20:75:04:01.  Standards for continuing professional education program measurement.  The following standards are used to measure the hours of continuing professional education credit:

          (1)  Fifty minutes of participation in a group program, independent study, or self-study program equals one hour of continuing professional education credit. For learning activities in which individual segments are less than 50 minutes, the sum of the segments should be considered one total program;

          (2)  A one-half continuing professional education credit increment, equal to 25 minutes, is permitted after the first credit has been earned in a given learning activity;

          (3)  Informal CPE credit is limited to those portions of committee or staff meetings that are designed as programs of learning and comply with these standards to qualify for CPE credit. The amount of credit awarded shall be the time actually spent meeting and measuring a specific learning objective;

          (4)  Accredited university or college courses count as 15 hours for each semester hour and 10 hours for each quarter hour;

          (5)  Non-credit university or college courses shall be awarded credit only for the actual classroom time spent in the non-credit course. Credit is not granted to participants for preparation time;

          (6)  Instructors or discussion leaders of learning activities may receive credit for both preparation and presentation time provided the activities maintain or increase their professional competence and qualify as credit for participants. Instructors may receive up to two times the number of CPE credits to which participants would be entitled, in addition to the time for presentation. For repeat presentations, CPE credit may be claimed only if it can be demonstrated that the learning activity was substantially changed and such change required significant additional study or research;

          (7)  The board may grant credit for the writing of published articles, books, or CPE programs to include credit for research and writing time provided the board determines the activity maintains or improves professional competence. The article, book, or CPE program must be formally reviewed by an independent party. CPE credits should be claimed only upon publication. Not more than half the three-year continuing professional education credit required may be gained through publications;

          (8)  Self-study CPE credits must be based on a pilot test of the representative completion time.  A sample of intended professional participants should be selected to test program materials in an environment and manner similar to that in which the program is to be presented. CPE credits should be recommended based on the representative completion time for the sample;

          (9)  Independent study CPE credits recommended by a CPE program sponsor or developer may not exceed the time the participant devoted to complete the learning activities specified in the learning contract.

          Source: 29 SDR 16, effective August 14, 2002; 31 SDR 97, adopted December 17, 2004, effective July 1, 2005; 35 SDR 305, effective July 1, 2009; 39 SDR 33, effective September 5, 2012.

          General Authority: SDCL 36-20B-12(3).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 36-20B-27.