BELTSS: Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal (2024)

Gov Delivery Volume 1 Issue 2 Audience: All BELTSS Licensees

EXECUTIVE BRIEF

In this second edition of the Executive Brief, it’s all about Continuing Education. Contemporary leaders need to view this as more than just getting clock hours; it’s a Professional Development Plan to stay up to date in a changing work and service model. The Board developed multiple options for you to earn renewal clock hours to improve your skillset that reflects a variety of communities. It is important that you assess what you require to be successful at your community, complete the training from board approved educators and record those clock hours to renew your license. This is advanced education beyond the initial entry level administrator/director education.

Professional Development Plan and Earning Approved Clock Hours

As a professional license holder, you are required to complete ongoing education. The Board developed multiple options for you to improve your skillset that reflects a variety of communities. It is important that you assess what you require to be successful at your community, complete the training and record those clock hours to renew your license. This is advanced education beyond the initial entry level administrator/director education.

Further information about continuing education for LALD's is available on our website.

In this edition:

• Attestation of Clock Hours to Renew your License
• Continuing Education Trackers for the Licensee
• CE Registry: How to register for the NAB ‘file cabinet’
• Licensee Holder Continuing Education/Clock Hours responsibilities to meet Minn. Rule 6400.6800 (LNHA/LHSE) and 6400.7090 (LALD)
• Renewal of License Period
• LALD Legacy Candidates First License Renewal Requirement
• LALD Candidates First License Renewal Requirement
• Number of Clock Hours Required for LALD Every Two Years
• Renewal of License Steps to Record Continuing Education
• Activities which may earn continuing education clock hours
• MDH Dementia Care Requirement
• Audits and Licensee Record Retention Requirement
• Approved Continuing Education Vendors
• What is Acceptable Content for Continuing Education Activities?
• Do Credits from Another Profession Qualify for LALD Continuing Education?
• What is determined as Unacceptable Content for Continuing Education?
• Can the Board Issue Additional CE Requirements in Specified Subjects?

Attestation of Clock Hours to Renew your License

Effective immediately the renewal of license issued by BELTSS is moving to an attestation process. The Board will require each license holder to maintain their individual continuing education (CE) records. The previous electronic links did not always synchronize causing inconsistencies. You will be required to maintain approved CE for up to four years. The same CE must be maintained for the Minnesota Department of Health survey.

“I attest that I have fulfilled the continuing education requirements as submitted in this renewal. I agree to retain the documentation of the continuing education for four years and will submit the evidence or validation of attendance if requested by an audit. Clock hours earned by NAB, LeadingAge Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota are considered primary verified. If audited I will provide the CE Summary or certificates of attendance.

For this renewal of this license, I attest that I earned clock hours totaling ______ (insert text)”.

Continuing Education Trackers for the Licensee

The National Association of Boards (NAB) performs a ‘file cabinet’ recording service for approving and validated Continuing Education. To register for a NAB CE Registry number, required by nearly all national CE vendors, refer to the NAB CE Registry instructions below. This is not required however encouraged for license holders by BELTSS. In addition, both approved education programs, LeadingAge Minnesota and Care Providers of Minnesota provide a summary of their validated LHSE/LNHA/LALD approved sessions to their members. The completion and content of the CE is the licensee responsibility.

CE Registry: How to register for the NAB ‘file cabinet’

1. If you are an active MN LHSE, LNHA, and LALD you are eligible for NAB Verify.
2. You must have a NAB Verify Account to use this registry. NAB Verify can be accessed from the member login section of the NAB website (http://www.nabweb.org) and is complimentary for those licensed by BELTSS.
   1. If you have an existing NAB account, please use your current username and password to avoid duplicate accounts.
   2. If you have not created an account with NAB previously, choose the option “Not a Member? Sign Up!”.
      1. Please note: this is a different account from your NAB exam application.
3. You complete the enrollment for CE Registry, which will track your national CE records.
4. After you have activated your NAB account, please log in at http://www.nabweb.org/manage-my-account.
5. Once logged in, you will see a link directing you to the “CE Registry”.
6. You will be directed to the member/ account details page within NAB Verify. This page will give you the option to begin your CE Registry.
7. See detailed instructions: https://www.nabweb.org/filebin/pdf/NABVerify_Handbook_CE_Registry_for_Licensees.pdf.

