PDFWAC 246-828-510

Continuing education.

The purpose of continuing education is to ensure the highest quality professional care. The objectives are to improve and increase the ability of the hearing aid specialist, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, and speech-language pathology assistant to deliver the highest possible quality professional care and keep the professional abreast of current developments.
Continuing education consists of educational activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques and to convey information and knowledge about advances in hearing instrument fitting and dispensing, audiology, and speech-language pathology fields as applied to the work setting.
(1) Continuing education requirement. A credential holder must complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education every three years.
(a) At least one hour of the continuing education must be on infection control.
(b) Multicultural education aimed at removing barriers to access to care may count for up to five hours of continuing education.
(c) At least 25 hours of continuing education must be related to profession specific skills and competencies.
(i) At least two hours of continuing education must be on health equity training, as specified in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.
(ii) This training must be completed by the end of the second full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2024, or the second full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later.
(2) Continuing education is defined as any of the following activities:
(a) Courses, seminars, workshops and postgraduate programs offered by accredited educational institutions. These educational activities must be recorded on an official transcript or by documentation stating the number of continuing education hours completed.
(b) Courses, seminars and workshops offering continuing clock or continuing educational units offered by profession-related organizations or industries. These activities will be accepted with documentation of the number of continuing education hours completed.
(c) Attendance at a continuing education program having a featured speaker(s) or panel, which has been provided by, sponsored by, or endorsed by a profession-related organization or industry. This activity will be accepted with documentation of the number of continuing education hours completed.
(d) Participation as a speaker or panel member in a continuing education program which has been provided by, sponsored by, or endorsed by a profession-related organization or industry. A maximum of eight hours, including preparation time, may be applied to the total three-year requirement.
(e) Completion of a written, video, internet, or audio continuing education program which has been provided by, sponsored by, or endorsed by a profession-related organization or industry. Only programs in which proof of completion is provided or with tests that are not self-graded will be accepted.
(3) The board may grant an exception for continuing education requirements under certain circumstances including, but not limited to, severe illness. The credential holder must submit a written request for exception to the board for review. The board will approve or deny the request.
(4) A credential holder may be randomly audited for continuing education compliance as specified in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161, 18.130.040, 43.70.040, and 43.70.613. WSR 24-01-120, § 246-828-510, filed 12/19/23, effective 1/19/24. Statutory Authority: 2014 c 189, RCW 18.35.161, 18.130.062, and 18.130.020. WSR 15-14-092, § 246-828-510, filed 6/29/15, effective 7/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161 and 18.35.090. WSR 07-07-065, § 246-828-510, filed 3/15/07, effective 4/15/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. WSR 98-05-060, § 246-828-510, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161(3). WSR 93-07-007 (Order 342B), § 246-828-510, filed 3/5/93, effective 4/5/93.]