OAR 833-080-0011: Continuing Education

Licensees must complete approved continuing education and report the hours to the Board biennially as a condition of license renewal. The Board will prorate continuing education requirements of licensees during the transition to biennial renewals conducted pursuant to ORS 675.725. (1) Definitions. (a) “Continuing Education” (CE) means structured educational activity that contributes directly to the professional competence of a licensee. (b) “Reporting period” means the 24-month period between license renewals. (c) A "clock hour" for continuing education means one hour (60 minutes) spent in a program meeting the requirements for continuing education. (A) Credit may be awarded in one-quarter (.25) increments for a minimum of 15 minutes. (B) Clock hours exclude refreshment breaks, receptions and other social gatherings, program evaluations, learning assessments, and meals. (d) “Home Study” means independent, asynchronous learning activities completed without real-time instructor interaction that includes reading or listening to pre-recorded professional materials followed by completion of an examination or other assessment designed to measure comprehension. (e) “Live Continuing Education” means synchronous learning involving real-time interaction with an instructor or presenter, including in-person or live virtual formats. (f) “Publication Activity” means the authorship by a licensee of professional written work that contributes to the body of knowledge in the field. (2) Licensees must complete at least 40 continuing education clock hours within each reporting period, which must include the following categories: (a) Six clock hours of training in professional ethics and/or Oregon State laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of professional counseling or marriage and family therapy; (b) For licensees who supervise registered associates, including all licensees on the Supervisor Registry: three clock hours of supervision-related training; (c) Four clock hours of training in cultural competency; and (d) Two clock hours of training dedicated to the topic of suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management. (3) Exceptions. There is no continuing education reporting required for: (a) Licensees on or changing to inactive status; (b) New licensees who have been licensed 12 months or less on their first renewal date.