RELATES TO:
KRS 194.540,
210.366,
335.300(4),
335.340
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
335.320(4) requires the
board to license marriage and family therapist applicants who satisfy
experience and education requirements and have paid the fee required in
KRS
335.330.
KRS
335.320(9) requires the
board to promulgate administrative regulations to implement
KRS
335.330 to 335.339.
KRS
335.340(7) authorizes the
board to promulgate administrative regulations to establish the fees and other
requirements for a permit as a marriage and family therapy associate. This
administrative regulation establishes the requirements for continuing education
and the methods and standards for the accreditation of continuing education
courses.
Section 1. Accrual of
Continuing Education Hours; Computation of Accrual.
(1) Effective January 1, 2017, a minimum of
fifteen (15) approved continuing education hours shall be accrued by each
licensee and a minimum of ten (10) approved continuing education hours shall be
accrued by each associate during each one (1) year renewal period.
(2) All hours shall be in "the practice of
marriage and family therapy" as defined by
KRS
335.300(4) and shall relate
to the professional application of psychotherapeutic and systems theories and
techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and
families.
(3) Three (3) hours of
the hours required by subsection (1) of this section for licensees and
associates shall be accrued in the field of professional marriage and family
therapy ethics.
(4) Commencing on
January 1, 2017, each licensee and associate shall be required to show proof of
completion of six (6) hours of continuing education in suicide assessment,
treatment, and management every six (6) years beginning January 1, 2015 as
required by
KRS
210.366. These hours shall be in addition to
the requirements set forth in subsection (1) of this section unless preapproved
by the board as meeting the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this
section or meets requirements of Section 2 of this administrative
regulation.
(5) Within three (3)
years of initial licensure or certification, each licensee and associate shall
successfully complete a three (3) hour training that covers dynamics of
domestic violence, elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; effects of domestic
violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation on adult and child victims;
legal remedies for protection; lethality and risk issues; model protocols for
addressing domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
available community resources and victim services and reporting requirements as
required by
KRS
194A.540.
Section 2. Methods of Acquiring Continuing
Education Hours. Continuing education hours applicable to the renewal of the
license or permit shall be directly related to the professional growth and
development of marriage and family therapy practitioners and associates.
Education hours shall be earned by completing any of the educational activities
established in this section.
(1) Programs not
requiring board review and approval. Programs from the following sources shall
be determined as relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy and
shall be approved without further review by the board:
(a) Programs provided or approved by the
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and its state
affiliates;
(c) Continuing education programs offered by
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
accredited institutions.
(2) Programs requiring board review and
approval. Programs from the following sources shall be reviewed and may be
determined to be relevant and subsequently approved by the board:
(a) Relevant programs including online study
courses, manualized training, and face-to-face workshops, by other
organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers approved by
the board;
(b) Relevant programs or
academic courses presented by the licensee. Presenters of relevant programs or
academic courses may earn full continuing education credit for each contact
hour of instruction, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the continuing education
renewal requirements. Credit shall not be issued for repeated instruction of
the same course; and
(c) Relevant
publications in a professionally recognized or juried publication. Credit shall
not be granted except for those publications that were published within the one
(1) year period immediately preceding the renewal date. A licensee shall earn
one-half (1/2) of the continuing education hours required for a relevant
publication. More than one (1) publication shall not be counted during each
renewal period.
Section
3. Continuing Education Providers.
(1) Any entity seeking to obtain approval of
a continuing education program prior to its offering shall pay the fee as
established in
201 KAR 32:030, Section 9,
and submit a Continuing Education Program Provider Approval Application, as
incorporated by reference in
201 KAR 32:030, Section 10,
to the board at least sixty (60) days in advance of the program. The
application shall include the:
(a) Type of
learning activity;
(b) Subject
matter;
(c) Names and
qualifications of the instructors; and
(d) Number of continuing education hours
offered.
