4 Colo. Code Regs. § 748-1.11

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 20, October 25, 2024

Section 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.

4 CCR 748-1.11

37 CR 21, November 10,2014, effective 11/30/2014

38 CR 15, August 10, 2015, effective 8/30/2015

43 CR 03, February 10, 2020, effective 1/1/2020

43 CR 07, April 10, 2020, effective 4/30/2020

43 CR 19, October 10, 2020, effective 8/30/2020

43 CR 19, October 10, 2020, effective 9/9/2020

43 CR 22, November 25, 2020, effective 12/15/2020

44 CR 09, May 10, 2021, effective 5/30/2021

45 CR 17, September 10, 2022, effective 8/15/2022

45 CR 16, August 25, 2022, effective 9/14/2022

45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 10/26/2022

45 CR 23, December 10, 2022, effective 11/11/2022

45 CR 21, November 10, 2022, effective 11/30/2022

46 CR 02, January 25, 2022, effective 1/9/2023