CEA Tutorial Section 1: Overview of ASHA CE

This section provides a short introduction to ASHA and ASHA Continuing Education (CE).

• What is ASHA?
• What is the ASHA CE Program?
• What is the Continuing Education Board (CEB)?
• What are the standards for ASHA Approved CE Providers?
• Who can offer courses for ASHA CEUs?
• What course content is appropriate for ASHA CEUs?
• What is the ASHA CE Registry?
• Who is eligible to use the CE Registry?
• Who can earn ASHA CEUs?
• What is my role in determining eligibility to earn ASHA CEUs?
• What are the steps for changing ASHA Approved CE personnel?
• Who are my contacts at ASHA CE?
• How will ASHA CE communicate with me?

What is ASHA?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 234,000 members, certificate holders, and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students.

What is the ASHA CE Program?

The ASHA CE Program:

• Approves Providers who offer CE courses
• Assists Providers in planning and offering courses for ASHA CEUs
• Registers Providers' courses
• Awards ASHA CEUs
• Recognizes CE participation with the ACE (Award for Continuing Education)

What is the Continuing Education Board (CEB)?

The CEB develops the standards for the ASHA Continuing Education (CE) program. It comprises nine volunteer ASHA members and two monitoring vice presidents from the ASHA Board of Directors who serve as liaisons. The ASHA CE staff at the National Office implement the standards developed by the CEB. Twenty ASHA CE staff directly support the CEB's work.

What are the Standards for ASHA Approved CE Providers?

It is your responsibility as the CE Administrator to meet the Standards for ASHA CE Providers and follow the policies and procedures that are described in the ASHA CE Policies. After reading the ten sections of the CE Administrator Tutorial, each new CE Administrator is required to successfully complete the Tutorial Quizzes and the CE Administrator Orientation. Please see the roles and responsibilities of a CE Administrator (CEA) and CE Content Consultant outlined in the CEA job description and CE Content Consultant Job Description.

Who can offer courses for ASHA CEUs?

Only those organizations, that have been approved as ASHA CE Providers may offer courses for ASHA CEUs. These organizations are designated as ASHA Approved CE Providers. Currently, there are more than 570 such organizations.

ASHA CE approves organizations to offer ASHA CEUs based on the information provided in the ASHA Approved CE Provider application. Providers are required to report to ASHA CE within 30 days any organization, name, or ownership changes and/or changes in the role and responsibilities of the CE unit. There is a change of organization form that can be used for this purpose.

You can promote your organization's status as an ASHA Approved CE Provider with the Insignia image. See these guidelines on how to acquire an Insignia image and use it properly [PDF].

Please note that your organization, as an ASHA CE Provider, does not award ASHA CEUs. ASHA CE awards ASHA CEUs upon receipt of participant reporting from you.

What course content is appropriate for ASHA CEUs?

Only course content that:

• Focuses on the science and/or contemporary practice of audiology, speech- language pathology, and/or speech, language, and hearing science.
• Reflects best practice in the CSD discipline.
• Is determined by those with knowledge, skills, and expertise in the content area and who actively engage in ongoing professional development to remain current in their field.
• Is relevant and responsive to the identified needs of the target audience.
• Discloses the levels and type(s) of evidence behind any clinical recommendations presented.
• Is balanced by informing learners about potential benefits and risks, especially if the content is based solely on expert opinion.

What is the ASHA CE Registry?

The ASHA CE Registry is the only service that tracks ASHA CEUs. ASHA CEUs earned are recorded on a transcript listing all continuing education courses the participant took through ASHA's network of Approved Continuing Education Providers.

The ASHA CE Registry functions much like a college registrar. In addition to maintaining a permanent, cumulative record of courses and ASHA CEUs, the Registry issues official transcripts upon request.

Who is eligible to use the CE Registry?

The CE Registry is open to ASHA and NSSLHA members, those who are ASHA certified, and other eligible individuals. (OR other individuals who meet the eligibility criteria).

Who can earn ASHA CEUs?

ASHA CEUs are awarded only to eligible participants who are members of the CE Registry and pay the annual CE Registry fee.

What is my role in determining eligibility to earn ASHA CEUs?

Please communicate eligibility criteria to your course attendees. We encourage you to post ASHA CEU eligibility criteria on your website, in promotional materials, and at your live events. Do not submit information to the ASHA CE Registry information for individuals not eligible to earn ASHA CEUs.

If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any one of the other criteria, they may provide their eligibility by completing the Eligibility web form on our website.

Please submit only those participants that have indicated to you that they wish to earn ASHA CEUs.

What are the steps for changing ASHA CE Provider personnel?

A request to change the personnel assigned as CE Administrator or CE Content Consultant should be sent to ASHA CE as soon as possible to maintain continuity and continue your active status as a CE Provider. ASHA provides online forms for you to use to notify us. If contact information for you, the CE Content Consultant, or Supervisor/Alternate Contact changes, please use the appropriate form to notify us.

Who are my contacts at ASHA CE?

You have been assigned a provider manager and an accounts manager who are your contacts at ASHA CE. They will work closely with you to ensure that communications are timely and accurate and answer all your questions.

How will ASHA CE Communicate with me?

Policies and procedures evolve over time. We have set up several ways to communicate any changes, clarifications, or new information:

• CE Provider section of the ASHA website: a one-stop shop for forms, procedures, and resources
• Intersections: an electronic newsletter published quarterly and e-mailed directly to you
• E-mail: messages with time-sensitive information: course registration confirmations, rosters of course completion information
• CE Provider Community site: a CE Provider-only forum where you can ask questions of fellow CE Administrators and Consultants—posts are automatically e-mailed to you from ASHA

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