Article archive / October 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 3.
The psychology board’s proposed rule changes for continuing education drew a number of comments from various psychologists last month. Also the Louisiana Psychological Association submitted a summary statement with concerns.
The board had proposed two main changes. The first was an increase in continuing education hours from the present biannual requirement of 30 hours, to 40 hours. The proposed rules would also expand the types of activities that could be submitted for credit but also place limits both on traditional courses allowed, and on the amount of credit a psychologist can apply to each of the categories.
These additional types of education would include practice monitoring, journal clubs, and work on committees, as examples. The changes tracked those proposed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
The Times talked with a number of psychologists about their suggestions. Most noted that they were comfortable with the change from 30 to 40 hours.
Other changes however drew comments, and also opened up discussion about some of the issues with continuing education that psychologists have experienced in past years.
Dr. Courtland Chaney, an IO psychologist, noted to the Times that he took this opportunity to provide feedback to the board. In the past, the board has seldom matched the continuing education requirements of professional Industrial-Organization psychologists.
Chaney wrote the board. “I have experienced considerable frustration with the CE requirements as an I-O psychologist because some of the most valuable CE information to my professional practice fails to meet CE requirements based on who ‘sponsors’ or conducts the CE program. In the past I have been denied use of CE credit for legal education important to me as an I-O person, but have been given credit for attending a program on smoking cessation, which has no relevance to my professional activities.”
There are only eight IOs licensed in the Louisiana. And, there have been no IO psychologists to serve on the board in the last decades.
President of the Louisiana Psychological Association, Dr. Bryan Gros, told the Times "LPA had submitted feedback to the board that we were not opposed to an increase in the numbers of CE hours required for licensees.”
“The EC, in its position statement,” he noted, “did also inform them that we [LPA] were opposed to limiting the proportion of traditional CE activities that can be used to meet that requirement. “We looked at that as forcing licensees to participate in non-traditional activities with were not only complicated, but did not appear verifiable and had little quality control.”
“But we also said we were entirely supportive of recognizing alternative CE activities when they show that they help maintain competence, and would want this to be an option, rather than limiting traditional education."
A number of other psychologists pointed to a lack of clarity in some of the written language in the rules, as an example, how those with the Emeritus status would be handled or if short training would be approved.
Some psychologists noted that the new rules were too extensive and unnecessary, while others suggested that the new categories might result in lowered standards. Another pointed out that the timing could void already completed courses in 2012, if the new rules take effect retroactively. Some liked the changes.
Asked about the feedback, Ms. Kelly Parker, Executive Director, told the Times. “All comments submitted to my attention and received by 12:00 p.m. September 10, 2012, will be considered by the Board at the next meeting.”
Above: The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in 2011, chaired by Dr. Tony Young (head of table). The board has been looking at rule changes for continuing education for almost two years. Dr. Young took an active interest in the changes which were recently published and public feedback submitted.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.