Licensee Holder Continuing Education/Clock Hours responsibilities to meet Minn. Rule 6400.6800 (LNHA/LHSE) and 6400.7090 (LALD)

At the time of license renewal, each licensee shall provide evidence to the board that the licensee has completed in the preceding year; 20 credits continuing education credits for the (LNHA/LHSE) and two years 30 continuing education credits for the (LALD) of approved continuing education activities. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. section144A.20, subd. 4, (c).

Licensee is responsible to:

• Earn and retain approved clock hours for their BELTSS license renewal for four years. Clock hours are intended to improve your individual Professional Development Plan for your community.
• Respond to the CE audit, if requested. Post renewal, BELTSS will audit the renewal attestation. A randomly selected group will receive a request to electronically submit copies of their CE. Submission of errant clock hours will be submitted to the Standards of Practice Committee.

Maintain a MDH survey file with your current license and current clock hour log for survey.

Renewal of License Period

Licensees must maintain proof as pursuant to Minn. Rule6400.6850 (LNHA/LHSE) and 6400.7091 (LALD)of having completed the number of CE credits claimed at the time of renewal and shall, upon request of the board, make that proof available for audit to verify completion of the number and validity of credits claimed. Documentation to prove completion of CE credits must be maintained by each licensee for four years from the last day of the licensure year in which the credits were earned.

• For the Licensed Health Service Executive (LHSE), 20 clock hours annually between May 1, (prior year) and April 30 (current year) of the renewal period of May 1 to June 30 (current year). This is an annual renewal of license, CE is required each year
• For the Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), 20 clock hours annually between May 1, (prior year) and April 30 (current year) of the renewal period of May 1 to June 30 (current year). This is an annual renewal and CE required each year.
• For the Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD), 30 clock hours in the preceding two years of licensure between September 1, (even year) and August 31 (even year) of the renewal period of September 1 to October 31. Annual licensure renewals are every year. Annual renewal with clock hours required every even year (2022, 2024).

LALD Legacy Candidates First License Renewal Requirement

For the initial two-year cycle of renewals and clock hours beginning in September for licenses expiring October 31, 2022.

• For those LALD’s initially licensed by October 31, 2021 prorated to 15 credits.
• For those Legacy LALD’s initially licensed after November 1, 2021 Pursuant to Rules 6400.7000, all individuals licensed under subpart 1, item H, sub item (3), must complete, within the first year of licensure, at least seven hours of continuing education in topics related to assisted living facilities. If you applied prior to July 1, 2001 and are considered an LALD legacy applicant, you need to submit seven of the 15 hours on Minnesota Assisted Laws.

LALD Candidates First License Renewal Requirement

For purposes of renewals and obtaining and presenting CE credits, a year runs from September 1 (prior year) to August 31 (renewal year).

• Renewals begin September 1.
• License Renewals occur EVERY year and no later than October 1.
• CE Renewals occur on EVEN years only and no later than October 1.

Number of Clock Hours Required for LALD Every Two Years

For ongoing years;

• Licensees are assigned clock hours on your profile page on the Licensure Portal.
• For purposes of obtaining and presenting CE credits, a year runs from September 1 to August 31.
• Every individual who holds a valid LALD license issued by the board shall annually apply to the board on or before October 1 for renewal of the individual's license and shall report any information pertinent to continued licensure requested by the board.
• If the application for renewal has not been received by October 31 of each year, the license lapses and the holder of a lapsed license is subject to the reinstatement procedure and late renewal fees.
• At the time of license renewal, each licensee shall provide evidence to the board that the licensee has completed in the preceding two years 30 continuing education credits of continuing education activities as specified in this part and Minnesota Statutes, section20, subdivision 4, paragraph (c).
• The board shall annually select on a random basis at least five percent of the licensees applying for renewal to have their claims of CE credits audited for compliance with board requirements
• BELTSS approved and earned CE can be applied for each license type with a single attendance or program completion.
• It is recommended to maintain a separate CE log for each license type.

Renewal of License Steps to Record Continuing Education

Approximately four months before the expiration of your license, email notice is sent to your board registered email.

