201 KAR 44:060. Continuing education requirements and procedures.

 

      RELATES

TO: KRS 12.355, 12.357, 319B.010(13), (18), (22), 319B.030(1)(g), (2),

319B.120(1), (2), 319B.140(1)(d)

      STATUTORY

AUTHORITY: KRS 319B.030(1)(g)

      NECESSITY,

FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 319B.030(1)(g) requires the board to promulgate

administrative regulations establishing the continuing education requirements

for licensees, which shall include the frequency of reporting, number of hours,

types of courses, methods of proving compliance, penalties for violation, and

all fees necessary for implementing the continuing education process. This

administrative regulation establishes continuing education requirements and procedures.

 

      Section

1. Definitions. (1) "Contact hour" means an approved credit earned

based on sixty (60) minutes of participation in a prosthetics, orthotics, or

pedorthics-related activity.

      (2)

"Continuing education" means a planned learning experience relating

to the scope of prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics practice as defined by

KRS 319B.010(13), (18), and (22) and if the subject is intervention,

examination, research, documentation, education, or management of health care delivery

systems.

      (3)

"Jurisprudence Examination" means an open book tutorial provided by

the board on KRS Chapter 319B and 201 KAR Chapter 44.

 

      Section

2. (1) A licensee applying for renewal shall have completed the continuing education

requirements established in this section during the preceding renewal period. Continuing

education shall be based on contact hours awarded.

      (a)

For a licensed prosthetist, the board shall require ten (10) contact hours as a

condition of licensure renewal. These hours shall be obtained as follows:

      1.

One (1) hour shall be awarded for the successful completion of the

Jurisprudence Examination per biennium;

      2.

At least seven (7) hours shall be earned from Category 1 as established in

subsection (2) of this section; and

      3.

No more than three (3) hours shall be earned from Category 2 as established in

subsection (3) of this section.

      (b)

For a licensed orthotist, the board shall require ten (10) contact hours as a

condition of renewal. These hours shall be obtained as follows:

      1.

One (1) hour shall be awarded for the successful completion of the

Jurisprudence Examination per biennium;

      2.

At least seven (7) hours shall be earned from Category 1 as established in

subsection (2) of this section; and

      3.

No more than three (3) hours shall be earned from Category 2 as established in

subsection (3) of this section.

      (c)

For a licensed prosthetist-orthotist, the board shall require fifteen (15)

contact hours as a condition of renewal. These hours shall be obtained as

follows:

      1.

One (1) hour shall be awarded for the successful completion of the

Jurisprudence Examination per biennium;

      2.

At least twelve (12) hours shall be earned from Category 1 as established in

subsection (2) of this section; and

      3.

No more than three (3) hours shall be earned from Category 2 as established in

subsection (3) of this section.

      (d)

For a licensed pedorthist, the board shall require eight (8) contact hours as a

condition of licensure renewal. These hours shall be obtained as follows:

      1.

One (1) hour shall be awarded for the successful completion of the

Jurisprudence Examination per biennium;

      2.

At least six (6) hours shall be earned from Category 1 as established in

subsection (2) of this section; and

      3.

No more than two (2) hours shall be earned from Category 2 as established in

subsection (3) of this section.

      (e)

For a licensed fitter - orthotics, the board shall require seven (7) contact

hours as a condition of licensure renewal. These hours shall be obtained as

follows:

      1.

One (1) hour shall be awarded for the successful completion of the

Jurisprudence Examination per biennium;

      2.

At least six (6) hours shall be earned from Category 1 as established in

subsection (2) of this section; and

      3.

No more than one (1) hour shall be earned from Category 2 as established in

subsection (3) of this section.

      (2)

Category 1 continued competency shall be any of the following:

      (a)

Completion of courses, seminars, workshops, or symposia consisting of at least

three (3) contact hours that have been approved by the board; the board's

designee; the Kentucky Orthotics Prosthetics Association; the American Board of

Certification for Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, Inc.; the Board of

Certification/Accreditation International or any of their components; or any

other prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics licensing agency;

      (b)

Completion or auditing of an accredited postsecondary educational institution

credit course in the field of orthotics, prosthetics, or pedorthotics. Fifteen

(15) contact hours shall be awarded for each semester completed;

      (c)

Presentation of continuing education courses, workshops, seminars, or symposia

that have been approved by the board or its designee;

      (d)

