Continuing Education Requirements for Instructors
Types of Certifications
Each instructor certification type has continuing education requirements that must be met before the certification may be renewed. Continuing education may be completed at any point during the certification period, beginning immediately after certification is issued.
Alcohol Education Programs for Minors
- You must attend at least one department-sponsored Alcohol Education Program for Minors instructor continuing education seminar during the instructor’s certification period, and each subsequent instructor certification period.
- If the department sends you notice, you must attend additional department sponsored Alcohol Education Program for Minors instructor continuing education seminars or special meeting regarding changes to curriculum or significant updates to curriculum material.
- If you are a licensed chemical dependency counselor, licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed social worker, you may complete 20 hours of continuing education that is directly alcohol-related, in lieu of attending the department-sponsored continuing education seminar.
Drug Offense Education Program
- You must attend at least one department-sponsored Drug Offense Education instructor continuing education seminar during the instructor’s certification period, and each subsequent instructor certification period.
- If the department sends you notice, you must attend additional department sponsored Drug Offense Education Instructor continuing education seminars or special meeting regarding changes to curriculum or significant updates to curriculum material.
- If you are a licensed chemical dependency counselor, licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed social worker you may complete 20 hours of continuing education that is directly drug-related, in lieu of attending the department-sponsored continuing education seminar.
DWI Education Program
- You must attend at least one department-sponsored DWI Education instructor continuing education seminar during the instructor’s certification period, and each subsequent instructor certification period.
- If the department sends you notice, you must attend additional department sponsored DWI Education instructor continuing education seminars or special meetings regarding changes to curriculum or significant updates to curriculum material.
- If you are a licensed chemical dependency counselor, licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed social worker, you may complete 20 hours of continuing education that is directly alcohol-related, in lieu of attending the department-sponsored continuing education seminar.
DWI Intervention Program
- You must attend at least one department-sponsored DWI Intervention instructor continuing education seminar during the Instructor's certification period, and each subsequent instructor certification period.
- If the department sends you notice, you must attend additional department sponsored DWI Intervention instructor continuing education seminars or special meeting regarding changes to curriculum or significant updates to curriculum material.
- If you are a licensed chemical dependency counselor, licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, or licensed social worker, you may complete 20 hours of continuing education that is directly alcohol-related, in lieu of attending the department-sponsored continuing education seminar.
- Team teaching, with no more than two certified instructors, may be counted towards the fulfillment of the teaching requirement.
Multiple Certifications
Instructors who hold certifications in multiple offender education topics will only need to enroll and complete one continuing education seminar.
Continuing education hours obtained in a department-sponsored offender education program instructor continuing education seminar may be used to fulfill the continuing education requirement of another offender education certification, as long as the seminar occurs during the current certification period and as long as the instructor pays for each certification.
Changes to Program Curriculum
If substantial intervening changes are made to the program curriculum, or significant updates are required to curriculum material, instructors may be required to attend additional department-sponsored continuing education seminars or special meetings for which the department sends notice.
Reporting Continuing Education
The department employs an audit system for continuing education reporting. You will be responsible for maintaining a record of your continuing education experiences.
Instructors are responsible for maintaining a record of their continuing education experiences. The certificates, diplomas, or other documentation verifying earning of continuing education hours are not to be forwarded to the department at the time of renewal unless the instructor has been selected for audit.
The audit process shall be:
- The department shall select for audit a random sample of instructors for each renewal month. Instructors will be notified of the continuing education audit when they receive their renewal documentation.
- If selected for an audit, the instructor shall submit copies of certificates, transcripts, or other documentation satisfactory to the department, verifying the instructor’s attendance, participation, and completion of the continuing education. All documentation must be provided at the time of renewal.
- Failure to timely furnish this information or providing false information during the audit process, or the renewal process, is grounds for disciplinary action against the instructor.
- An instructor who is selected for a continuing education audit may renew through the online renewal process, if available. However, the instructor will not be considered renewed until the required continuing education documents are received, accepted and approved by the department.
- Instructors will not be renewed until the continuing education requirements have been met.
