PURPOSE: This rule provides information to marital and family therapists licensed in Missouri regarding annual renewal of that license.

1. (1) A license may be renewed on or before the expiration of the license by submitting the signed renewal notice and fee to the division as set forth in 20 CSR 2233-1.040(1)(D).

   1. (A) Renewal fees postmarked after the expiration date of the license shall be subject to a late fee as defined in 20 CSR 2233- 1.040(1)(D)1. or 2., in addition to paying the renewal fee.
2. (2) Failure to receive the notice and application to renew his/her license shall not excuse the licensee from the requirement of section 337.712.2, RSMo Supp. 1997, to renew that license.
3. (3) Any licensee who fails to renew the license shall not practice marital and family therapy as defined in section 337.700(7), RSMo Supp. 1997.
4. (4) Any individual failing to renew the license within the sixty (60)-day period set forth in section 337.712.2, RSMo and wishing to restore the license shall make application to the division by submitting an application for reinstatement of license and the delinquency fee as set forth in 20 CSR 2233- 1.040(1)(D)1. or 2. and shall document compliance with the continuing education requirements of this regulation.

5. (5) Effective August 28, 2008 a licensee shall obtain forty (40) contact hours of continuing education (CE) prior to the expiration date of a license and such hours should consist of at least twenty (20) hours of formal continuing education hours with the balance of hours to be self-study. For the purpose of this regulation a contact hour shall consist of fifty (50) minutes.

   1. (A) Formal continuing education shall consist of one (1) or a combination of any of the following:

      1. 1. Postgraduate course work offered by a

regionally accredited educational institution. Such course work shall be relevant to marital and family therapy as defined in section 337.700(7) and (8), RSMo and shall not be part of the graduate course work required for licensure. One (1) semester hour of graduate credit constitutes fifteen (15) hours of continuing education.

1. 2. Presenting research at a formal pro-

fessional meeting. A presentation shall include a paper presented in a professional journal, book, or original chapter in an edited book. Credit will be given at the rate four (4) hours for each paper or presentation. No credit would be granted for any subsequent presentation on the same subject matter during the same renewal period;

1. 3. Attending relevant professional meet-

ings when such meetings include verification of attendance. Such meetings can be international, national, regional, state, or local, and must be related to the profession. The licensee shall be eligible to receive three (3) hours of continuing education credit for a full day of meeting attendance.

1. 4. Attending work shops, seminars, or

continuing education courses relevant to marital and family therapy as defined in section 337.700(7) and (8), RSMo. Upon request by the state committee the licensee shall provide verification of attendance such as a certificate or letter of attendance indicating the date, time, and number of hours of continuing education from the workshop, seminar or course provider.

1. 5. Written contributions to relevant pro-

fessional books, journals, or periodicals. A licensee shall be eligible to receive three (3) hours of continuing education for publication in a nonreferee journal, six (6) hours of continuing education for publication in a referee journal, eight (8) continuing education hours for each chapter in a book, ten (10) continuing education hours for editing a book, and fifteen (15) continuing education hours for the publication of a book.

1. 6. Presenting at relevant professional

meetings such as international, national, regional, state, or local professional associations. A licensee would be eligible for a maximum of three (3) hours per presentation.

1. 7. A licensee who is a faculty member

at an accredited educational institution may receive up to a maximum of twenty (20) hours per year of continuing education credit for teaching at the educational institution. The area(s) taught by the licensee must relate to the following core areas: Theoretical Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy, The Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, Human Development and Family Studies, Ethics and Professional Studies, and Research Methodology. For the purpose of this regulation, the licensee must teach a minimum of four (4) clock hours.

1. 8. A licensee teaching formal continuing

education hours may receive up to a maximum of four (4) hours per biennial cycle of continuing education credit. The CE must relate to the following core areas: Theoretical Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy, The Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, Human Development and Family Studies, Ethics and Professional Studies, and Research Methodology. For the purpose of this regulation the licensee must teach a minimum of four (4) clock hours.

1. (B) A licensee may obtain up to twenty

1. (20) hours of self-study continuing education. Self-study of professional material includes relevant books, journals, periodicals, tapes, and other materials and preparation for relevant lectures and talks to public groups. Preparation credit may not be claimed pursuant to this regulation for presentations that are used for CE in the aforementioned paragraphs 1., 2., 6., 7., or 8.
2. (6) Providing marital and family therapy, workshops on personal growth, supervision of individuals for licensure or employment, or services provided to professional associations or organizations will not be considered for continuing education contact hours.

3. (7) Included, but not limited to the following, is a list of approved continuing education providers:

   1. (A) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and any chapter or division of AAMFT;
   2. (B) American Counseling Association

4. (ACA) and any chapter or division of ACA;

   1. (C) American Medical Association (AMA) and any chapter or division of AMA;
   2. (D) American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) and any chapter or division of AMHCA;
   3. (E) Local, state, regional, or national psychological associations;
   4. (F) Local, state, regional, or national social worker associations;
   5. (G) National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); and
   6. (H) Regionally accredited colleges and universities.
5. (8) For the license renewal the licensee shall verify the number of CE hours earned during the last two (2) years immediately preceding the expiration date of the license on a form provided by the state committee. The licensee shall not submit the actual record of CE attendance to the state committee except in the case of a continuing education audit or when requested by the state committee.
6. (9) Each licensee shall maintain a complete record of all CE hours earned for four (4) years. Formal CE credit hours shall be documented by the sponsor or CE provider and maintained by the licensee. The licensee is responsible for maintaining the record of formal self-study CE hours earned and such documentation shall contain, at a minimum, the number of hours earned and these hours shall be separated in the various categories defined in subsection (5)(A) of this regulation. The state committee may conduct an audit of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirement. Licensees shall assist the state committee in its audit by providing timely and complete responses to the state committee’s inquiries. A response is considered timely if received in the committee office within thirty (30) days of a written request by the state committee for such information.
7. (10) A licensee who cannot complete the requisite number of CE hours because of personal illness, military service or other circumstances beyond the licensee’s control may apply to the state committee for an extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements or a waiver. Any extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements or waiver shall be granted solely in the discretion of the state committee. The licensee must make a written application for extension of time at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date of the license. The 20 CSR 2233-2

licensee shall provide full and complete written documentation of the grounds supporting the reasons for which an extension or waiver is sought.

AUTHORITY: sections 337.727.1(1) and (10), RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 233-2.050. Original rule filed Dec. 31, 1997, effective July 30, 1998. Moved to 20 CSR 2233-2.050, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2007, effective May 30, 2008. *Original authority: 337.727.1(1) and (10), RSMo 1995.