201 KAR 33:030. Continuing education
requirements for licensees and certificate holders.
RELATES TO: KRS 310.050(3)
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 310.041(1), (9)
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS
310.041(1) requires the board to promulgate administrative regulations establishing
continuing education requirements. This administrative regulation establishes
continuing education requirements for dietitians and nutritionists.
Section 1. (1)(a) The annual continuing
education compliance period shall extend from November 1 of each year to
October 31 of the next year.
(b) Prior to renewal of a license or
certificate for the next licensure or certification period, a licensee or
certificate holder shall have earned fifteen (15) hours of approved continuing education
during the compliance period.
(c) A person who is either licensed as a
dietitian or certified as a nutritionist, or who is both a licensed dietitian
and certified nutritionist, shall have earned a total of fifteen (15) hours of
approved continuing education during the compliance period, prior to renewal of
a license or certificate for the next licensure period.
(2) An initial licensee or certificate
holder shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first
license or certification renewal.
(3) No more than fifteen (15) hours of
continuing education may be carried over into the next continuing education
period.
(4) It shall be the responsibility of
each licensee or certificate holder to finance the costs of continuing education.
(5) For purposes of the audit set forth
in subsection (7) of this section, every licensee or certificate holder shall
maintain a record of all continuing education courses attended for two (2)
years after the continuing education period. Appropriate documentation to be
kept shall include:
(a) Certificates of attendance for the
prior-approved continuing education;
(b) Transcripts for academic coursework;
(c) Reprints of journal articles
published; or
(d) Proof of attendance, description of
activity, and professional qualifications of the presenter for continuing
education activities.
(6) Each licensee or certificate holder
shall sign a statement on the Renewal Application form indicating compliance
with the continuing education requirements. A license or certificate shall not be
renewed without this sworn statement.
(7)(a) The board shall audit at least
fifteen (15) percent of licensees' or certificate holders' continuing education
records each year.
(b) Licensees or certificate holders who
are audited shall be chosen in a random manner or at the discretion of the
board. The board's determination shall be based on:
1. Disciplinary action against the
licensee; or
2. Question of the validity of the
continuing education credit.
(c) Falsifying reports, records, or other
documentation relating to continuing education requirements shall result in
formal disciplinary action.
(8)(a) A document that reflects a
continuing valid registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration
shall constitute proof of compliance with the continuing education requirement
by a person licensed as dietitian or certified as a nutritionist.
(b) A membership card shall not
constitute compliance with paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Section 2. Approved Continuing Education
Activities. (1) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by
attending and participating in a continuing education activity, interactive
workshop, seminar or lecture which has been approved by the board.
(2) Criteria for subject matter.
(a) Subject matter for continuing
education hours shall reflect the educational needs of the licensed dietitian
or certified nutritionist and the nutritional health needs of the consumer.
(b) Subject matter shall be limited to
offerings that are scientifically founded and offered at a level beyond
entry-level dietetics for professional growth.
(c) The following areas shall be
appropriate subject matter for continuing education credit if they are directly
related to the practice of dietetics or nutrition:
1.
Sciences on which dietetic practice, dietetic education, or dietetic research
is based including nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food management, and
behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain people's nutritional
health;
2. Nutrition therapy related to
assessment, counseling, teaching, or care of clients in any setting; or
3. Management or quality assurance of
food and nutritional care delivery systems.
(3) Standards for approval of continuing
education programs and activities. A continuing education activity shall be
approved if it:
(a) Constitutes an organized program of
learning, including a workshop or symposium, which contributes directly to the
professional competency of the licensee or certificate holder;
(b) Pertains to subject matters that
relate integrally to the practice of dietetics or nutrition; and
(c) Is conducted by individuals who have
education, training, and experience in the subject matter of the program.
(4) Academic coursework.
(a) Coursework shall be eligible for
credit if it:
1. Has been completed at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university; and
2. Is beyond entry-level dietetics;
(b) One (1) academic semester credit
shall equal fifteen (15) continuing education hours.
(c) One (1) academic quarter credit shall
equal ten (10) continuing education hours.
(d) An audited class shall equal eight
(8) continuing education hours for a semester or five (5) continuing education
hours for a quarter.
(5) Scholarly publications.
(a) A publication shall be approved if it:
1. Is published in a refereed
professional journal or other publication; and
2. Relates to nutrition and dietetic
practice, nutrition and dietetic education, or nutrition and dietetic research.
(b) Continuing education credit hours for
authorship of a scholarly publication shall be reported using the following
guidelines:
1. Authorship.
a. A senior author shall be reported if
the author is the first of two (2) or more authors listed.
b. A co-author shall be reported if the
author is the second of two (2) authors listed.
c. A contributing author shall be
reported for all but the senior of three (3) or more authors.
