(1) Except as provided in (2) and (3), licensees are required to complete ten clock hours of continuing education each renewal period and must attest to their compliance on renewal applications.

(2) A licensee may request an exception or extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements for good cause shown. The request must be received prior to the renewal date. The board may extend the time for completion of the continuing education to a certain date. The licensee must submit documentary proof of continuing education compliance by that date, if it is after the date the license would have expired, had no extension been granted.

(3) A licensee whose initial Montana license was issued within the six months immediately preceding the annual renewal date is exempt from the continuing education requirements during that six month period.

(4) Continuing education courses on fitting and dispensing hearing aids sponsored by the Montana Hearing Aid Society, the International Hearing Society, the American Speech Language Hearing Association, the American Conference of Audioprosthology, the Montana Speech and Hearing Association, the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists, and the American Academy of Audiology are preapproved. College courses and continuing education courses offered in related disciplines will be reviewed and approved by the board on a case-by-case basis.

(5) Four clock hours credit will be recognized for published books and articles which contribute to the professional competence of the licensee.

(6) Four clock hours will be recognized for each year of full time research by the licensee.

(7) Credit recognition will not be granted for course work which is substantially similar to course work which was successfully completed in the preceding two years and used to meet the continuing educational requirements of the board.

(8) Clock hours of continuing education in excess of the ten required hours per renewal period may not be accumulated and carried forward to another renewal period.