CHAPTER 362
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR INTERPRETER FOR THE
HEARING IMPAIRED PRACTITIONERS
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 interpreter for the hearing impaired examiners.
“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 an interpreter for the hearing impaired 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 an interpreter for the hearing impaired 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) 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(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium.
	362.2(5) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
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.”
	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.
645—362.4(154E,272C) Audit of continuing education report. After each educational biennium, the board may audit licensees to review compliance with continuing education requirements.
	362.4(1) The board may audit a percentage of its licensees and may, at its discretion, determine to audit a licensee. A licensee whose license renewal application is submitted during the grace period may be subject to a continuing education audit.
	362.4(2) The licensee shall provide to the board for auditing purposes proof of current National Interpreter Certification or current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certification or the following information:
	a. 	Date and location of course, course title, course description, course outline, course schedule, names and qualifications of instructors/speakers and method of presentation, or a program brochure which includes all the information required in this paragraph;
	b. 	Number of contact hours for program attended; and
	c. 	Individual certificate of completion issued to the licensee or evidence of successful completion of the course from the course sponsor.
	362.4(3) For auditing purposes, all licensees must retain the information identified in subrule 362.4(2) for two years after the biennium has ended.
	362.4(4) Information identified in subrule 362.4(2) must be submitted within one month after the date of notification of the audit. Extension of time may be granted on an individual basis.
	362.4(5) If the submitted materials are incomplete or unsatisfactory, the licensee may be given the opportunity to submit make-up credit to cover the deficit found through the audit if the board determines that the deficiency was the result of good-faith conduct on the part of the licensee. The deadline for receipt of the documentation for this make-up credit is 120 days from the date of mailing to the address of record at the board office.
	362.4(6) Failure to notify the board of a current mailing address will not absolve the licensee from the audit requirement, and an audit must be completed before license renewal.
645—362.5(154E,272C) Automatic exemption. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement during the license biennium when that person:
	1.	Served honorably on active duty in the military service; or
	2.	Resided in another state or district having continuing education requirements for the profession and met all requirements of that state or district for practice therein; or
	3.	Was a government employee working in the licensee’s specialty and assigned to duty outside the United States; or
	4.	Was absent from the state but engaged in active practice under circumstances which were approved by the board.
645—362.6(272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. A licensee who has had a physical or mental disability or illness during the license period may apply for an exemption. An exemption provides for an extension of time or exemption from some or all of the continuing education requirements. An applicant shall submit a completed application form approved by the board for an exemption. The application form is available upon request from the board office. The application requires the signature of a licensed health care professional who can attest to the existence of a disability or illness during the license period. If the application is from a licensee who is the primary caregiver for a relative who is ill or disabled and needs care from that primary caregiver, the physician shall verify the licensee’s status as the primary caregiver. A licensee who applies for an exemption shall be notified of the decision regarding the application. A licensee who obtains approval shall retain a copy of the exemption to be presented to the board upon request.
	362.6(1) The board may grant an extension of time to fulfill the continuing education requirement.
	362.6(2) The board may grant an exemption from the continuing education requirement for any period of time not to exceed two calendar years. If the physical or mental disability or illness for which an extension or exemption was granted continues beyond the period initially approved by the board, the licensee must reapply for a continuance of the extension or exemption.
	362.6(3) The board may, as a condition of any extension or exemption granted, require the licensee to make up a portion of the continuing education requirement in the manner determined by the board.
645—362.7(154E,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. The board may take formal disciplinary action on the following grounds:
	362.7(1) Failure to cooperate with a board audit.
	362.7(2) Failure to meet the continuing education requirement for licensure.
	362.7(3) Falsification of information on the license renewal form.
	362.7(4) Falsification of continuing education information.
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]