261 CMR 5.04 - Qualifying Continuing Education Activities or Programs

The following criteria are given to guide Respiratory Therapists in selecting an appropriate activity or program and to guide the provider in planning and implementing continuing education activities or programs. The overriding consideration in determining whether a specific activity or program qualifies as acceptable continuing education is that it be a planned program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competence of the Respiratory Therapist.

(1) Learner Objectives.

(a) Objectives shall be written and be the basis for determining content, learning experience, teaching methodologies, and evaluation.

(b) Objectives shall be specific, attainable, measurable, and describe expected outcomes for the learner.

(2) Subject Matter.

(a) Appropriate subject matter for continuing education shall include the following:

1. Respiratory Care science and practice;

2. Respiratory Care education;

3. Research in Respiratory Care and health care;

4. Management, administration and supervision in health care delivery;

5. Social, economic, legal aspects of health care;

6. Teaching health care and consumer health education;

7. Professional requirements for a formal Respiratory Care Program or a related field beyond those that were completed for the issuance of the original license; and

8. Subjects which a Respiratory Therapist documents as improving his job competency which is not specified in 251 CMR 5.03(2)(a) 1. through 7. and is determined to be appropriate by the Board.

(b) The following activities shall not qualify as appropriate continuing education under 261 CMR 5.00:

1. Employee orientation relating to the goals, policies, operating procedures, duties roles and expectations, physical facilities and services of a specific work setting; and

2. Certification and/or re-certification in Basic Life Support (CPR).

(3) Types of Activities or Programs.

(a) Academic Course. An academic course is an activity that is approved and presented by an accredited post-secondary educational institution which carries academic credit. The course may be within the framework of a curriculum that leads to an academic degree in Respiratory Care beyond that required for the original license, or relevant to respiratory care, or any course that is necessary to a Respiratory Therapist's professional growth and development.

(b) Internet Course. An internet course is an activity which:

1. is developed by a professional group, such as an educational corporation or professional association;

2. follows a logical sequence;

3. involves the learner by requiring active response to module materials and provides feedback;

4. contains a test to indicate progress and to verify completion of module; and

5. is offered through a web-based or computer-based medium.

(c) Recredentialing Examination. A recredentialing examination is a national credentialing examination in Respiratory Care developed and offered by the NBRC, which is available to credentialed Respiratory Care practitioners for recredentialing. Recredentialing examinations may be applied towards continuing education requirements as follows:

1. NBRC examination (formerly the "written registry") = two contact hours;

2. Clinical Simulation = four contact hours;

3. Perinatal/Pediatric Specialty = two contact hours; or

4. Licensed Respiratory Therapists who are RRTs may not apply the CRT recredentialing examination towards the continuing education requirement.

(d) Planned and Supervised Clinical Experience. Planned and supervised clinical experience is an offering which is:

1. beyond the basic level of preparation of the individual who is licensed; and

2. based on a planned program of study; and

3. instructed and supervised by individual(s) who possess the appropriate credentials related to the discipline being taught; and

4. conducted in a clinical setting.

(e) Seminar/Workshop. A seminar/workshop is an activity which is acceptable continuing education which does not fit into one of the above listed types of activities or programs.

(4) Faculty Qualifications.

(a) The faculty must present documentation to the provider illustrating competency in the content of the planned learning experience and must possess knowledge of the principles of adult education.

(b) If the activity includes clinical experience, a Respiratory Therapist licensed by the Board shall provide supervision.

(c) If the activity includes clinical experience other than Respiratory Care, a qualified instructor possessing the appropriate credentials of the discipline shall provide instruction.

(5) Evaluation.

(a) Provision must be made for evaluating each learner's attainment of the stated objectives and outcomes. That attainment must be documented through an evaluation instrument or an examination completed by the learner on site. The instrument shall contain at least one evaluation or examination item for each presentation.

(b) Learners must be given the opportunity to evaluate the faculty, learning experiences, instructional methods, facilities and educational resources used for the activity or program.

(c) At least one of the instruments specified in 261 CMR 5.03(5)(a) shall include the identification of the learner by his or her name and Massachusetts Respiratory Care license number, and shall be the instrument which provides the basis for awarding the contact hours to the learner. Contact hours shall only be awarded for the presentation(s) evaluated by the learner or for the presentations where the learner has correctly answered the examination item(s), whichever is applicable.

Notes

261 CMR 5.04

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1410, eff. 2/7/2020.