CHAPTER 362
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLITERATORS
645—362.1(154E,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 sign language interpreters and transliterators.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts acquired during licensure 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 sign language interpreter or transliterator in the state of Iowa.
645—362.2(154E,272C) Continuing education requirements.
	362.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period beginning on July 1 of each odd-numbered year and ending on June 30 of the next odd-numbered year. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a sign language interpreter or transliterator in this state shall be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education. A licensee who provides proof of a current National Interpreter Certification or current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification meets continuing education requirements for that biennium renewal cycle.
	362.2(2) Requirements for new licensees. A person licensed for the first time shall not be required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the first renewal of the license unless the licensee holds a temporary license and has chosen to meet the requirements for temporary licensure specified in 645—subparagraph 361.2(6)“b”(2). The new licensee shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education during the biennial license period for each subsequent license renewal and may use continuing education hours acquired anytime from the initial licensing until the second license renewal to meet the requirements for the second license renewal period. A licensee who provides proof of a current national interpreter certification issued by an organization recognized by the board (e.g., Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID); National Association of the Deaf (NAD); NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC)) meets continuing education requirements.
	362.2(3) Requirements for temporary license holders. Prior to July 1, 2009, the temporary license holder shall comply with requirements specified in 645—subrule 361.2(6). Beginning July 1, 2009, the temporary license holder shall comply with continuing education requirements at the time of each license renewal including the first renewal of the license. Temporary license holders shall be required to obtain 40 hours as set forth in subparagraph 362.3(2)“a”(2) and paragraph 362.3(2)“b” for each subsequent renewal biennium beginning July 1, 2009. The temporary license holder may use only continuing education hours acquired during the current biennial license period for renewal.
	362.2(4) 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.
	362.2(5) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium.
	362.2(6) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
[ARC 7643B, IAB 3/25/09, effective 4/29/09]
645—362.3(154E,272C) Standards.
	362.3(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.
	362.3(2) Specific criteria.
	a. 	Continuing education shall be obtained by attending programs relating to the practice of interpreting or transliterating for the deaf or hard of hearing which meet the criteria in subrule 362.3(1) and are:
	(1)	Educational activities in which participants and faculty are present at the same time and attendance can be verified. Such activities include lectures, conferences, focused seminars, clinical and practical workshops, simultaneous live satellite broadcasts and teleconferences;
	(2)	Obtained in content areas that conform to the content areas specified in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certification Maintenance Program Standards and Criteria for Approved Sponsors, revised edition, June 2004, with the exception of the number of CEUs required which is defined in 362.3(2)“b.” RID activity categories of independent study or teaching an academic class are not professional study categories that can be claimed for credit by temporary license holders.
	b. 	Each biennium, licensees shall obtain 40 hours (4 CEUs) of continuing education. The 40 hours shall include no less than 30 hours (3 CEUs) of professional studies. The remaining 10 hours (1 CEU) may be in either professional or general studies. The board shall accept proof of a current National Interpreter Certification or current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification in lieu of proof of the 40 hours of continuing education.
	c. 	Continuing education hours of credit equivalents for academic coursework per biennium are as follows:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours
1 CEU = 10 continuing education hours
	d. 	Credit is given only for actual hours attended.
[ARC 7643B, IAB 3/25/09, effective 4/29/09]
645—362.4(154E,272C) Audit of continuing education report. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—362.5(154E,272C) Automatic exemption. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—362.6(272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
645—362.7(154E,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. Rescinded IAB 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.2 and Iowa Code chapter 154E.
[Filed 2/23/06, Notice 12/21/05—published 3/15/06, effective 4/19/06]
[Filed 2/20/07, Notice 12/20/06—published 3/14/07, effective 4/18/07]
[Filed 8/21/08, Notice 6/18/08—published 9/24/08, effective 10/29/08]
[Filed ARC 7643B (Notice ARC 7407B, IAB 12/17/08), IAB 3/25/09, effective 4/29/09]