The Commission on Dispute Resolution has voted to amend the continuing education requirements for neutrals to accommodate the recent change in the registration cycle from every two years to every year. Now, all renewing neutrals must complete 3 hours of CE for every annual renewal cycle. No excess CE hours may be carried over from one renewal cycle to the next. (The CE requirement for reinstating neutrals remains at 8 hours.)
What does this mean for renewing neutrals during this 2009 renewal cycle?
If your original registration renewal date was 12/31/09 (expiration 1/1/10): Submit the CE hours you were originally required to submit this 2009 renewal cycle, whether 3 hours for first-time renewers, of 6 hours for veteran renewers. You will not be able to carry over any excess CE hours. For the 2010 renewal cycle, you will have to take 3 hours of CE.
If your original registration renewal date was 12/31/10 (expiration 1/1/11): As stated in previous e-mails, you do not need to submit any CE hours during this 2009 renewal cycle; just send your completed renewal form and the appropriate fee. For the 2010 renewal cycle, you will have to take just 3 hours of CE, no matter how many hours you were originally required to take.
CE hours should be easily attainable for most neutrals. For tips on the various ways to earn CE, please see the “Help! I Need CE!” link under “What’s New!” on the right side of our new webpage.
Remember, the 2009 registration renewal season deadline is midnight, February 28, 2010. Please renew by the deadline – on paper or online – to avoid paying a late fee of double your regular registration fee. Renewal instructions can be found under “What’s New!” on the right side of our new webpage.