Authorship of a research article, manuscript, or scientific paper, published in

the biennium and related to prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics. Four (4)

contact hours shall be awarded with a maximum of two (2) events per year;

      (e)

A presented scientific poster or scientific platform presentation related to prosthetics,

orthotics, or pedorthics. Three (3) contact hours shall be awarded per event

with a maximum of two (2) events per year;

      (f)

Teaching part of a prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics credit course if that

teaching is not the primary employment of the licensee. A maximum of two (2)

contact hours per year shall be awarded;

      (g)

Completion of a clinical residency director or clinical fellowship program. Not

more than five (5) contact hours shall be awarded per year, per resident with a

maximum of ten (10) contact hours per year;

      (h)

Engaging in the practice of prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics as defined by

KRS 319B.010(13), (18), and (22) at least 1,000 hours per biennium. One (1)

contact hour shall be awarded per year;

      (i)

Engaging in the instruction in a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health

Education Programs-accredited program at least 1,000 hours per biennium. One (1)

contact hour shall be awarded per year;

      (k)

Appointment to the Kentucky Board of Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pedorthics. Two

(2) contact hours shall be awarded per year;

      (l)

Election or appointment as an officer or committee chair to a position of the

Kentucky Orthotics Prosthetics Association; the American Board of Certification

for Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, Inc.; or the Board of

Certification/Accreditation International. Two (2) contact hours shall be awarded

per biennium; or

      (m)

Member of a committee or task force for one (1) of the organizations in

paragraph (k) or (l) of this subsection. One (1) contact hour shall be awarded

per year.

      (3)

Category 2 continuing education shall be any of the following:

      (a)

Self-instruction from reading professional literature or home study program.

One half (1/2) contact hour shall be awarded per year;

      (b)

Clinical instructor for a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health

Education Programs-approved educational program. Continued competency shall be

one (1) contact hour yearly per resident;

      (c)

Participation in a prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics in-service or study

group consisting of two (2) or more licensees. A maximum of one (1) contact

hour shall be awarded per year;

      (d)

Participation in community service related to health care. A maximum of one (1)

contact hour of continued competency shall be awarded yearly;

      (e)

Member of the American Board of Certification for Orthotics Prosthetics and

Pedorthics, Inc., or the Board of Certification/Accreditation International.

One-half contact hour shall be awarded per year; or

      (f)

Member of the Kentucky Prosthetics and Orthotics Association. One (1) contact

hour shall be awarded per year.

      (4)

Documentation of compliance.

      (a)

Each licensee shall retain independently verifiable documentation of completion

of all continuing education requirements of this administrative regulation for

a period of at least three (3) years from the end of the license year.

      (b)

The licensee shall, within thirty (30) days of a written request from the

board, provide evidence of continuing education activities to the board.

      (c)

A licensee who fails to provide evidence of the continuing education activities

or who falsely certifies completion of continuing education activities shall be

subject to disciplinary action pursuant to KRS 319B.140(1)(d).

      (5)

Exemption and extension.

      (a)

A licensee shall be granted a temporary hardship extension for an extension of

time, not to exceed one (1) renewal cycle, if the licensee:

      1.

Files a completed Extension of Time for Completion of Continued Competency

Form, including a plan describing how the required credits will be met; and

      2.

Submits documentation showing evidence of undue hardship by reason of the

licensee’s:

      a.

Age;

      b.

Disability;

      c.

Medical condition;

      d.

Financial condition; or

      e.

Other clearly mitigating circumstance.

      (b)

A licensee shall be granted a temporary nonhardship extension of time if the

licensee cannot show undue hardship and if the licensee:

      1.

Files a completed Extension of Time for Completion of Continued Competency

Form, including a plan describing how the required credits will be met, by December

31 of the year in the renewal cycle for which the extension is sought;

      2.

Pays a fee of $250;

      3.

Has not received a temporary nonhardship extension of time in the prior renewal

cycle; and

      4.

Files proof of compliance with the continuing competency requirements by the

following July 1.

      (c)

A licensee on active military duty or a spouse thereof shall be granted an

exemption from continuing education requirements in accordance with KRS 12.355

or 12.357.

 

      Section

3. Incorporation by Reference. (1) "Extension of Time for Completion of Continued

Competency Form", December 2011, is incorporated by reference.

      (2)

This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable law,

at the Kentucky Board of Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pedorthics, Office of

Occupations and Professions, 911 Leawood Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday

through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (38 Ky.R. 1512;

1853; eff. 6-1-2012.)