• Online renewal of license is required and is open two months prior to the expiration of license. The renewal option will activate on your licensee portal.
• If you do not renew at least ten days prior to the license expiration, you may encounter a lapsed license. A board issued wall certificate is required for compliance at each community with a HFID issued by MDH of which you are the administrator or director of record. Renew early to avoid challenges. The board receives a time stamp of all online activity. Renewals received after the license expired are considered late, with a minimum of a late fee and potentially other license disciplinary action.

Activities which may earn continuing education clock hours

1. This is virtually the same for all three license types, specific activities to earn clock hours are found
   1. LHSE/LNHA Rules 6400.6850
   2. LALD Rules 6400.7091
   3. BELTSS has a template to record your CE Activity Description and maintain documentation.

Online renewal of license is opened on a basis, two months prior to the expiration of license. Any renewal after the expiration of the license is subject to late fees and reinstatement requirements. ALD Legacy licensees will be subject to current application requirements if the license is lapsed.

MDH Dementia Care Requirement

The Minnesota Department of Health has training requirements for the Director of Record at an Assisted Living Facility with Dementia Care, with evidence of completion required. When the continuing education course has been approved by BELTSS; the training is accepted for the continuing education requirement. The LALD must go through the approved training programs to ensure compliance with statute 144G.83 and successfully pass a skills competency or knowledge test required by the Commissioner of Health. The approved dementia training programs should be received by a program provider using one of the three options in the link below:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/regulation/assistedliving/faq.html#dementia

Audits and Licensee Record Retention Requirement

The board shall annually select on a random basis at least five percent of the licensees applying for renewal to have their claims of CE credits audited for compliance with board requirements.

Notice of the audit will be sent to the individual with instructions. It is advised to maintain an electronic log with the supporting materials in your compliance folder for MDH and in case of a BELTSS audit.

Approved Continuing Education Vendors

Continuing Education clock hours obtained and validated by BELTSS approved CE vendors will be considered as ‘audited’. These vendors have been vetted and maintain evidence of your active participation in the education and the hours earned for that active participation. Those CE providers include:

• NAB/NCERS nationally approved and recorded in the NAB CE Registry
• Care Providers of Minnesota
• LeadingAge Minnesota
• University of Minnesota

What is Acceptable Content for Continuing Education Activities?

Continuing Education requires acceptable minimum content to be approved by BELTSS or those previously approved vendors. Unless otherwise specified in part Minn. Rules 6400.6085 or 6400.7091, the content of continuing education activities must relate to one or more of the following:

1. administration of services for persons needing long-term services and supports;
2. current issues and trends in long-term services and supports and assisted living licensure;
3. the relationship of long-term services and supports to other aspects of the health care continuum; and
4. responsibilities, tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform assisted living director functions as outlined in the NAB domains of practice.

Do Credits from Another Profession Qualify for LALD Continuing Education?

Continuing education required to maintain another professional license, such as a nursing home administrator license, nursing license, social worker license, mental health professional license, or real estate license, may be used to satisfy the requirements of subpart 4 when approved by the BELTSS board. The board shall approve continuing education credits under this subpart when the continuing education is related to the domains of practice of assisted living as identified in the NAB job analysis for assisted living directors.

If you wish to use non approved CE, Licensees may submit a Continuing Education Approval Application. The application is available on the BELTSS website in the Forms and Tutorials; Continuing Education (BELTSS CEU) Application.

What is determined as Unacceptable Content for Continuing Education?

Education is meant to build your entry level skills to advance your professional services for our state’s elders. Minn. Rule 6400.6080 or 6400.7090 subp. 6 identifies subjects for continuing education that are not acceptable to meet license renewal requirements include:

1. general personal development including stress management;
2. assisted living facility or company orientation;
3. assisted living facility or company policies or procedural issues;
4. organizational functions such as business meetings and election of officers;
5. medical treatment at a clinical level beyond that required for licensure as an assisted living director; and
6. any other subject unrelated to content specified under subpart 4.

Can the Board Issue Additional CE Requirements in Specified Subjects?

The board shall, when compelled by advancement in scope of practice or emerging long-term services and supports issues, and by public written notice to each licensee on or before September 1, require all licensees to attend continuing education programs in specified subjects.

If required, the board would include the earned clock hours within the current minimum number of biennial clock hours.