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SEEKING: Volunteer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Subject Matter Expert

The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board is seeking licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists to serve as volunteer subject matter experts for the Board's Continuing Professional Development Program. Experts will be assigned the task of reviewing continuing professional development course offerings to determine whether the course meets the criteria of continued learning as provided for in the Board's enabling laws and regulations. In addition, experts may be asked to work on professional task force teams with the charge of evaluating CPD program criteria and formulating recommendations to the Board regarding necessary amendments to the existing requirements and processes. As such, we invite you to review the enclosed Scope of Work for Volunteer CPD Subject Matter Experts and notify the Board of your interest to serve in this capacity.

To qualify as a subject matter expert for this purpose, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. (1) Hold a valid California speech-language pathology or audiology license in good standing; no prior disciplinary action; no pending investigations; and no record of complaints that have been closed with merit.
2. (2) Have sufficient experience in developing, organizing, or instructing professional courses in speech-language pathology or audiology; and be knowledgeable of the laws and regulations that govern the Continuing Professional Development program as defined in Sections 2532.6 of the Business and Professions Code and Sections 1399.160 through 1399.160.13 of the California Code of Regulations.
3. (3) Consistent, face to face client contact (minimum of 10 hours per week).

Scope of Work for Volunteer CPD Subject Matter Experts
The subject matter expert will be responsible for reviewing continuing professional development coursework and recommending to the Board whether a particular course offering meets the requirements of the Board's Continuing Professional Development laws and regulations and is therefore an acceptable course offering for the purposes of license renewal. The expert must determine whether the course in question exposes attendees to information that is consistent with professional learning for the practices of speech-language pathology and/or audiology and must state the course's direct relationship to the practice or must provide rational for the recommended denial of any said course. Coursework review should not take more than one hour per course offering to complete however, if additional information is required to make a determination about a course, please contact the Board to arrange for obtaining the required information. The subject matter expert may serve as a member of a professional task force team organized to formulate recommendations before the Board regarding necessary amendments to the existing CPD laws and regulations.

All documentation provided to the subject matter expert is confidential, is the property of the Board, and shall be returned to the Board upon completion of the review. The subject matter expert shall not communicate orally or in writing with any party except the Board, including the individual applicant, any information contained in or is a part of an individual's application.

Conflict of Interest
All experts will be required to sign a conflict of interest statement for each application reviewed. If you personally know the provider of a course or have any relationship with individuals involved in the offering of the course or feel you cannot be objective in your assessment, you must excuse yourself from the assignment and immediately contact the Board's Executive Officer.

Travel and Miscellaneous Compensation
If you are selected to serve as a volunteer subject matter expert, you will not be reimbursed for the document review services rendered to the Board. However, the Board will provide you with a form entitled "Statement of Services," and a form entitled "Vendor Data Record," for use in recording any incurred expenses, including travel expenses to appear before the Board, telephone charges incurred contacting the Board, materials, or postage expenses. These expenses will be reimbursed by the Board provided they are itemized and accompanied by an original receipt.

If after having read the above stated information, and you feel qualified and can devote the time to serve as a CPD subject matter expert, send a letter to the attention of the Executive Officer, Annemarie Del Mugnaio indicating your interest. Please include your contact information and enclose your curriculum vitae.

If you have additional questions, you may contact the Board at (916) 263-2666 or by email at slpab@dca.ca.gov.