Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1020-01-.12 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

Although licensure renewal is required on a biennial basis, all licensees must attend and complete the continuing education requirements of this rule annually, on a calendar year basis, as a prerequisite to licensure renewal.

(1) Hours Required.

(a) All licensees must attend and complete eighteen (18) clock hours of Board approved continuing education within every calendar year.

(b) For new licensees, submitting proof of successful completion of the NAB licensure examination shall be considered proof of sufficient preparatory education to constitute continuing education clock hour credit for the length of time already transpired in the calendar year in which the applicant is approved.

1. For purposes of the requirement set out in subparagraph (1) (a) of this rule, credit for the length of time already transpired shall be calculated at the rate of four and a half (4%) clock hours per quarter-calendar year.

2. The provisions of this subparagraph shall apply to all new licensees, including new licensees who have been approved pursuant to rule 1020-01-.08.

(c) The Board approves courses for only the number of hours contained in the course. The approved hours of any individual course will not be counted more than once in a calendar year toward the required annual hours regardless of the number of times the course is attended or completed by any individual licensee.

(d) Waiver or Extension of Continuing Education Requirements.

1. The Board may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the required clock hours of continuing education or the Board may grant an extension of the deadline to complete the required clock hours of continuing education if it can be shown that compliance is beyond the physical or mental capabilities of the person seeking the waiver.

2. Waivers or extension of the deadline will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the calendar year (December 31) in which the continuing education is due:

(i) A written request for a waiver or deadline extension which specifies which requirements are sought to be waived or which deadline is sought to be extended, and a written and signed explanation of the reason for the request; and

(ii) Any documentation which supports the reason(s) for the waiver or deadline extension requested or which is subsequently requested by the Board.

3. A waiver or deadline extension approved by the Board is effective only for the calendar year for which either is sought.

(2) Documentation of Compliance:

(a) The due date for completion of the annual clock hours required in subparagraph (1) (a) of this rule is December 31^st of each year.

(b) Each licensee must retain proof of attendance and completion of all continuing education requirements of this rule and subparagraph (2) (a) of rule 1020-01-.06. This documentation must be retained for a period of four (4) years from the end of the calendar year in which the continuing education was required. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the board during its verification process. The board will not maintain continuing education files.

(c) The individual must, within thirty (30) days of a request from the board, provide evidence of continuing education activities. Certificates verifying the individual's attendance or original letters from course providers are such evidence.

(3) Course Approval.

(a) Courses offered for credit toward the required continuing education hours must either have received approval from the National Continuing Education Review Service of NAB, or be courses provided by organizations requesting and receiving approval from the Board based on the following criteria:

1. The organization's experience in providing education in the nursing home or health care field;

2. The organization's ability to provide appropriate subject material and instruction. The material must be directly related to the duties and responsibilities of a nursing home administrator and be in one or more of the Domains of Practice;

3. The organization's ability to provide regular or on-going instruction for licensees on a state-wide basis; and

4. The organization's commitment to provide evidence, at the request of the Board, of the licensee's attendance at the program. A synopsis of each program will be filed with the Board.

(b) Courses relating to any of the Domains of Practice offered by accredited colleges, universities or community colleges are approved for credit toward the continuing education requirements. Every three (3) semester hours or equivalent quarter hours shall be the equivalent of eighteen (18) clock hours of continuing education. No credit shall be allowed for courses failed according to the institutions' grading determinations.

(c) Multi-Media courses may be taken for continuing education credit.

1. Multi-Media courses may include courses utilizing:

(i) The Internet

(ii) Closed circuit television

(iii) Satellite broadcasts

(iv) Correspondence courses

(v) Videotapes

(vi) CD-ROM

(vii) DVD

(viii) Teleconferencing

(ix) Videoconferencing

(x) Distance learning

2. A maximum of twelve (12) credit hours may be granted for multi-media courses during each calendar year.

(4) Violations.

(a) Any licensee who fails to obtain the required continuing education hours may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to rule 1020-01-.15.

(b) Education hours obtained as a result of any of the following shall not be credited toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained by the end of any calendar year:

1. Compliance with informal settlements pursuant to rule 1020-2-.15;

2. Compliance with Board Orders in any disciplinary action; and

3. Compliance with proposed settlements for obtaining an "affirmative finding" pursuant to rule 1020-01-.14.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1020-01-.12

Original rule certified June 7, 1974. Repeal and new rule filed December 17, 1991; effective January 31, 1992. Repeal and new rule filed December 14, 1999; effective February 27, 2000. Amendment filed April 10, 2000; effective July 1, 2000. Amendment filed January 19, 2001; effective April 5, 2001. Amendment filed January 23, 2002; effective April 8, 2002. Amendment filed July 27, 2006; effective October 10, 2006.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-16-103 and 63-16-107.