Can DSE's speech and language course count towards ASHA certification maintenance?

This course may count towards ASHA Professional Development Hours (PDHs). You must decide whether it is relevant to your practice and meets ASHA's requirements.

DSE's speech and language course covers research and practical guidance for speech and language therapists or pathologists working with children and young people with Down syndrome. Its 10 modules include presentations, handouts, checklists, references and assessments.

Hours and documentation

ASHA explains its requirements for maintaining certification and how to earn and record PDHs. Certificate holders decide whether an activity is appropriate, relevant and meaningful to their practice.

One PDH equals 60 minutes of eligible learning. ASHA Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are one way to earn PDHs: 1 ASHA CEU equals 10 PDHs.

DSE estimates that completing all modules, checklists and selected reading takes at least 30 hours. Further reading can bring the total to more than 40 hours. These are study-time estimates, not confirmed PDHs.

DSE provides a certificate of completion but is unable to confirm the hours you can claim. Keep your certificate, and the course handouts (which include copies of the presentation slides) and checklists, as a record of your learning.