2. For the publication of a research paper,
a licensee shall receive continuing education credit of:
a. Ten (10) hours if he or she is the
single author;
b. Eight (8) hours if he or she is the
senior author;
c. Five (5) hours if he or she is a
co-author; or
d. Three (3) hours if he or she is a
contributing author.
3. For the publication of a technical
article, a licensee shall
receive continuing education of:
a. Five (5) hours if he or she is the
single author;
b. Four (4) hours if he or she is the
senior author;
c. Three (3) hours if he or she is a
co-author; or
d. Two (2) hours if he or she is a
contributing author.
4. For the publication of an
information-sharing article, a licensee shall receive one (1) hour of
continuing education credit.
5. For the publication of an abstract, a
licensee shall receive continuing education of:
a. Two (2) hours if he or she is the
senior author; or
b. One (1) hour if he or she is a
co-author.
(6) Poster sessions.
(a) Continuing education credit shall be
approved for attending juried poster sessions that meet the criteria for
appropriate subject matter established in subsection (3) of this section upon
submission of the documentation required in paragraph (c) of this subsection.
(b) One (1) hour of continuing education
credit shall be allowed for each hour of posters reviewed not to exceed three
(3) hours in a continuing education year.
(c) The following documentation shall be
submitted for approval of continuing education credit for attending juried
poster sessions.
1. Certificate of attendance or
completion indicating:
a. The date of the session;
b. The number of hours requested;
c. The objectives of the session; and
d. The session provider;
2. An agenda or outline of the session;
3. A program, flyer, or brochure
describing the poster session; or
4. Handouts from the poster session.
(7) Continuing education hours for
presenters.
(a) Credit shall not be given for
presentations to the lay public;
(b) Credit shall be allowed only once for
the same presentation;
(c) The presenter shall receive twice the
number of hours approved for the activity;
(d) Two (2) hours per topic shall be
allowed for presenters of juried poster sessions that meet the criteria for
appropriate subject matter established in subsection (3) of this section.
(e) A copy of the presentation or poster,
abstract or manuscript, and documentation of the peer review process shall be
included in the licensee's or certificate holder's documentation list.
(8) Exhibits.
(a) Continuing education credits may be
obtained for attending exhibits that meet the criteria for appropriate subject
matter established in subsection (3) of this section.
(b) One (1) hour of continuing education
credit shall be allowed for each hour of exhibits reviewed not to exceed three
(3) hours in a continuing education year.
(c) Documentation of attendance or
completion of review of exhibits shall be submitted showing:
1. Date;
2. Provider;
3. Timeline; and
4. Content of the exhibits.
(9) Residency and fellowship programs.
(a) Fifteen (15) hours of continuing
education credit shall be granted for completion of a residency or fellowship
program, if the program is:
1. At the postbaccalaureate level;
2. Dietetics-related;
3. Formalized or structured experiences;
and
4. Sponsored by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university of an institution accredited or approved
by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or
the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
(b) Documentation of the above shall be
submitted and shall include:
1. Certificate of completion; and
2. Name, address, phone number, e-mail
address, and fax number of the provider.
(10) Certification program.
(a) Fifteen (15) hours of continuing
education credit shall be granted for completion of a certification approved by
the board that:
1. Is dietetics-related;
2. Requires that candidates meet
eligibility requirements; and
3. Requires that a candidate or
certificate holder pass an examination to become certified initially, and to be
recertified.
(b) Up to fifteen (15) hours of
continuing education credit, for the exam only, may be carried over to the
following year.
(c) Documentation. A document verifying
the date of issue; duration of certification; and name, address, phone number,
e-mail address, and fax number of the provider shall be submitted.
(11) Self study courses.
(a) Fifteen (15) hours of continuing
education credit shall be granted for completion of a Commission on Dietetic
Registration preapproved self-study program that meets the following criteria:
1. The program shall address a single
specific subject in depth;
2. Test items shall accompany the program
and be based on its content; and
3. The program may be audio-based;
computer based; printed; video-, DVD-, or CD-based; or Web-based.
(b) The following documentation shall be
submitted:
1. A certificate of attendance or
completion;
2. An agenda or outline of the program;
and
3. Description of the objectives, date,
timeline, and provider of the program.
Section 3. Procedures for Prior Approval
of Continuing Education Activities. (1) A person seeking prior approval of a
course, program, or other continuing education activity shall apply to the
board for approval at least sixty (60) days in advance of the commencement of
the activity.
(2) The application shall state the:
(a) Dates;
(b) Subjects offered;
(c) Objectives for the activity;
(d) Total hours of instruction; and
(e) Names and qualifications of speakers.
(3) The board shall approve or deny
timely and complete applications before the commencement of the activity.
(4) Review of programs.
(a) The board may monitor and review any
continuing education program already approved by the board.
