Continuing Education Requirements

Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathology & Audiology

http://www.ncboeslpa.org/index.htm

21 NCAC 64 .0218 CONTINUING EDUCATION

Beginning January 1, 2009 each licensee must complete 30 hours of continuing professional education in their fields sponsored by the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association, the North Carolina Speech-Hearing-Language Association, or the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction; or other courses approved by the Board as similar to courses offered by any of these organizations.

History note: Authority G.S. 90-304(a)(3); Eff. September 1, 2008.

North Carolina Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board

http://www.nchalb.org/educationlist.htm

As a condition for annual license renewal, the Board requires ten hours of approved continuing education credit that will assure to the general public a level of current professional competence for each licensee.

A minimum of five contact hours (i.e., 0.50 CEUs) must be obtained annually in Category 1. The remaining, required 0.50 CEUs may be obtained in either of the Board's two topic content categories.

CATEGORY 1 - Amplification and Hearing Rehabilitation Issues:

  • Hearing Aid Technology: Instrument Circuitry and Acoustic Performance Data; Earmold/Shell Coupling Systems: Design, Selection, Modifications, and Ear Impressions; Hearing Aid Selection Procedures, Fitting/Adjustment (i.e., Verification) Techniques, and Servicing/Repairs; and
  • Hearing (i.e., Aural) Rehabilitation Using Amplification: Auditory Training, Hearing Aid Orientation and Counseling Techniques, Hearing Aid Validation Techniques.

CATEGORY 2 - Hearing Loss and Consumer Related Issues:

  • Biological/Physical/Behavioral Bases Underlying Normal and Pathological Hearing Processes;
    Detection/Assessment/Monitoring of Hearing Impairment (i.e., Measurement Techniques and Test Interpretation), including Intraoperative Monitoring;
  • Cochlear Implants/Implantable Hearing Devices; o Central Auditory Processing/ADHD; o Assistive Listening Devices, Including FM Systems; Techniques for Development of Speech/Language in Children with Hearing Loss, or Augmentative/Alternative Communication Strategies for Children/Adults with Hearing Loss;
  • Cerumen Management, Dizziness, or Tinnitus as it Directly Pertains to Persons with Hearing Loss;
  • Hearing Impaired Consumers' Views of the Hearing Health Care Industry and Consumer Complaints
  • Infection Control Issues for the Hearing Health Care Profession
  • Professional Conduct and Regulatory Issues Pertaining to the Fitting and Selling of Hearing Aids, or the Practice of Audiology or Otolaryngology
  • Hearing Aid Business Practices (e.g., Hearing Aid Office Management, Sales Contracts, and Hearing Aid Marketing or Industry Trends).

Examples of topics that are not eligible for approval are as follows:

  • Financial Planning, or Computer Training (not related to the fitting/programming of hearing instruments), for the Business Owner/Employees, and Employment Contracts;
  • The Balance Mechanism or Tinnitus, if Not Directly Pertaining to Persons with Hearing Loss;
  • Supervision of Audiology Graduate Students, or Development/Status of the Au.D. Degree;
  • Cerumen Management, if Not Directly Pertaining to Persons with Hearing Loss;
  • Training Designed for License Examination Preparation.

American Board of Audiology

http://www.americanboardofaudiology.org/recertify/requirements.html

The American Board of Audiology (ABA) requires that each audiologist who is Board Certified in Audiology be recertified every three years. The recertification requirements are designed so that Board Certified Audiologists continue to expand their knowledge in the field of audiology.

Summary of Recertification Requirements
At the conclusion of each three-year certification cycle, certificants must meet the recertification requirements which include:

  • Completion of 60 contact hours of continuing education (a minimum of 15 hours of Tier I continuing education and the balance of contact hours of Tier II (standard) continuing education, including 3 contact hours of ethics, at either the Tier I or Tier II levels.
  • If the certificant holds the Specialty Certification in Cochlear Implants, 30 of the total hours must pertain to cochlear implants and may be either Tier I or Tier II.
  • Adherence to the ABA Code of Ethics and state licensure/registration regulations for the practice of audiology, where applicable
  • Payment of annual fees.

Hours earned in excess of the hours required in each three-year certification period may not be carried over for credit to the next recertification period.

Approved Content Areas for ABA Recertification

Continuing Education activities must be those directed toward professionals in the field of audiology and must focus on increasing knowledge and skills in the practice of audiology in one or more of the following approved content areas:

  • Amplification
  • Audiologic Rehabilitation
  • Diagnostics
  • Ethics
  • Hearing Conservation
  • Hearing Science
  • Practice Management
  • Professional Issues
  • Technology Issues
  • Vestibular Assessment & Management

For further information on the ABA ethics requirement, and what types of continuing education will meet this requirement, see the Ethics page at http://www.americanboardofaudiology.org/recertify/Ethics.html

How and Where Can I Earn Tier 1 Continuing Education Required for ABA Recertification: Visit the Tier 1 page: http://www.americanboardofaudiology.org/recertify/tier1.html