Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-4-.07 - Continuing Education Requirements

(1) Each license must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the license's birthday falls and the licensee must complete at least thirty (30) hours per biennium of continuing education in courses, programs or activities approved for continuing education credit by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.

(a) The Board accepts the following as meeting its requirement for Board approval:

A minimum of ten (10) CEU's must be earned in Category I. The remaining CEU's can be earned in Category II or Category III

Category I Accredited Perfusion Meetings and Other Perfusion Related Activity.

Perfusion meetings are those programs and seminars in which a minimum of 75% of the contact hours consists of perfusion related material. Only those meetings approved by the ABCP will qualify for Category I CEUs. Examples include:

* International, national, regional, and state perfusion meetings may be used to satisfy the requirement.

* Publication of perfusion related book chapter or paper in a professional journal, maximum of 5 CEU hours per item, maximum of 7 hours in a two year period.

* Presentation at an international, national, regional or state perfusion meeting maximum of 5 CEU hours per item, maximum of 7 hours in a two year period.

* Participation in the ABCP Knowledge Base Survey one CEU in a two year period.

* Completion of ABCP approved Self Directed Continuing Education (SDCE) material. Self-Directed Continuing Education (SDCE) is education provided to individuals who are not physically 'onsite.' Rather than attending meetings or courses in person, participants may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed 17 or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time. This activity may be either online or in written format. Participant must take the required post-test and achieve a minimum score of 80% to receive credit.

Category II - Non-Accredited Perfusion Meetings and Other Medical Meetings

Category II includes international, national, regional, state and local meetings that have not been approved for CEU credit by the ABCP. Examples include:

* International, national, regional, and state, perfusion meetings that have not been accredited by the ABCP.

* Local perfusion meetings (do not require ABCP accreditation).

* Any perfusion meeting NOT EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE to the general CCP community, including manufacturer-specific and company- sponsored educational activities.

* International, national, regional, or local medically-related meetings.

* Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

* Hospital Inservices

Category III - Individual Education and Other Self-Study Activities Not Approved for Category I Credit

Credit in Category III is acquired on an hour for hour basis of the time spent in these non-accredited or non-supervised activities. Examples include:

* Reading or viewing medical journals, audiovisual, or other educational material.

* Participation in electronic forums.

* Participation in a journal club.

* Participation in degree-oriented, professionally related course work.

* Presentation of perfusion topic at a nonperfusion meeting.

* Clinical or didactic instructor in an accredited school of perfusion.

* Participation in an ABCP survey or examination development meeting.

* Participation in a site visitor's workshop or as a site visitor for perfusion program accreditation.

* Membership in a professional perfusion organization at the international, national, or state level.

(2) Each licensee will be required to answer questions on the renewal form that establish compliance with the continuing education requirement. Licensees will not be required to send documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements for renewal, unless requested by the Board pursuant to Rule 360-4-.07(4). False statements regarding satisfaction of continuing education on the renewal form or any other document connected with the practice of perfusion may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.

(3) Each licensee who must meet the requirements of this chapter must maintain a record of attendance and supporting documents for Board approved continuing education for a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following information must be kept:

(a) name of provider;

(b) name of program;

(c) hours of continuing education units completed; and

(d) date of completion; or

(e) approval from American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) or its successor.

4) The Board will audit a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal applications to monitor compliance with the continuing education requirements. Any licensee so audited shall be required to furnish documentation of compliance including name of provider, name of program, continuing education hours completed and date of completion. Any licensee so audited that has been found to be out of compliance with the Board's continuing education requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.

(5) If the licensee has not complied with the continuing education requirement by the expiration of the license, his or her license shall not be renewed and the licensee shall not engage in the practice of perfusion. A licensee may late renew as provided in Rule 360-4-.06 by presenting satisfactory evidence to the Board of completion of the continuing education requirements and the late renewal fee. Licenses that are not renewed within three months of the expiration date shall be revoked for failure to renew. Unless the provisions of Rule 360-4-06(6) are applicable, an applicant must reapply for licensure in accordance with rule 360-4-.02 in order to obtain a license after revocation for failure to renew.

(6) Continuing education hours that are used to satisfy a deficiency may not be used for purposes of renewal of the licensed clinical perfusionist's license for the next biennium.

(7) Any licensed clinical perfusionist seeking renewal of his or her license who has not fully complied with the Board's continuing education requirements and who wishes for the Board to waive this requirement shall:

(a) Submit a written request and documentation to the Board to demonstrate that a waiver should be granted due to hardship, disability or illness; and

(b) Submit such written request to the Board prior to the expiration of the license and in a sufficient time period to receive a determination from the Board as to whether a waiver will be granted.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-4-.07

O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-1-25, 43-34-5, 43-34-11, 43-34-24, 43-34-172, 43-34-174, 50-13-9.1.

. Original Rule entitled "Continuing Education Requirements" adopted. F. July 11, 2003; eff. July 31, 2003. Amended: F. Mar. 9, 2005; eff. Mar. 29, 2005. Amended: F. Feb. 21, 2006; eff. Mar. 13, 2006. Amended: F. Nov. 10, 2008; eff. Nov. 30, 2008. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F: May 11, 2012; eff. May 31, 2012.