activities must be initiated after January 1, 2006, and completed by December 31, 2008; for individuals initially certified between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1999, professional development activities must be initiated after January 1, 2007, and completed by December 31, 2009; and for individuals initially certified between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2004, professional development activities must be initiated after January 1, 2008, and completed by December 31, 2010. All individuals will have a 3-year period to complete the process for renewal of certification.