Article archive / July 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 6.
After almost six years of effort and discussion, psychologists are logging in their new categories for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), as they renew their licenses this month.
The new procedures are so confusing to some that the psychology board produced an explainer video and posted it on UTube. (See link at the end of this news story.) Psychologists with even-numbered licenses have been gathering training activities under the new categories over the last two years, and first pushed for by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards in 2010.
The changes relate to Chapter 8 of the Professional and Occupational Standards, known as Title 46, for psychologists, are now effective for the July license renewals because of an Emergency Rule in June.
Both an Emergency Rule and also a regular Notice of Intent was published in the June 2016 Louisiana Register. The Emergency Rule is effective immediately, and the Notice allows comments by 12 p.m. on July 10. Both of these cover the same updates about Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The rules apply to all psychologists, provisionally licensed psychologists, and licensed specialists in school psychologists, according to a web announcement prepared by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP).
The new rules include nine subcategories, such as peer consultation, practice outcome monitoring, conferences/conventions, publications, traditional continuing education, and others, falling into three classes. Licensees must report training in at least two of these nine subcategories.
Even numbered licenses are to report 30 hours of continuing development for this cycle, using the new CPD guidelines and nine categories. For the next two-year cycle, the number of hours increases to 40 hours. Odd-numbered licenses follow this on odd- numbered years on their cycle.
According to the Emergency Rule: “§803. Requirements A. For the reporting periods that begin July 2014 and July 2015, each psychologist is required to complete 30 hours or credits of continuing professional development within the biennial reporting period. The CPD credits must conform to the distribution requirements listed below in Subsection C. For the reporting periods that begin July 2016 and July 2017 and henceforth, 40 credits of continuing professional development will be required in the biennial reporting period and the hours must conform to the distribution listed below in Subsection C.”
The new rules also include a regulation to maintain documentation for six years.
“C. Supporting Documentation. Each licensee shall retain corroborative documentation, such as the CPD Verification Form, of his or her continuing professional development for six years. Although this documentation is not routinely required as part of the licensee’s submission, the board may, at its discretion, request such documentation. Any misrepresentation of continuing professional development will be cause for disciplinary action by the board.”
UTube video by the board is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7D8Su6 cWfs&feature=youtu.be
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