CHAPTER 241
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS
645—241.1(272C) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Active license” means a license that is current and has not expired.
“Approved program/activity” means a continuing education program/activity meeting the standards set forth in these rules.
“Audit” means the selection of licensees for verification of satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements during a specified time period.
“Board” means the board of psychology.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts designed to maintain, improve, or expand a licensee’s knowledge and skills in order for the licensee to develop new knowledge and skills relevant to the enhancement of practice, education, or theory development to improve the safety and welfare of the public.
“Hour of continuing education” means at least 50 minutes spent by a licensee in actual attendance at and completion of an approved continuing education activity.
“Inactive license” means a license that has expired because it was not renewed by the end of the grace period. The category of “inactive license” may include licenses formerly known as lapsed, inactive, delinquent, closed, or retired.
“Independent study” means a subject/program/activity that a person pursues autonomously that meets standards for approval criteria in the rules and includes a posttest.
“License” means license to practice.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as a psychologist in the state of Iowa.
“Practice of psychology” means the application of established principles of learning, motivation, perception, thinking, psychophysiology and emotional relations to problems, behavior, group relations, and biobehavior by persons trained in psychology for compensation or other personal gain. The application of principles includes, but is not limited to, counseling and the use of psychological remedial measures with persons, in groups or individually, with adjustment or emotional problems in the areas of work, family, school and personal relationships. The practice of psychology also means measuring and testing personality, mood-motivation, intelligence/aptitudes, attitudes/public opinion, and skills; the teaching of such subject matter; and the conducting of research on the problems relating to human behavior.
645—241.2(272C) Continuing education requirements.
	241.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period beginning on July 1 of even-numbered years and ending on June 30 of even-numbered years. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a licensee in this state shall be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education approved by the board.
	241.2(2) Requirements of new licensees. Those persons licensed for the first time shall not be required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the first renewal of their licenses. Continuing education hours acquired anytime from the initial licensing until the second license renewal may be used. The new licensee will be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education per biennium for each subsequent license renewal.
	241.2(3) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity. These hours must be in accordance with these rules.
	241.2(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium except as stated for the second renewal. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.
	241.2(5) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
645—241.3(154B,272C) Standards.
	241.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:
	a. 	Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;
	b. 	Pertains to subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of the profession;
	c. 	Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;
	d. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	e. 	Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:
	(1)	Date, location, course title, presenter(s);
	(2)	Number of program contact hours; and
	(3)	Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor.
	241.3(2) Specific criteria.
	a. 	For the second license renewal, licensees shall obtain 6 hours of continuing education pertaining to the practice of psychology in either of the following areas: Iowa mental health laws and regulations, or risk management.
	b. 	For all renewal periods following the second license renewal, licensees shall obtain 6 hours of continuing education pertaining to the practice of psychology in any of the following areas: ethical issues, federal mental health laws and regulations, Iowa mental health laws and regulations, or risk management. For all board members appointed to a first term beginning May 1, 2013, or later, a maximum of 2 of these hours may be obtained by providing service as a member of the board as follows:
	(1)	One hour of credit for attendance and participation at a minimum of three regular quarterly board meetings during the license biennium, or
	(2)	Two hours of credit for attendance and participation at a minimum of six regular quarterly board meetings during the license biennium.
	c. 	Effective July 1, 2014, a licensee may obtain the remainder of continuing education hours of credit by:
	(1)	Completing training to comply with mandatory reporter training requirements, as specified in 645—subrule 240.12(4). Hours reported for credit shall not exceed the hours required to maintain compliance with required training.
	(2)	Attending programs/activities that are sponsored by the American Psychological Association or the Iowa Psychological Association.
	(3)	Attending workshops, conferences, or symposiums that meet the criteria in subrule 241.3(1).
	(4)	Completing academic coursework that meets the criteria set forth in these rules. Continuing education credit equivalents are as follows:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours
	(5)	Completing home study courses for which a certificate of completion is issued.
	(6)	Completing electronically transmitted courses for which a certificate of completion is issued.
	(7)	Conducting scholarly research, the results of which are published in a recognized professional publication. In order to claim such credit, the licensee must attest to the hours actually spent conducting research, demonstrate that the research is integrally related to the practice of psychology, explain how the research advances the licensee’s knowledge in the field, and provide the published work.
	(8)	Preparing new courses on material that is integrally related to the practice of psychology and is beyond entry level. In order to claim such credit, the licensee must: attest that the licensee has not taught the course in the past or that the licensee has not substantially altered the course content; request a specific amount of continuing education credit; describe how the course is integrally related to the practice of the profession and advances the licensee’s knowledge in the field; and supply a course syllabus that supports the licensee’s request for credit.
	(9)	Presenting to other professionals. A licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis for presenting continuing education programs that meet the criteria of subrule 241.3(1). Two hours of credit will be awarded for each hour of presentation.
	d. 	A combined maximum of 30 hours of credit per biennium may be used for scholarly research, preparation of new courses, and presentations to other professionals.
[ARC 1029C, IAB 9/18/13, effective 10/23/13]
645—241.4(154B,272C) Audit of continuing education report. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—241.5(154B,272C) Automatic exemption. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—241.6(154B,272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—241.7(154B,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—241.8(272C) Continuing education waiver for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 8/31/05, effective 10/5/05.
645—241.9(272C) Reinstatement of inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 8/31/05, effective 10/5/05.
645—241.10(272C) Hearings. Rescinded IAB 8/31/05, effective 10/5/05.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.2 and chapter 154B.
[Filed 9/1/00, Notice 7/12/00—published 9/20/00, effective 10/25/00]
[Filed 6/21/01, Notice 3/7/01—published 7/11/01, effective 8/15/01]
[Filed 8/5/05, Notice 6/8/05—published 8/31/05, effective 10/5/05]◊
[Filed 9/5/08, Notice 7/16/08—published 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08]
[Filed ARC 1029C (Notice ARC 0834C, IAB 7/10/13), IAB 9/18/13, effective 10/23/13]
◊	Two or more ARCs