(2) A
continuing education activity shall be qualified for preapproval if the
activity being presented:
(a) Is an organized
program of learning;
(b) Pertains
to subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of marriage and
family therapy;
(c) Contributes to
the professional competency of the licensee or associate; and
(d) Is conducted by individuals who have
relevant educational training or experience.
(3) An approved continuing education sponsor
is a person or organization which is approved by the board to provide more than
one (1) continuing education program over a two (2) consecutive calendar year
period of time.
(a) Any person or organization
seeking to obtain approval as a continuing education sponsor shall:
2. Complete the Application for
Continuing Education Sponsor, as incorporated by reference in
201 KAR 32:030, Section 10,
and submit it at least sixty (60) days in advance of offering courses. The
application shall include the following:
a.
Continuing education sponsor provider information;
b. Sponsor administrator
information;
c. One (1) sample
continuing education course that would qualify for approval under Section 1(2)
of this administrative regulation. Although only one (1) course is submitted,
it is understood that this course serves as an example of all courses
provided;
d. The sample course
provided shall include the following:
(i)
Published course or similar description;
(ii) Complete resume of each
instructor;
(iii) Copy of the
program indicating hours of education;
(iv) Timed agenda, including coffee and lunch
breaks listed;
(v) Copy of the
evaluation tool to be used;
(vi)
Official certificate from the provider. The official certificate shall include
the following statement: "KY LMFT Board granted approval for this program on
_______ (date)."; and
(vii) The
documents submitted in this subsection shall be kept on file for each of the
programs and courses presented as board-approved continuing education hours.
The board may request a copy of this information at any time;
e. The delivery format for which
the applicant is applying;
f. A
description of how the continuing education of licensed marriage and family
therapist and permitted marriage and family therapy associates support the
overall goals of the provider;
g. A
description of the target audience, including education level and profession,
to whom the program is directed;
h.
A statement that the applicant will provide all legally required disability
accommodations to participants at live events;
i. A statement that all live programs offered
for board-approved credit will be presented in facilities compliant with all
federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act,
42 U.S.C.
12101, et seq.;
j. A description of the process by which the
applicant selects presenters for the continuing education programs;
k. A statement of whether the provider
maintains policies concerning program fee, refunds, and cancelations;
l. A description of the organization's
procedure for verifying attending, including sign-in sign-out
procedures;
m. A description of the
organization's procedure for distributing certificates of completion;
n. A description of the record-keeping
process that will be utilized to maintain all materials for a period of five
(5) years following each program;
o. A description of the method by which
program evaluations are obtained from participants and how the evaluation
results are used for future program planning; and
p. An attestation that the information
provided in the application:
(i) Is
complete;
(ii) If approved as a
continuing education sponsor, the provider will comply with the terms set forth
by the board;
(iii) Board approval
will be for a period of two (2) consecutive calendar years;
(iv) Board approval will include all programs
and courses that meet board continuing education requirements; and
(v) That the board has the right to audit, at
any time, programs and courses to evaluate if they comply with board
administrative regulations.
(b) An approved continuing education sponsor
shall submit to the board an annual report of the education programs offered
during the year.
(c)
Notwithstanding this subsection, the board shall individually approve the
following courses:
1. The six (6) hours of
board-approved continuing education courses in supervision under
201
KAR 32:035, Section 2(4);
2. The two (2) hours of continuing education
in supervision under
201
KAR 32:035, Section 2(5) needed by a non-AAMFT
approved supervisor to maintain board-approved supervisor status;
3. The one (1) hour of continuing education
in Kentucky law required under
201
KAR 32:035, Section 2(6);
4. The three (3) hours of marriage and family
therapy ethics required by Section 1(3) of this administrative regulation;
and
5. The fifteen (15) hour
telehealth course required by
201 KAR 32:110,
Section 3.
(d) The
applicant shall designate an authorized representative to serve as the sponsor
administrator.
