ARC 5268C

ARC 5268C

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DIVISION[645]

Adopted and Filed

Rule making related to continuing education hours

The Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology hereby amends Chapter 303, "Continuing Education for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 272C.2.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 272C.2.

Purpose and Summary

This rule making amends the Board's continuing education rules to remove the 16-hour cap on remote continuing education hours. Under the new requirement, licensees may complete all hours through remote offerings, provided the remote activity or course includes a posttest.

Public Comment and Changes to Rule Making

Notice of Intended Action for this rule making was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on September 9, 2020, as ARC 5163C. A public hearing was held on September 29, 2020, at 9 a.m.in Fifth Floor Conference Room 526, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa.

The Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) support the removal of the 16-hour cap on remote continuing education hours. ISHA and ASHA share concerns about the requirement for a posttest, and each suggested edits to the requirement to increase flexibility of delivery of various continuing education programs. In addition to providing written and verbal comments, ASHA and ISHA presented their concerns about the requirement for a posttest during the Board meeting on October 16, 2020. Suggested amendments were not incorporated, and the posttest requirement remains. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rule Making

This rule making was adopted by the Board on October 16, 2020.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

A waiver provision is not included in this rule making because all administrative rules of the professional licensure boards in the Professional Licensure Division are subject to the waiver provisions accorded under 645—Chapter 18.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rule making will become effective on December 9, 2020.

The following rule-making action is adopted:

Amend paragraph 303.3(2)"f" as follows:

f. A maximum of 16 hours of continuing Continuing education credit may be earned per biennium by participation in continuing education programs and activities which meet the criteria in this rule and which are completed through journal readings, teleconference or videoconference participation, and online program participation. In addition, such programs and activities must include a posttest that the participant must pass in order to receive continuing education credit.

[Filed 10/16/20, effective 12/9/20]

[Published 11/4/20]

Editor's Note: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 11/4/20.