HOW DO I OBTAIN THE 25 CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) HOURS I NEED FOR ACVREP RECERTIFICATION?

What is the CE hour requirement under the new ACVREP recertification criteria?

Under the new recertification criteria, you are required to earn 100 recertification points every 5 years. A minimum of 25 of these points must be ACVREP approved continuing education (CE) hours. That amounts to an average of five (5) CE hours a year. Of course, you can obtain all 100 points in “Category 1 – Continuing Education” (see Category 1 in the new recertification application under the “Download” page at www.acvrep.org).

How do I obtain CE hours?

CE hours can be obtained by attending ACVREP approved presentations at conferences, workshops or in-service trainings, and also by taking ACVREP approved online courses, distance education programs, etc. Often by attending just one of the many ACVREP approved state, regional or international professional conferences, certificants can satisfy and even exceed the minimum CE hour requirement.

What documentation do I need to submit to claim credit for my CE hours?

You will need to submit the following three items in order to document any CE hours you are claiming for recertification:

1. The name of the CE activity/program.
2. The date or dates of the CE program/activity.
3. The number of CE hours you obtained, excluding meals, breaks, and business meetings.

Documentation to meet the above three items include, but is not limited to, a copy of the conference/workshop/in-service training program, brochure or agenda; a Certificate of Completion/Attendance; or a letter written by your immediate supervisor, on agency letterhead, verifying attendance and providing information on the three items listed above for each CE program/activity.

Do all CE hours have to be ACVREP approved?

Yes. However, there is one exception to this rule. If you take a university/college course that meets one or more of the 13 approved content areas, you simply have to submit a transcript(s) from the respective college or university; the transcript(s) will indicate where and when you took the course as well as the number of semester/quarter hours that were granted.

How can ACVREP approval be obtained for a CE program/activity?

There are two ways in which ACVREP approval can be obtained for a specific CE program/activity:

1. Contact the CE provider. Providers may include the chair/co-chair/member of a conference/workshop planning committee, an agency training coordinator, a marketing representative of a for profit organization, etc. Let the CE provider know that you and your certified colleagues are required to obtain all of your CE hours through ACVREP approved CE programs/activities. Inform them that they can download the CE application from the ACVREP website at www.acvrep.org (see the “Downloads” page). If they have any questions or need assistance in completing the application, encourage them to contact the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816. You may also inform them that there is a “Continuing Education Provider Information” page on the ACVREP website that will answers many of the basic questions CE providers have regarding how to apply for ACVREP approval. This page will also discuss application and offering fees.
   
2. Get a group of certificants to submit a CE application. CE applications don’t necessarily have to be submitted by a CE provider. You and your colleagues can also submit a CE application to seek ACVREP approval for a specific upcoming CE program/activity and cover the application and offering fee(s). As noted above, the “Continuing Education Provider Information” page on the ACVREP website can answer some of the basic questions you may have regarding applying for ACVREP approval.

How do I know which CE programs/activities have been ACVREP approved?

Please visit the “Continuing Education Opportunities” page. This page provides a current listing of all ACVREP approved CE programs/activities.

How much does it cost to apply for ACVREP approval?

Please see the “Continuing Education Provider Information” page on our website. This page provides specific information related to all CE application and offering fees.

What if I’m not sure that I can meet the 25 CE hour requirement?

Call the ACVREP office at 520-887-6816. We are often able to help certificants realize that they do have the 25 CE hours required for recertification.