1. The administrator is
responsible for assuring:
a. That the content
of all programs offering continuing education hours meet the qualifications of
Section 1(2) of this administrative regulation; and
b. That the programs are conducted by
individuals who have relevant education training or experience.
2. The administrator shall serve
as the primary contact person with the board concerning sponsor program
matters.
Section
4. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Licensees and
Associates.
(1) Licensees and associates
shall:
(a) Be responsible for obtaining
required continuing education hours;
(b) Identify personal continuing education
needs;
(c) Take the initiative in
seeking continuing professional education activities to meet these needs;
and
(d) Seek ways to integrate new
knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
(2) Each person holding a license or permit
shall:
(a) Select approved activities by which
to earn continuing education hours;
(b) If seeking approval for continuing
education from a program not already approved pursuant to Section 2(2) of this
administrative regulation and not exempted from requiring board approval
pursuant to Section 2(1) of this administrative regulation, submit an
Application for Continuing Education Program Approval Individual, as
incorporated by reference in
201 KAR 32:030, Section 10
to the board for consideration. The application shall include the:
1. Agenda that is detailed, timed, and
includes topics and presenters;
2.
Presenter's biography, including education;
3. Credentials of all presenters;
4. All presenters' experience related to
topic;
5. Description of training;
and
6. Objectives and
goals;
(c) Maintain
records of continuing education hours. Each licensee and associate shall
maintain, for a period of one (1) year from the date of renewal, all
documentation verifying successful completion of continuing education hours.
During each renewal period, up to fifteen (15) percent of all licensees and
associates shall be required by the board to furnish documentation of the
completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours for the
current renewal period. Verification of continuing education hours shall not
otherwise be reported to the board;
(d) Document attendance and participation in
a continuing education activity in the form of official documents including
transcripts, certificates, or affidavits signed by instructors. The type of
documentation required shall vary depending on the specific activity submitted
to the board for approval; and
(e)
Fully comply with the provisions of this administrative regulation. Failure to
comply shall constitute a violation of
KRS
335.340(7) and may result in
the refusal to renew, suspension, or revocation of the license or
permit.
Section
5. Carry-over of Continuing Education Hours, Prohibited. There
shall not be a carryover of continuing education hours earned in excess of
those required under Section 1 of this administrative regulation into the
immediately following renewal period.
Section
6. Board to Approve Continuing Education Hours; Appeal Upon
Approval Denial. In the event of denial, in whole or part, of any Application
for Continuing Education Program Approval Individual, as incorporated by
reference in
201 KAR 32:030, Section 10,
the licensee or associate shall have the right to request reconsideration by
the board of its decision. The request shall be in writing and shall be
received by the board within thirty (30) days after the date of the board's
decision denying approval of continuing education hours.
Section 7. Waiver or Extensions of Continuing
Education.
(1) The board may, in individual
cases involving medical disability, illness, or undue hardship, grant waivers
of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within
which to fulfill the same or make the required reports.
(2) A request for waiver or extension shall
be in writing and submitted within the renewal grace period.
(3) A written request for waiver or extension
of time involving medical disability or illness shall be submitted by the
licensee or associate accompanied by a verifying document signed by a licensed
physician, a physician's assistant, or a nurse practitioner, and shall be
received by the board within the grace period.
(4) A written request for waiver or extension
of time involving undue hardship shall be submitted by the licensee or
associate accompanied by a verifying document signed by the licensee or
associate, and shall be received by the board within the grace
period.
(5) A waiver of the minimum
continuing education requirements or an extension of time within which to
fulfill the continuing education requirements may be granted by the board for a
period of time not to exceed one (1) calendar year.
(6) If the medical disability, illness, or
undue hardship upon which a waiver or extension has been granted continues
beyond the period of the waiver or extension, the licensee or associate shall
reapply for the waiver or extension in writing prior to the expiration of the
previous extension or waiver.