Iowa: Iowa requires 40 hours of continuing education each biennium. For the second renewal period, licensees’ continuing education must include 6 hours in either Iowa mental health laws and regulations or risk management. For all subsequent renewals, licensees’ continuing education must include 6 hours in any of the following: ethics, federal mental health laws, Iowa mental health laws or risk management. Board members may obtain continuing education hours based upon attendance and participation at board meetings. Continuing education may be earned as follows: mandatory reporter training; programs sponsored by the American Psychological Association or Iowa Psychological Association; approved workshops, conferences or symposiums; academic coursework; home study or electronically transmitted courses; scholarly research published in recognized professional publication; and preparing and teaching courses or programs. Iowa does not have provisions on hardship waivers.
Michigan: Michigan does not require continuing education for psychologists.
Minnesota: Minnesota requires 40 hours of continuing education each biennium. Continuing education may be earned as follows: developing and teaching an academic course; attending courses or presentations based on scientific, practice or professional standards foundations; graduate level courses in psychology; developing presentation, or taped or computerized materials based on scientific, practice or professional standards foundations; and authoring, editing or reviewing a psychological publication. Continuing education records must be maintained for 8 years after the renewal date. Variances may be granted for completion of continuing education outside the biennium. The board randomly audits a percentage of renewing licensees each month for compliance with continuing education.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies:
The Board considered the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s recommendations for continuing education and the continuing education requirements of other states. In addition, the Board reviewed recent the audit results to determine what issues required clarification for the credential holders.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact analysis:
This rule was posted for 14 days for economic comments and none were received. The Board determines that the modification of existing rules to clarify continuing education requirements, which does not increase the requirement, does not create an effect on small business nor have an economic impact.
Fiscal Estimate and Economic Impact Analysis:
The Fiscal Estimate and Economic Impact Analysis is attached.
Effect on small business:
These proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses, as defined in s. 227.114 (1), Stats. The Department’s Regulatory Review Coordinator may be contacted by email at Eric.Esser@wisconsin.gov, or by calling (608) 267-2435. Agency contact person:
Sharon Henes, Administrative Rules Coordinator, Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Policy Development, 1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 151, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708; telephone 608-261-2377; email at Sharon.Henes@wisconsin.gov. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT OF RULE
Section 1. Chapter Psy 4 (title) is amended to read: REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Section 2. Psy 4.015 is created to read:
Psy 4.015 Definitions. In this chapter:
(1) “Board” means Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board.
(2) “Continuing education hour” means continuing education consisting of not less than 50 minutes.
(3) “Ethics” means content consistent with one or more of the American Psychological Association’s ethical principles of psychologists.
(4) “Jurisprudence” means content relating to laws and regulations affecting the practice of psychology.
(5) “Professional activity” means any of the following:
(a) Serving on the American Psychological Association or its affiliated state psychological association committee or board.
(b) Serving on a state Psychology Examining Board.
(c) Serving on the National Association of School Psychologists or its affiliated state association committee or board.
(d) Serving on the American Board of Professional Psychology committee or board.
(e) Serving on the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral Internship Centers committee or board.
(f) Serving on the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards committee or board.
(6) “Risk management” means content relating to the reduction of probability of incurring legal, regulatory or malpractice actions in the practice of psychology.
(7) “ Trainee” means a person who is obtaining appropriate experience in psychological work under supervision pursuant to s. 455.04(1)(d), Stats. Section 3. Psy 4.02 is repealed
Section 4. Psy 4.025 is created to read:
Psy 4.025 Continuing education. (1) Unless granted a postponement or waiver under Psy 4.04, every licensee shall complete at least 40 board approved continuing education hours in each biennial registration period, as specified in s. 455.06, Stats. (a) A minimum of 6 hours of the required 40 continuing education hours shall be in ethics, risk management or jurisprudence.
