Renewal Information for Georgia Dietitians

Georgia dietitians can earn all 30 hours for renewal onlineGeorgia-licensed dietitians have an upcoming license renewal deadline of March 31, 2012.

Thirty (30) hours of continuing education [Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs)] are required to renew.

Continuing Professional Education must meet the following requirements:

  • consist of education beyond that required for entry into the profession
  • update, enhance or assess knowledge and skills required for competent performance
  • dietetics-related
  • provide learning outcomes that apply to practice

Acceptable continuing professional education activities must meet the requirements of this section and may include activities sponsored by the following approved organizations provided they meet the requirements and criteria of this section:

  • Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians
  • American Dietetic Association (ADA) and affiliates
  • Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

A licensee must retain all required supporting documents as proof of completion of continuing professional education for no less than five (5) years. Proof of continuing professional education may be documented by:

  • A copy of the licensee’s current Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) card and CDR record of continuing professional education; provided, however, that the continuing professional education complies with the requirements specified within this chapter; or
  • Certificate of attendance including date of event, number of contact hours and a program agenda or description of the course.

Professional Development Resources is a CPE Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001). CPE accreditation does not constitute endorsement by CDR of provider programs or materials. Georgia-licensed dietitians can earn all of their required hours through online courses offered @ http://www.pdresources.org/Courses/Dietetics-and-Nutrition/Online/CourseID/1/

The Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians: http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/dietitians/

Renewal Information for Georgia OTs

Georgia OTs can earn up to 8 CE hours for renewal online

Click to view approved self-study

Occupational therapy licenses in Georgia expire on March 31, 2012. Each licensee is required to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) continuing education hours prior to the expiration date of the license. At least sixteen (16) hours must be related to direct “hands on” patient care and up to eight (8) hours may be in related areas. A minimum of two (2) hours of continuing education must be on the ethics of occupational therapy practice.

Direct patient care continuing education includes attendance at live presentations such as workshops, seminars, conferences or formal academic course work. For purposes of these rules direct “hands on” patient care includes occupational therapy assessment, treatment planning, occupational therapy implementation and diagnostic related information. Up to four (4) hours can be obtained by means of in-service educational programs, electronic or web based courses, formal self-study courses or computer learning activities.

General continuing education includes up to four (4) hours for each of the following activities including independent study, mentorship, Level II fieldwork supervision, published professional writing, instructional presentations, research, grants, professional meetings and related activities and up to four (4) hours can be by means of in-service educational programs, electronic or web based courses, formal self-study courses, satellite broadcasts or computer learning activities.

Of the twenty-four (24) hours, no more than eight (8) continuing education hours may be in self-study and no more than four (4) hours in the area of general continuing education.

Prior approval of continuing education courses is not required. Each licensee randomly selected for a CE audit must submit to the Board supporting documentation as specified in this rule. Acceptable professional continuing education activities shall include activities relevant to occupational therapy practice that can be deemed to update or enhance knowledge and skills required for competent performance beyond general entry level occupational therapy and that include a verifiable way to document time spent in the learning activity.

Documentation of continuing education which the Board deems as acceptable proof of completion include the following:

For continuing education courses that include attendance and participation at a presentation such as a workshop, seminar, conference or in-service educational program:

  • A certificate of completion or similar documentation signed by program official and
  • A program description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective/learning outcomes, content description, agenda or schedule. A shortened description may be accepted for programs specifically exempted by the Board such as AOTA and GOTA Conferences; and

Formal self study, viewing of videotapes in a professional setting, satellite broadcasts, or computer learning activities that must include:

  • Verified instructional time by the course sponsor; a certificate of completion or similar documentation signed by program official; and
  • A program description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective/learning outcomes, content description.

For general education under 671-3-.08(3)(b) documentation must include:

  • How activity relates to occupational therapy;
  • Date and clock hours;
  • Other information as may be requested.

Documentation must be maintained by the licensee for no less than three (3) years from the beginning date of the licensure period.

Continuing Education (CE) hours obtained from January 1st until March 31st of an even numbered year will be counted toward the following biennium renewal period rather than the current biennium renewal period if the licensee has obtained all hours required for renewal by December 31st of the prior odd numbered year.

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Georgia OTs may earn up to 8 hours per renewal through coursework offered at http://www.pdresources.org/Courses/Occupational-Therapy/Online/CourseID/1/

Change to Online Hours Allowed for Georgia Counselors, Social Workers & MFTs

The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists voted August 5, 2011 to adopt amendments to their rule regarding Continuing Education requirements. The primary change involved the number of online CE’s the Board will accept:

Change to Online Hours Allowed for Georgia Counselors, Social Workers & MFTs135-9-.01 Requirements. Amended
(4) A maximum of ten (10) hours of continuing education may be obtained online for each two-year renewal period. This rule change became effective on August 30, 2011

The Board also adopted on a policy during their August 5, 2011 Board meeting to accept all approved online CE hours obtained by a licensee between July 1, 2010 (NOT PREVIOUSLY USED TO SATISFY THE 2010 RENEWAL PERIOD) and September 30, 2011 for the upcoming September 2012 Renewal. This will apply ONLY for the 2012 renewal.

Simply put, this means:

  • Any CE Hours you have obtained between July 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011, if they meet the Board’s CE Hours provider requirements, will be accepted for the renewal of your license in 2012, even if all 35 CE Hours were online or a combination, just as in past years.
  • If you have not yet obtained any CE Hours for the 2012 renewal before September 30, 2011, then this new rule change applies to you: Only 10 CE Hours will be accepted from online (approved) sources.

