Continuing Education Requirements

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The content of each continuing education (CE) course must meet the Board’s content requirements for each license type, as described below. Content that is not acceptable for any license type are; courses related to office production, financial planning, employee benefits, marketing, or ways to increase productivity or profitability, and any course in which the licensee, not the consumer, is the primary beneficiary.

The Board shall have the right to audit the records of any licensee to verify the completion of the CE requirements. Per Business & Professions Code Section 2532.6(c)(3), all licensees shall maintain records of completion of required CE coursework for a minimum of two years and shall make these records available to the Board for auditing purposes upon request.

If you do not complete the CE by your license expiration date, you must place your license on inactive status and cease practice. When placing your license on inactive status, you are still required to pay the full renewal fee. To reactivate your license, you must submit the Request for Reactivation of License and provide proof of completing the CE requirement. Click here for the Request for Reactivation of License form:
http://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/forms_pubs/reactivate.pdf

Definitions (all professions):

  • Self-Study– This includes viewing pre-recorded courses, listening to audiotapes, and online courses which are non-participatory (recorded courses that include a live chat or test upon completion are still considered self-study.) Live online courses are not self-study and are considered the equivalent to sitting in a class.
  • Related Courses– Topics such as: social interaction, cultural and linguistic diversity as it applies to service delivery for diverse populations, professional service delivery models, interdisciplinary case management issues, and medical pathologies related to neurological disorders that also result in communication difficulties.
  • Indirect Patient/Client Care– Topics related to pragmatic aspects of audiology and speech-language pathology practice such as: legal or ethical issues, consultation, record-keeping, office management, managed care issues, research obligations, and technological applications related to assessment/diagnosis or intervention. See exclusions in Section 1399.160.4(c)(4).

AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS – Renews Biennially (Every Two Years)

24 hours of CE are required for each renewal period.

  • Within the 24 hours, a minimum of 20 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.
  • Within the 24 hours, a maximum of 6 hours may be in self-study courses.
  • Within the 24 hours, a maximum of 4 hours may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses.
  • Within the 24 hours, no more than 8 hours may be combined between self-study and related/client care courses.

Courses that are relevant to the scope of practice may be taken from the following providers:

  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
  • California Medical Association – Institute for Medical Quality (CMA)
  • Accredited Universities
  • Board approved Professional Development Providers (PDP). Click the following link for a current list of PDP’s: http://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/forms_pubs/providerlist.pdf

New Licensees:

If you have been licensed for less than two years (first time renewal), 12 hours of CE are required.

  • Minimum of 10 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.
  • Maximum of 2 hours may be in self-study courses.
  • Maximum of 2 hours may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses.

Dual License Holders:

If you hold both a Speech-Language Pathology license and an Audiology license, 32 hours of CE are required. (16 hours for each license)

  • 16 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of speech-language pathology
  • 16 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of audiology
  • Within the 32 hours, a minimum of 29.5 hours must be live courses.
  • Within the 32 hours, a maximum of 2.5 hours may be taken in self-study
  • Within the 32 hours, a maximum of 2.5 hours may be taken in related and/or indirect care.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS – Renews Biennially (Every Two Years)

12 hours of CE are required for each renewal period.

  • There is no limit to self-study courses that may be taken.
  • Courses may be taken from state or regional conferences, workshops, formal in-service presentations, independent study programs, or any combination of these concerning communication and related disorders. Courses from an accredited university (including a master’s degree program) cannot be counted for CE credit.
  • The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant's supervisor shall be responsible for assisting in the selection of the required courses.
  • Courses may be taken from Board approved providers; however this is not a requirement.
  • Click the following link for a current list of PDP’s: http://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/forms_pubs/providerlist.pdf

DISPENSING AUDIOLOGISTS – Renews Annually

Courses that are relevant to the scope of practice of Audiology may be taken from the following providers:

  • American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
  • California Medical Association – Institute for Medical Quality (CMA)
  • Accredited Universities
  • Board approved Professional Development Providers (PDP). Click the following link for a current list of PDP’s: http://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/forms_pubs/providerlist.pdf

12 hours of CE are required for each renewal period.

  • 6 hours must be relevant to the practice of audiology.
  • 6 hours must be in courses relevant to hearing aid dispensing but shall not be obtained from courses where the content is product or device-specific; i.e., manufacturer courses are allowed as long as they are not product and/or device specific. In order to ensure compliance with this requirement, it is advisable that manufacturer sponsored courses are pre-approved by the Board.
  • Maximum of 1.5 hours may be taken in self-study courses.
  • Maximum of 1.5 hours may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the dispensing audiologist (not the CPD Provider) to determine that the content and learning outcomes of a course are relevant to the practice of audiology.

Dual License Holders:

If you hold both a Dispensing Audiology license and a Speech-Language Pathology license:

8 CE hours are required annually to renew the Dispensing Audiology License.

  • 4 hours must be relevant to the practice of audiology
  • 4 hours must be relevant to the practice of speech-language pathology
  • Maximum of 1 hour may be taken in self-study courses.
  • Maximum of 1 hour may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses

16 CE hours are required biennially to renew the Speech-Language Pathology license.

  • Maximum of 2.5 hours may be taken in self-study courses. *
  • Maximum of 2.5 hours may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses *

*A maximum combination of only 4 hours may be obtained between self-study and related and/or indirect client care courses per renewal cycle.

HEARING AID DISPENSERS – Renews Annually

Please Note: Hearing aid dispensing licenses expiring on or after July 1, 2017, are now required to complete at least twelve (12) hours of continuing education during each annual renewal period.

12 hours of CE are required annually to renew the Hearing Aid Dispensers License.

  • Minimum of 6 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of Hearing Aid Dispensers.
  • Maximum of 3 hours may be taken in ethics courses (including the ethics of advertising and marketing) or business practices.
  • Maximum of 6 hours may be taken in self-study courses.