Wyo. Code R. 078-0001-14
Effective Date: 12/17/2021 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 078.0001.14.12172021
Section 1. Statement of Purpose. These Board rules are adopted to implement the Board's authority to establish and enforce the requirements for applications for renewal, relicensure, and reinstatement of licenses.
Section 2. Definitions. Terms used in this section are defined as follows:
(a) 'Applicant' means a licensee or former licensee.
(b) 'ARC' means Application Review Committee which shall be comprised of one (1) or two (2) Board members or other individuals with assistance from a representative of the Attorney General's Office.
(c) 'CE' means continuing education contact hours used to complete coursework or classes that have significant intellectual or practical content, and the primary objective shall be to increase the participant's competence within each licensed or certified discipline. The scope of practice for each discipline in these rules and regulations shall be used as a basis of what knowledge and skills are acceptable to the Board as continuing education activities.
(d) 'License' means a license or certificate.
(a) Initial Licensure. An initial license shall be valid for a minimum of two (2) years and shall expire on the licensee's birthday immediately following that two (2) year period. If the licensee desires to continue to practice, the licensee shall seek renewal of their license.
(b) Renewal Period and Expiration Date. A renewed license shall be valid for two (2) years. A license shall expire on a licensee's birthday at the end of that renewal period.
(c) Renewal Procedure. A licensee shall seek renewal every two (2) years on or before their birthday. A licensee seeking renewal shall submit:
(i) A completed renewal application and payment of fee; and
(ii) Evidence of completion of forty-five (45) contact hours of CE that comply with Section 4.
(d) Renewal applications shall not be accepted if:
(i) Submitted more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration date;
(ii) Received by the Board office which are postmarked after the expiration date or after the next business day in cases when the expiration date falls on a weekend or holiday; or
(iii) Electronically submitted after 11:59 p.m. on the expiration date.
(e) Fingerprints. Beginning July 1, 2021 applicants shall submit fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by Wyoming Statute 33-38-105(j) (2).
(f) The applicant acknowledges through submission of an application and fee the Board may perform an ongoing query of their licensure through the National Practitioners Data Base.
(g) Failure to Timely Renew. If a licensee fails to timely renew their license, then the license shall expire and the licensee shall not practice until appropriately licensed.
(a) Renewal Period. CE shall be obtained during the current renewal period.
(b) Specific CE Requirements.
(i) Licensees shall complete at least three (3) contact hours of CE activities in each of the following:
(A) Professional ethics; and
(B) Suicide assessment or intervention.
(c) A licensee holding a LAT, CAP, or CAPA license shall complete at least fifteen (15) contact hours of CE in addition to specific topics.
(d) Earning CE. CE may be earned as follows:
(i) Successful completion of college courses;
(ii) Successful completion of continuing education classes or online courses;
(iii) CE credit will be allowed for presenting at venues designed to increase other mental health professionals' knowledge base.
(A) One (1) hour of credit shall be allowed for each hour of presentation, up to a maximum of six (6) hours during each renewal period. Credit may be received only once for a particular presentation topic;
(B) Licensees employed by universities and colleges may not claim credit units for conducting courses that are a part of the regular course offering of those institutions, even if those courses are offered in the evening or summer, or for individuals enrolled in a degree program or vocational or technical schools; and
(iv) Attending a meeting of the Board. One (1) hour of credit will be allowed for each hour of attendance, up to a maximum of three (3) contact hours of CE during the renewal period.
(e) Record Keeping. Licensees and certificate holders shall be responsible for maintaining records used to support continuing education claimed on an application for two (2) years from the date of submitted for renewal. Copies shall be requested by the Board if the licensee is randomly selected for audit.
(i) Licensees shall maintain records used to support CE claimed on a renewal application for two (2) years. A licensee shall provide documentation upon request of the Board.
(ii) Proof of attendance shall contain the activity title, dates, contact hours attended, presenter, the name of the licensee, and shall be signed by the sponsor or the presenter.
(f) Compliance and Application Review Committee Review of Continuing Education.
(i) Every application shall be subject to audit verification for CE compliance. The ARC shall review an applicant’s claimed CE and documentation.
(ii) The ARC shall send a Notice of Deficiency to an applicant if:
(A) An applicant is unable to provide satisfactory documentary evidence of compliance with this section, or
(B) ARC does not approve CE units or credits claimed by the applicant.
(iii) Within thirty (30) days from the date of the Notice of Deficiency, the applicant shall submit:
(A) Satisfactory documentary evidence of CE to correct the deficiency; or
(B) A written request for the Board to review the ARC’s denial of claimed CE units or credits.
(iv) If the applicant does not provide satisfactory documentary evidence or request Board review, the application shall be dismissed.
(v) CE earned and submitted in response to the Notice of Deficiency shall not be used to demonstrate competency in the next renewal.
(g) Exemptions. An applicant may seek an exemption from all or part of the CE requirements. The applicant shall submit a petition to the Board demonstrating just cause for exemption. Just cause may include:
(i) Being called to active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred and eighty (180) or more consecutive days in any calendar year; or
(ii) Experiencing a physical disability, illness or other disabling situation exceeding one hundred and eighty (180) or more consecutive days in any calendar year.
(iii) The number of hours exempted shall be in proportion to the length of deployment, disability or situation.
(a) Eligibility. A licensee may seek retired status if they are no longer receiving any remuneration from providing any of the services regulated by this Act.
(b) Application Procedure. A licensee seeking retired status shall submit a completed retirement application and pay for a replacement wall certificate.
(c) CE Exemption. While a license is retired, the licensee shall be exempt from the CE requirement for renewal of the license.
(d) Wall Certificate. A replacement wall certificate shall be issued identifying the licensee as retired. The licensee shall return the original wall certificate to the Board Office.
(e) Fingerprints. Beginning July 1, 2021 applicants shall submit fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 33-38-105(j) (2).
(f) The applicant acknowledges through submission of an application and fee the Board may perform an ongoing query of their licensure through the National Practitioners Data Base.
(g) Reactivation. A retired licensee may return to active practice by completing forty-five (45) contact hours of CE within the two (2) years immediately preceding re-application, submitting a professional disclosure statement, and paying the full renewal fee for the remainder of the current license period.
(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek relicensure if the application failed to timely renew their license or allowed the license to expire and has not held an active license in another jurisdiction.
(b) Relicensure Procedure. An applicant seeking relicensure shall submit: (i) Completed relicensure application and payment of fees; and (ii) Evidence of completion of forty-five (45) contact hours of CE that comply with Section 4 within the two (2) years immediately preceding the application for relicensure; or (iii) If the license has been expired for more than five (5) years, then applicant shall retake and successfully pass the proper examination. (iv) Fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a)(xxx). (v) The applicant acknowledges through submission of an application and fee the Board may perform an ongoing query of their licensure through the National Practitioners Data Base.
(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek reinstatement if the license has been revoked, surrendered, suspended, conditioned, or restricted. (b) Reinstatement Procedure. An applicant seeking reinstatement shall submit: (i) A completed reinstatement applicant and payment of fees; (ii) Evidence of meeting requirements of the previous Board's order or correcting the conduct underlying the Board's order that demonstrates the applicant's ability to safely, skillfully, and competently practice; and (iii) Evidence of completion of twenty (20) contact hours of CE that comply with Section 4 for each year since the applicant's last renewal, if applicable.