The Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals ("the Board") voted at its meeting on January 16, 2009 to adopt the following Policy Guideline. This policy guideline is intended as a recommended protocol for the profession to follow. The guideline set forth below does not have the full force and effect of law, as would a Massachusetts General Law or a Board rule or regulation. However, the Board uses policy guidelines as an internal management tool in formulating decisions that relate to issues in the practice of allied mental health and human services.

Policy No. 09-01

Purpose :

Pursuant to 262 CMR 7.02 (1), " All licensees are required, as a condition of license renewal, to complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education activities per licensure/renewal period (every two years)."

The purpose of this policy statement is to offer guidance to new Licensees regarding the Board's guidelines for prorating the number of continuing education contact hours required for a Licensee's first renewal cycle.

Policy :

The number of continuing education hours required for license renewal shall be pro-rated for the licensure period in which a Licensee first obtains his or her license from the Board, as follows:

  1. A licensee who first receives his or her license during the first quarter of the licensure period of an even- numbered calendar year (i.e., between January and June of 2008, 2010, 2012, etc.) shall complete seventy-five percent (75%) of the continuing education hours normally required for his or her license;
  2. A licensee who first receives his or her license during the second quarter of the licensure period of an even- numbered calendar year (i.e., between July and December of 2008, 2010, 2012, etc.) shall complete fifty percent (50%) of the continuing education hours normally required for his or her license;
  3. A licensee who first receives his or her license during the first quarter of the licensure period of an odd- numbered calendar year (i.e., between January and June of 2009, 2011, 2013, etc.) shall complete twenty-five percent (25%) of the continuing education hours normally required for his or her license; and
  4. A licensee who first receives his or her license during the second quarter of the licensure period of an odd- numbered calendar year (i.e., between July and December of 2009, 2011, 2013, etc..) shall not be required to complete any continuing education hours for that licensure period.

Authority:

M.G.L. Chapter 13, Section 90; and 262 CMR 7.00 et seq.