Chapter 320-5 RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Certificates will expire every two (2) years on the 30th day of
June, beginning in 1984, and shall become renewable at least sixty (60) days
prior to expiration date.
| (1) |
Beginning with
applications for renewal of licenses which expire on June 30, 2004, a certified
librarian must have completed ten (10) hours of acceptable continuing education
during the two year period immediately preceding each biennial renewal date as
a condition for license renewal. |
| (2) |
An applicant for license renewal who has
been initially licensed in Georgia as a certified librarian for one year but
less than two, at the date of license expiration must have completed five (5)
hours of acceptable continuing education during the period between inital
licensure and the expiration date as a condition for license renewal. |
| (3) |
An applicant for license renewal who has
been initially licensed in Georgia as a certified librarian for less than one
year at the date of license expiration will not be required to complete any
hours of continuing education prior to that first license expiration date as a
condition for license renewal. |
| (4) |
All applicants00 for biennial license renewal will report having completed the
continuing education requirement as part of the application for license
renewal. |
| (5) |
Failure to comply with
the provisions of this section will result in non-renewal of the certified
librarian's license. Certified librarians whose licenses have expired for
non-renewal are prohibited from identifying themselves as certified
librarians. |
| (1) |
Responsibility
for documenting the fulfillment of the continuing education requirements rests
with the licensee, and the licensee must retain for a period of four years the
evidence of completion of each course or program, a description of the contents
of each course or program and verification of the number of hours of each
course or program, or, for other activities which meet the requirements, such
documentation as to ascertain their content and completion. |
| (2) |
The Board may verify, on a test basis,
satisfactory completion of the continuing education requirements. In doing so,
the Board may require licensees to submit copies of the documentation described
in paragraph (1) above to the Board and may require other information as it
deems necessary to decide upon the acceptability of a course or program. In
cases where the Board determines that the requirements have not been met, the
Board may grant an additional period of time in which the deficiencies may be
corrected. |
The Board may waive all or some of the requirements of
continuing education for reasons of individual hardship or health of the
licensee based on the licensee's written request and accompanying supporting
documentation.
| (1) |
Credit Hours. Credit accrues at a rate of
one hour for each hour of actual contact. This shall be known as a contact hour
or clock hour. Credit will not be allowed for any program which in its
entirety, including question and answer periods, lasts less than thirty
minutes. Credit will not be given for time spent in introductory remarks,
coffee and luncheon breaks, meals, or business meetings where no organized
course work is presented. |
| (2) |
Categories. There are two (2) categories of continuing library education which
cover the various activities for which credit may be granted.
| (a) |
Category 1. Organized course work or
programs in library science or professional ethics. Included are seminars,
short courses and workshops conducted or sponsored by public or private
organizations, and sessions of professional library associations or
conferences. A Category 1 activity must satisfy all of the following
conditions:
| 1. |
It constitutes an organized
program of learning (including a meeting, workship or symposium) which
contributes directly to the professional competency of librarians. |
| 2. |
It deals primarily with matters directly
related to the practice of librarianship, professional responsibility, or
ethical obligations of librarians. |
| 3. |
It is conducted by librarians or
individuals who have special education, training and experience by reason of
which they can be considered experts in the subject matter of the program.
|
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| (b) |
Category
| 2. |
Other organized course work or programs
not specifically library or library-related but which are professionally
enriching or directly benefiting the individual in his or her present position.
Examples include general sessions of librarianship or other professional
meetings or course work in areas such as computer science, business management,
public relations, etc. |
|
|
| (3) |
Correspondence courses and distance
learning courses. Correspondence courses and independent study programs are
permitted under Categories 1 and 2, if the course provides for interaction
between the participants and the course administrator. This usually takes the
form of periodic examinations and must be documented. Contact hours are
assigned on the basis of the credits granted by the sponsoring
organization. |
| (4) |
Academic
Programs. University and college taught courses taken in pursuit of a degree
may be counted as Category 1 or 2, as long as that degree is not being obtained
to meet the qualifications for certification up to the grade 5(b). |
| (1) |
Professional
Associations. Continuing library education hours may be obtained by
participating in activities sponsored by or approved by the American Library
Association or other professional associations. A properly authorized official
of the professional organization shall certify the number of contact hours of
educational content of each sponsored or approved activity. Programs offered by
these providers do not require prior Board approval. |
| (2) |
Educational Institutions. Continuing
library education hours may be obtained by completing non-library degree or
graduate level course work or by participating in continuing education programs
sponsored by or approved by educational institutions accredited by a regional
body, e.g., Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The educational
institution shall certify the number of contact hours of educational content in
each sponsored or approved program. Programs offered by these providers do not
require prior Board approval. |
| (3) |
Government Agencies and Bibliographic Utilities. Continuing library education
hours may be obtained by participating in in-service training, courses, or
workshops sponsored by federal, state or local agencies or bibliographic
utilities. The provider shall certify the number of contact hours of
educational content in each sponsored activity. Programs offered by these
providers do not require prior Board approval. |
| (4) |
Board Approved Programs. All other
programs must receive official Board approval. Application for Board approval
must be made to allow adequate time for Board review prior to each quarterly
meeting. Meeting schedules are available from the Board. |
