PURPOSE: This rule details the minimum requirements for permit/certification maintenance.

1. (1) A continuing education program for interpreters involves studies having prior approval from the board to fulfill the requirements for certification maintenance and eligibility for annual licensure in Missouri. This may include seminars, lectures, conferences, workshops, extension study, correspondence courses, teaching, self-study and other methods which may be approved by the board. Such studies must be interpreting-related.

   1. (A) Programs may provide for evaluation methods to assure satisfactory completion by participants. 5 CSR 100-200
   2. (B) The person(s) responsible for the delivery or content of the program shall be qualified, as determined by the board, in the subject matter by education, experience and expertise.

   3. (C) Presentations or maintenance programs offering interpreter certification maintenance units may be approved through any of the following methods:

      1. 1. Those offered by an accredited Inter-

preter Training Program will be recognized by the board and accepted as meeting the requirements of continuing education for certification maintenance and licensure as an interpreter in Missouri;

1. 2. The board may approve continuing

education programs other than Interpreter Training Programs meeting the following criteria prior to the event:

1. A. Application must be submitted not

less than one (1) month prior to the event. Applications received less than one (1) month in advance cannot be guaranteed notification of approval.

1. B. Application to the board for this

approval shall be made on and in accordance with forms developed by the board. The application shall require detailed information relating to administration and organization, teaching staff, education content and development, methods of delivery, length of education activities, targeted skill level of interpreters, facilities and evaluation;

1. 3. Any interpreter whose primary

responsibility is not the education of interpreters who leads, instructs or lectures to groups of interpreters or others on interpreting-related topics in organized continuing education or in-service programs shall be granted interpreter certification maintenance units for the time expended during actual presentation upon adequate documentation to the board. Application for approval shall be made on and in accordance with forms approved by the board. Approval will be granted using procedures in section (2) and submitted to the board. Permit certification maintenance units for the same presentation in the same town will be allowed only once during a year;

1. 4. Any interpreter whose responsibility

is the education of interpreters shall be granted continuing education credit only for time expended in leading, instructing, or lecturing to groups of interpreters or others on interpreting-related topics in an organized continuing education or in-service program outside his/her formal responsibilities in a learning institution. Approval will be requested using procedures in section (2) and submitted to the board. Credit for the same presentation in same town will be allowed only once during a year; and

1. 5. Credit will be given for undergradu-

ate or graduate studies in any regionally accredited interpreting educational institution of higher learning. Satisfactory proof of course completion, as required by the board, must be submitted in order for credit to be granted. The following hourly equivalents will be used by the board in assessing credits: 3 college credit hours = 10 contact hours; 2 college credit hours = 6 contact hours; and 1 college credit hour = 3 contact hours.

1. (2) One (1) hour is equivalent to one-tenth (0.1) unit of continuing education.
2. (3) The board adopts the policy of one and two-tenths (1.2) permit/certification maintenance (PCM) units required for certification or permit maintenance and eligibility for annual licensure. Hours earned in another state will be accepted by the board provided the hours acquired can be certified.

3. (4) The proof of completion of continuing education requirements shall be submitted by applicants along with the PCM form, permit/certification maintenance fee and—

   1. (A) Certificate of completion;
   2. (B) A letter stating date of attendance and program; or
   3. (C) Transcript.

4. (5) The PCM form along with proper documentation and fee shall be submitted annually on or before ninety (90) days prior to licensing deadline.

   1. (A) Failure to submit PCM form, proper documentation, and fee by the ninety (90) days PCM deadline will result in the permit/certification becoming invalid. The State Committee of Interpreters will be notified of the candidates’ permit/certification that are invalid.

      1. 1. The applicant may apply for rein-

statement by submitting PCM form along with the proper documentation, processing fee, and the reinstatement fee. (6) The board will review and verify the PCM form and documentation. Upon requirement approval, the board will notify the State Committee of Interpreters for licensure renewal.

1. (A) If the PCM requirements are not met, the board will not forward the candidate’s name to the committee. The candidate will not be eligible for license renewal and the candidate’s certification is no longer current or valid.

1. (7) The board may elect to audit any interpreter to assess the authenticity and validity of contact hours submitted.
2. (8) Providers will give evaluation forms to participants to be submitted with final reports.

3. (9) The board will recognize the earned permit/certification maintenance in the areas listed. PCM credit shall not be limited to these areas—

   1. (A) Culture.

      1. 1. Sociolinguistics.
      2. 2. Deaf culture.
      3. 3. American culture.
      4. 4. Multi-culture.
      5. 5. Cross-culture.
      6. 6. Contextualization;

   2. (B) Skills Development.

      1. 1. Receptive skill development.
      2. 2. Expressive skill development.
      3. 3. American sign language (ASL) skills

(grammar, syntax, etc.).

1. 4. English skills (grammar, syntax,

etc.);

1. (C) Trends/Issues in the Interpreting Profession.

   1. 1. Any current issues relating to the pro-

fession.

1. 2. Theories of interpreting.
2. 3. Ethical Rules of Conduct;

3. (D) Specialized Skills.

   1. 1. Legal setting.
   2. 2. Medical setting.
   3. 3. Mental health setting.
   4. 4. Educational setting.
   5. 5. Performing arts setting.
   6. 6. Rehabilitation setting.
   7. 7. Governmental setting.
   8. 8. Technical setting.
   9. 9. Deaf/Blind interpreting.
   10. 10. Oral interpreting.
   11. 11. Minimal language skills (MLS) in-

terpreting.

1. 12. Communication mode; and

2. (E) Instruction.

   1. 1. Independent study.
   2. 2. Presenting a workshop.
   3. 3. Mentorship (mentor/mentee).
   4. 4. College credit coursework.

AUTHORITY: sections 209.292(10) and 209.295(6), RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed June 20, 1996, effective Jan. 30, 1997. Amended: Filed April 17, 1998, effective Nov. 30, 1998.

*Original authority 1994.