Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 240-3-.02 - Registration of Continuing Education Providers and Continuing Education Courses

(1) Continuing Education Provider registration. All Continuing Education ("CE") Providers must submit a complete application, including CE courses submitted for approval, and the required registration fee. An incomplete application will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant provider. Any CE provider wishing to add CE courses for Board approval that were not part of an initial application must submit an application for additional courses with the required registration fee.

(2) Approved CE Courses. To be accepted by the Board for the purpose of license renewal or reinstatement, a CE course must be approved by the Board, or be a CE course developed by the Board, or be a CE course offered by an approved and/or registered CE provider in compliance with this Rule. To receive CE credit, each CE course provider shall provide each licensee written proof of completion of the CE course. The Board shall not recognize CE courses other than those authorized by Georgia law and Board rules.

(3) Preapproved CE course providers. Courses in cosmetology, barbering, barber II, hair design, nail technology, esthetics, computers, business, or health and safety offered by the following providers shall satisfy CE requirements without prior Board approval or registration:

(a) a college, university department, or division of continuing education under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Education, the Technical College System of Georgia;

(b) the American Red Cross;

(c) an accredited postsecondary institution in Georgia;

(d) continuing education and conference courses offered by the following national organizations:

1. National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC);

2. National Association of Barber Board of America (NABBA);

3. National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS); and

4. Professional Beauty Association (PBA).

(4) Industry or trade show course registration. Providers of industry or trade show courses are providers that offer CE courses for credit for a limited time only at industry or trade shows. Providers of industry or trade show courses that wish to register courses for CE credit must submit an application and supply the following information to the Board for course approval:

(a) date, time, and location;

(b) sample or description of the certificate, letter, or form to be used as written proof of course attendance or completion for licensee participants;

(c) course outline; and

(d) number of CE hours for each course.

(5) Course of study registration. Providers of courses of study that wish to register courses for CE credit must submit the following information to the Board for course approval:

(a) outline of subject matter;

(b) list of persons teaching;

(c) summary of qualification of teachers;

(d) number of CE hours for each course;

(e) date and location of course;

(f) form to be used as written proof of course completion for licensee participants; and

(g) course evaluation form.

(6) Internet, electronic or home study course registration. Providers of Internet, electronic or home study courses must submit the same information for registration with the Board as the providers of courses listed in paragraph (5) of this Rule with access information which will allow review and curriculum analysis by the Board.

(7) Board developed courses. The Board shall develop and/or approve an appropriate continuing education course covering board rules, Georgia law, and/or health and safety information for licensees. The health and safety continuing education course shall contain curriculum that is board developed or board approved.

(8) All CE providers shall:

(a) not represent themselves, or use any images, seals, or words that directly or indirectly imply that the provider is the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers or the Georgia Office of the Secretary of State. The prohibition against such representations shall include all promotional material including, but not limited to, provider name, course or business name, websites, advertisements, e-mails, marketing or mailings. Providers may use the Board-approved CE provider registration number assigned by the Board;

(b) not represent that tests of knowledge or skills are required as proof of successful completion of any CE course;

(c) give each licensee written proof of the licensee's attendance and completion of a CE course. The CE provider registration number issued by the Board must be included on the certificate of completion;

(d) shall maintain a roster of participants completing each CE course that includes the participant's board license number, licensee name, course number, course name, date of course completion, and course evaluation form. The Board may require providers to provide access to this roster for inspection or submission to the Board for review upon request at any time;

(e) not represent that any call-in or mail-in continuing education courses are recognized or approved by the Board. CE providers that market call-in or mail-in courses as being Board-approved for CE credit are subject to revocation of their provider registration. In addition, any CE course credits for such courses shall not be valid and shall not be accepted by the Board; and

(f) provide the complete board-approved health and safety curriculum in its entirety to all registrants of Board-approved CE courses offering credit for health and safety CE hours.

(9) CE Courses not registered with the Board. Any licensee may request Board approval of an unregistered industry or trade show or other unregistered course of study for CE credit.

The Board, in its discretion, may approve such course on a case by case basis. All licensees shall receive written proof of attendance and/or completion of CE courses from the provider and the licensee shall submit such proof to the Board.

(10) CE Provider promotion information. CE Providers of continuing education courses must include the provider registration number issued by the Board on all promotional material including, but not limited to, information about courses, websites, advertisements, emails or mailings.

(11) CE Provider registration and expiration dates. The Board will accept applications for CE Provider registrations beginning April 1 and closing September 1 of each odd year beginning in 2017, and each odd year thereafter:

(a) CE Providers must submit a new CE Provider application registration bi-annually to the Board. CE Provider registrations are not renewable;

(b) After approval, the CE Provider is authorized, subject to the requirements of the Board, to offer approved Continuing Education (CE) courses for a two-year period, beginning on January 1 of the even year immediately following the year of registration with the Board;

(c) CE provider registrations shall expire on December 31 of each odd year;

(d) CE providers registered prior to 2017 shall continue to be registered/recognized by the Board to offer Board approved CE courses until their registration expires on December 31, 2017; and

(e) Industry or Trade Show CE Course Providers are not subject to the provisions of paragraph 11 of this rule, and must register under the requirements of paragraph 4.

(12) The Board may suspend the registration of any CE Provider for noncompliance with this rule.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 240-3-.02

O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-4, 43-1-7, 43-10-2, 43-10-9, 43-10-10.

Original Rule entitled "Registration of Continuing Education Providers and Continuing Education Courses" adopted. F. Apr. 13, 2017; eff. May 3, 2017.