(b) Upon evidence of significant
variation in the program presented from the program approved, the board may
disapprove all or any part of the approved hours granted the program.
(5) Programs pertaining to the following
subject areas shall require preapproval by the board:
(a) Experiential skill development, which
shall be limited to fifteen (15) hours;
(b) Independent learning programs that
are sponsored and related to nutrition and dietetic practice, nutrition and
dietetic education, or nutrition and dietetic research, which shall be limited
to ten (10) hours;
(c) Study groups involving nutrition and
dietetic practice, nutrition and dietetic education, or nutrition and dietetic
research, which shall be limited to ten (10); and
(d) Professional reading of journal
articles related to nutrition and dietetic practice, nutrition and dietetic
education, or nutrition and dietetic research, which shall be limited to three
(3) hours.
Section 4. Subsequent Approval of
Continuing Education Activities. (1)(a) Individual or group educational
activities for which program providers or sponsors have not requested
continuing education hour approval prior to the date of the activity may be
approved by the board for continuing education credit.
(b) An activity that has received prior approval
shall not be submitted on a subsequent approval basis.
(2) The person seeking subsequent
approval of continuing education activities shall submit the following
information regarding the program attended:
(a) Dates;
(b) Subjects offered;
(c) Learner educational objectives for
the activity and anticipated outcomes;
(d) Total hours of instruction;
(e) Names and qualifications of speakers;
(f) A timing outline, including time
spent for registration, introductions, welcomes, and coffee and meal breaks;
and
(g) The number of continuing education
hours requested.
(3) A request for approval of a
continuing education program based on:
(a) A program that does not require
preapproval shall be submitted within sixty (60) days of completion;
(b) Authorship of a publication shall be
submitted within six (6) months of the date of publication; and
(c) Academic coursework shall be submitted
within the licensure or certification year of the course completion date.
(4) Documentation of attendance at a
workshop, seminar, or lecture related to nutrition and dietetic practice,
nutrition and dietetic education, or nutrition and dietetic research that has
not been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration shall be submitted
within sixty (60) days of attendance.
(5) An activity that has not received
prior approval may be submitted by individuals on a subsequent approval basis
with rationale demonstrating continuing education value.
Section 5. Provider Preapproval. (1) A
provider of a continuing education program seeking to obtain prior approval
from the board for continuing education certification shall provide the
following documentation to the board not less than sixty (60) days prior to the
event:
(a) Dates;
(b) Subjects offered;
(c) Objectives for the activity;
(d) Total hours of instruction; and
(e) Names and qualifications of speakers.
(2) The board shall approve or deny timely
and complete applications before the commencement of the activity.
(3) Review of programs.
(a) The board may monitor and review any
continuing education program already approved by the board.
(b) Upon evidence of significant
variation in the program presented from the program approved, the board may
disapprove all or any part of the approved hours granted the program.
Section 6. Appeals Procedure. (1) A
licensee or certificate holder may appeal decisions regarding continuing
education by filing a written appeal.
(2) An appeal shall be sent to the board
within thirty (30) calendar days after notification of denial and shall be
considered by the board at its next scheduled meeting.
Section 7. Waiver of Continuing
Education. (1) A licensee or certificate holder who is medically disabled or
ill shall be granted:
(a) A waiver of the continuing education
requirements; or
(b) An extension of time within which to
complete continuing education requirements or make required reports.
(2) A written request for waiver or
extension of time shall be:
(a) Submitted by the licensee or
certificate holder; and
(b) Accompanied by a verifying document
signed by a licensed physician.
(3) A waiver of the minimum continuing
education requirements or extensions of time to complete them shall not be
granted for more than one (1) calendar year.
(4) If the medical disability or illness
upon which a waiver or extension has been granted continues beyond the period
of the waiver or extension, the licensee or certificate holder shall reapply
for further waiver or extension.
Section 8. Continuing Education
Requirements for Retired or Inactive Licensees. (1)(a) A licensee who
holds an inactive license is not required to obtain continuing education.
(b) Upon
application to return to active status, the licensee shall present evidence
that the licensee has fulfilled the continuing education requirements for the
two (2)year period immediately prior to the application for reinstatement.
(2)(a) A retired
licensee is not required to obtain continuing education.
(b) Upon
application to return to active status, the licensee shall present evidence
that the licensee has fulfilled all past-due continuing education requirements.
Section 9.
Incorporation by Reference. (1) "Renewal Application", January 2010,
is incorporated by reference.
(2) This material
may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at
the Division of Occupations and Professions, 911 Leawood Drive, Frankfort,
Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (22 Ky.R. 1001; Am.
1455; eff. 2-12-1996; 33 Ky.R. 879; 1292; eff. 11-15-2006; 36 Ky.R. 1311; 1907;
eff. 3-5-2010.)
