Making a timely response as an indication supporting documentation was obtained, maintained and is being made available:

 

Materials for audit will be mailed to the Board within 10 days of the renewal application.
If not, materials are being sent ASAP with a letter of explanation enclosed.

 

 

Attendance verified by grade notice, certificate, or signed presenter/provider letter/memo.
Supervision verified by signed statement or billing for service.
Distance learning verified by certificate.
Publication verified by copy of cover and publication info (date, publisher name, etc.)

 

Documenting training met standards by submitting detailed, published description of training: advertising flyer, training announcement, training agenda, course descriptions or syllabi, descriptive information printed on certificate, or a combination of these documents.

Printed descriptive material:

 

1. Verifies all education/training experiences listed were within one or more of the following approved program content areas:

1. Know the CE criteria (hours, documentation, and submission), because the audit determines if your CE met all of them.

2. Don’t wait until the last couple months of the reporting period to find and obtain training.

3. Select appropriate education that clearly addresses therapeutic knowledge and skills, counseling laws and ethics, or clinical mental health supervision (training or participation) and is designed for a master’s level mental health therapist (not training for the general public, not training related professions like mental health administration, or teaching, not training applicable to practice but is not therapeutic such as marketing or billing insurance companies).

4. Obtain and retain complete documentation. Collect documentation at time of training: proof of attendance and description of program. The certificates by themselves are often inadequate. (Be aware that it is a violation to claim training on your renewal for which you do not already have documentation in your possession).

 

If notified you have been selected for audit:

5. Read and follow audit instructions carefully. If you don’t understand, call the Board office.

6. Take pains in preparing your CE report. Report no less than required number of hours. If you have lots to choose from, select those for which you have good documentation and which clearly meet standards. Audit requires you to document everything you report.

7. Submit photocopies of complete documentation for all training claimed: a document verifying actual attendance/completion of program (transcript, grade card, certificate, or written statement from provider) and a published document showing dates, times, provider/instructor, and clearly indicates CONTENT; or acceptable CE approving body and CONTENT. (Can be a single document, but rarely.) Audit is a review of printed materials. Your documents speak for you. Other forms of input will not be considered by the auditor.

8. Submit by deadline.  It is an audit violation to be late and a license violation to not respond.

9. Be patient. This takes a long time. Legally, it is a type of investigation to determine compliance or noncompliance with licensing regulations: (1) licensee’s CE report was accurate and truthful, (2) sufficient CE that met standards was completed and proven, and (3) adequate records were maintained and made available to the Board (in timely manner). The actual audit findings are confidential; however, you will be notified when your audit is finished. Persons failing the audit, may be allowed to submit additional materials to assist the Board in determining if discipline should be proposed. If discipline is proposed, detailed rationale is provided to licensee at time of notice.