Article III: The Approved Provider

The title "NBHAP Approved Provider" can only be used when an individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, organized health care system, educational institution or governmental agency has been approved by BHAP in accordance with these instructions. In order to obtain approval, applicants must have committed no act which would lead to disciplinary action, has submitted a provider application on the form supplied by BHAP and remitted the appropriate fee.

An individual, partnership, corporation, association, organized health care system, governmental agency, educational institution, and other organizations may be issued only one provider number. Autonomous entities within such organization, however, may be issued separate provider numbers.

An approved provider shall have a written and published policy, available on request with provider information on 1) refunds in case of non-attendance, 2) time period for return of fees, and 3) notification if course is cancelled, 4) visible and available staff for technical assistance, including phone number, email address, physical business address and hours of operation. Failure to provide such contact information is grounds for immediate cancellation of approval. (No refunds will be provided.)

Approved providers are responsible for all courses, including, but not limited to, record keeping, advertising course content as related to NBHAP standards, issuance of certificates and instructor qualifications. When two or more approved providers co-sponsor a course, only one provider number shall be used for that course, and that provider must assume full responsibility for record-keeping, advertising course content as related to NBHAP standards, issuance of certificates and instructor(s) qualifications.

• Out-of-State Providers: Providers of continuing education that are giving ongoing (i.e. once a year or more workshops in California must obtain an NBHAP provider number to allow California counselors to receive continuing education hours when renewing their certification. This stipulation applies even though the provider may hold a provider number from either a national organization or another organization in their home state.
• Web-based/Online/Home-study Programs: Students must be provided reasonable technical support and full disclosure of all program requirements and are pursuant to the regulations stated herein. Including a contact number, email address and hours of operation. Failure to provide such upon enrollment to a course and/or changes during a course may result in immediate revocation of approval. (No refunds will be granted.)
• Methods: Several methods for the development of home-study/independent study programs are described here for use by authors, developers and providers of continuing education by home-study/independent study. All such methods used must be defendable. Failure to provide evidence of such methodology may result in immediate revocation of approval (and no refund.) Please note Section VII of the Provider packet: one (1) clock hour = one (1) Continuing Education Hour (CEH) and ten (10) hours = one (1) Continuing Education Unit.

  Field Testing Method: Authors of home-study/independent study courses using the Field Testing Method write continuing education materials for home-study courses and determine the ratings of hours per course. These materials are pilot field-tested using already licensed or certified healthcare professionals. The results of such field testing determine an average number of hours for course completion and a minimum post-test cutoff score.

  Consultant Development Method: Providers of continuing education contract with educational consultants’ expert in the development of continuing education programs.

  Paid consultants develop educational programs and specify number of contact hours and passing post-test cutoff score.

  Field Survey Method: Developers of continuing education programs survey existing providers to determine acceptable difficulty levels, per-page-CEH ratios and posttest questions-per-CEH ratios.

• Guidelines: Suggested development guidelines of 3-5 pages per CEH and 3-5 posttest questions-per-CEH. Less than the suggested 3-5 page-per-CEH may be indicated when highly technical material (i.e. Neurochemistry, research) is presented. More than the suggested 3-5 page-per-CEH may be necessary when lengthy case histories or dialogues are used. Posttests in the essay format may be used as an alternative format in some situations as in the case of ethics courses. A reasonable amount of credit is allowable for registration, testing and the completion of required paperwork by participants. Audiotapes and videotapes are rated on a real time basis. For example, a one-hour audio or videotape is rated at one (1) continuing education hour. Additional time may be allotted for reviews of study guides, posttests, registration and handling. Social networking sites may be used as a form of communication between participants and trainers. However, time/date stamps must be used if the networking is used as any part of the hours being given to the participant. Additionally, such blogs/social networking communiqués must be unaltered and saved for a period of four years along with all other records. Web based or home study programs must comply with all applicable requirements as written in this entire application.