Professional Development Resources is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC Provider #5590) and by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for Georgia Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (MFTs).

Georgia SLP License Renewal Deadline & Requirements

Georgia-licensed Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Audiologists have an upcoming license renewal deadline of March 31, 2011. 20 hours of continuing education (40 if dual licensed) are required for renewal. There is no limit on hours earned from online or home study courses that require successful completion of a posttest to earn a certificate of completion.

The following information is provided from the Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology website:

The purpose of continuing education is to maintain and enhance the professional competency of speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed to practice in Georgia for the protection of the health and welfare of the people of the State of Georgia.

A continuing education unit (CEU) is defined as ten (10) clock hours of continuing professional education. CEU hours may not be carried over from one licensure biennium to the next.

In order to renew a license, the licensee must obtain a minimum of 2.0 CEUs (20 clock hours) during each biennium period of licensure.

Individuals who hold licenses in both Speech-Language Pathology and in Audiology shall be required to complete a minimum of 2.0 CEUs in Speech-Language Pathology and 2.0 CEUs in Audiology.

CEU requirements for newly approved license holders will be pro-rated during the first biennium licensure period as follows:

  • Licensees whose applications are approved during the first six (6) months of the biennium will be required to accrue two (2) CEUs.
  • Licensees approved during the second six (6) months of the biennium will be required to accrue one and one half (1 ½) CEUs.
  • Licensees approved during the third six months of the biennium will be required to accrue one (1) CEU.
  • Licensees approved during the final six (6) months are not required to accrue CEUs until the following licensure biennium.

CEU hours must be in educational experiences directly related to the scope of practice of the licensee, and must be designed to increase the competence of the licensee in the area of licensure. Examples of activities that may provide CEU hours include:

  • Scientific and educational lectures, workshops, or seminars;
  • College courses taken for credit or through official audit (college course credit shall be deemed to be equivalent to CEUs as follows: One Semester Hour = 1.5 CEUs; One Trimester Hour = 1.3 CEUs; One Quarter Hour = 1.0 CEU).
  • Presentations by licensees: 0.5 CEUs (5 clock hours) will be awarded for the presentation of any lecture, workshop or seminar. A licensee may only receive credit for one presentation per biennium.
  • Audio and video conferences, online courses, and teleconferences; and self-study courses accompanied by an examination by the CEU provider.
  • Praxis Examination in the area of licensure. Two (2.0) CEUs will be awarded for successful completion of the Praxis with a score of 650. Successful completion of this examination during the biennium will satisfy all CEU requirements for the license during that biennium. The Board approved national examination results that are used in order to receive a license may not be used again for the renewal of that license. A person who is licensed in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology must pass tests in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology to meet all continuing education requirements. If the licensee passes the examination in only one area, s/he must obtain 2.0 additional CEUs in the area for which the examination was not passed. Not more than two (.2) CEUs of the required twenty (2.0) per biennium will be awarded for courses in the area(s) of ethics, record-keeping, documentation, Georgia laws and rules, Medicaid regulations and/or Medicare regulations.

Documentation of CEUs:

  • Each licensee shall maintain for three (3) years their own record of the CEU activities that they completed. The Board will not maintain CEU files for licensees.
  • Licensees shall retain documentation of their continuing education activities and shall not send them to the Board Office unless the Board requests the licensee to do so.
  • Licensees shall attest on their biennial licensure renewal application that they have satisfied the CEU requirements as set out above.
  • False attestation of satisfaction of CEU requirements on a renewal application shall subject the licensee to disciplinary actions, including revocation.

Method of Auditing CEUs:

  • The Board will audit a random fixed percentage of applications. Licensees who are audited will be required to document the CEU activities. Required documentation is a certificate or proof of attendance which includes the sponsoring agency, the licensee’s name, the date of the activity, the length of the session, and either the signature of a representative from the sponsoring agency or official certification by the sponsoring agency. A description of the CEU activity may be required if the title of the activity does not clearly state the content of the CEU activity. If the licensee attends a multi-session CEU activity, as in a state or national convention or meeting, additional required information includes a specific listing of each session, the length of each session, and a description of each session if the title does not clearly state the content of the session.
  • Current members of the Board, who are licensees of the Board, shall be audited for each biennium that they serve on the Board.
  • Delinquent renewals shall be subject to the CEU audit for that biennium.

Professional Development Resources is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. Over 20 online and home study courses available for SLPs @ https://www.pdresources.org/Index.aspx

Georgia Psychologists Have Upcoming License Renewal

There are currently 2,178 psychologists licensed in the state of Georgia. Every psychology license will expire on December 31, 2010 and will be renewable for two years if all requirements for renewal, including continuing education, are satisfied and the renewal fee is paid. Psychologists practicing with an expired license are subject to disciplinary action by the Board.

The following continuing education (CE) requirements apply:

  • 40 hours of continuing education are required every 2 years for license renewal (12/31, even years)
  • 10 hours are allowed from online or home study coursework offered by an APA-approved provider (considered Area V)
  • 3 hours in professional ethics and 3 hours in psychopharmacology are required each renewal (must be live – not allowed from Area V)
  • 3 hours in cultural diversity are required for the first renewal only (must be live – not allowed from Area V)

Beginning with the 2010 license renewal, The Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists is requiring all licensees to complete and submit the “Continuing Education Report Form.” Visit the Georgia Board of Psychology website for more information.