(b) Continuing education hours completed in the topics of supervision or suicide prevention shall be calculated as 1.5 times the numbers of continuing education hours obtained.
(2) Continuing education hours may apply only to the registration period in which the hours are acquired. If a license has been allowed to lapse, the board may grant permission to apply continuing education hours acquired after lapse of the license to a previous biennial period of licensure during which required continuing education was not acquired. In no case may continuing education hours be applied to more than one biennial period.
(3) During the time between initial Wisconsin licensure and commencement of a full 2−year licensure period, licensees shall not be required to meet continuing education requirements.
(4) Applicants from other states applying under s. 455.04 (1) (e) or (4) (f), Stats., shall submit proof of completion of at least 40 board approved continuing education hours obtained within 2 years prior to application. An applicant who first obtained licensure as a psychologist or private practice school psychologist less than 2 years prior to submitting the Wisconsin application is not required to meet this subsection Section 5. Psy 4.03(intro) is renumbered to Psy 4.06(intro).
Section 6. Psy 4.03(1) is renumbered to Psy 4.06(1) and amended to read:
Psy 4.06(1) If the licensee applies for renewal of the license less than 5 years after its expiration, the license shall be renewed upon payment of the renewal fee and fulfillment of the 40 continuing education hours completed within 2 years prior to renewal.
Section 7. Psy 4.03(2) is renumbered to Psy 4.06(2)
Section 8. Psy 4.035, 4.04 and 4.05 are created to read:
Psy 4.035 Approved continuing education. (1) The board shall approve all of the following programs and courses, if relevant to the professional practice of psychology:
(a) Continuing education programs and courses sponsored by an organization approved by one of the following:
1. American Psychological Association.
2. National Association of School Psychologists.
3. Canadian Psychological Association.
(b) Continuing education programs and courses sponsored by one of the following:
1. Wisconsin Psychological Association.
2. Wisconsin School Psychologists Association.
(c) Educational programs recognized as approved at the time of attendance as “category I” continuing medical education programs by the council on medical education of the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association.
(d) Continuing education courses approved by the psychology licensing board in another state where the psychologist is also licensed.
(e) Graduate level courses of two semester or three quarter credits, or more, relevant to the professional practice of psychology offered by a regionally accredited college or university in which a person receives a passing grade shall be granted 20 continuing education hours.
(2) No more than eight hours of continuing education hours may be credited per day for courses and programs in par. (1)(a) through (d).
(3) Continuing education hours shall be granted for teaching or presenting any of the programs or courses in sub. (1) but no credit will be granted for any subsequent presentations of the same program or course. A teacher or presenter shall receive 2 continuing education hours for each hour of presentation with a maximum of 20 continuing education hours per biennium.
(4) Continuing education hours shall be granted for professional activity consisting of 1 year of service with a minimum of 6 total contact hours. A licensee shall receive 6 hours of continuing education for each professional activity, with a maximum of 12 continuing education hours per biennium.
(5) Continuing education hours shall be granted for serving as a reviewer for a peer reviewed publication. A licensee shall receive 3 hours per publication, with a maximum of 12 continuing education hours per biennium.
(6) Continuing education hours shall be granted for first or second authorship of a publication relevant to psychology if the publication is contained in an academic or professional book or book chapter or peer-reviewed journal article. A licensee shall receive 10 continuing education hours per authorship, with a maximum of 20 continuing education hours per biennium.
(7) Continuing education hours shall be granted for earning board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology. A licensee who successfully completes board certification shall receive 40 continuing education hours. The ethics, risk management or jurisprudence requirement may not be met unless the board certification process included at least six hours on those topics.
(8) Continuing education hours shall be granted for completion of a master’s or doctoral degree in psychopharmacology from a regionally accredited college or university. Licensees who complete a master’s or doctoral degree in psychopharmacology shall receive 40 continuing education hours. The ethics, risk management or jurisprudence requirement may not be met unless the coursework included those topics.
