201 KAR 29:050. Continuing education requirements.
RELATES TO: KRS 314A.115
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 314.115,
314A.205(3)
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS
314A.115 requires the submission of proof of continuing education in order to
renew certification. This administrative regulation delineates the requirements
for continuing education and prescribes methods and standards for the
accreditation of continuing education courses.
Section 1. Definitions. (1) "AARC"
means American Association for Respiratory Care.
(2) "Academic courses" means
courses offered by an accredited postsecondary institution including:
(a) A respiratory care course, designated
by a respiratory care course number, beyond the premandatory certification
level; and
(b) An academic course applicable to
respiratory care practice and appropriate for the respiratory care practitioner
employed in the areas of clinical practice, administration, education, or
research.
(3) "American Association for
Respiratory Care approval" or "AARC approval" means any offering
having received recognition by this organization.
(4) "Approved" means Kentucky
Board of Respiratory Care (KBRC) recognized.
(5) "Continuing education unit"
means sixty (60) contact minutes of participating in continuing education experiences.
(6) "Offering" means an
organized learning experience:
(a) Planned and evaluated to meet
behavioral objectives; and
(b) Presented in one (1) session or in a
series.
(7) "Relevant" means having
content applicable to the practice of respiratory care.
(8) "Sponsor" means an
individual or organization, other than AARC, applying for approval of
continuing education programs.
(9) "Successful completion"
means that the practitioner has:
(a) Satisfactorily met and can
appropriately document the specific requirements of the offering; and
(b) Earned the continuing education units.
Section 2. Accrual of Continuing
Education Units Mandatory; Computation of Accrual. (1) A minimum of twenty-four
(24) continuing education units shall be accrued by each person holding mandatory
certification during the two (2) year certification period for renewal.
(2) The certification period shall be
January 1 of one (1) year through December 31 of the following calendar year, regardless
of when a mandatory certificate is issued.
(3) All units shall be in or relevant to
the field of respiratory care.
Section 3. Methods of Acquiring
Continuing Education Units. Continuing education units applicable to the
renewal of the mandatory certificate shall be directly relevant to the
professional growth and development of the respiratory care practitioner. Units
may be earned by completing any of the following educational activities:
(1)(a) Academic courses as defined in
Section 1 of this administrative regulation; and
(b) Academic credit equivalency for
continuing education units shall be based on one (1) credit hour = fifteen (15)
continuing education units;
(2) Continuing education units approved
by AARC;
(3) Continuing education units offered by
other organizations or institutions approved by the Board in accordance with
this administrative regulation; or
(4) Scientific and educational lectures,
workshops, or seminars presented by a person holding a mandatory certificate.
(a) A maximum of double the continuing education
units offered may be credited for scientific and educational lectures,
workshops, or seminars presented by the certificate holder.
(b) Credit shall not be issued for
repeated instruction of the same course.
Section 4. Procedure for Preapproval of
Sponsors. (1) A sponsor desiring approval of a continuing education offering
prior to attendance shall apply for approval to the board at least forty-five
(45) days in advance of the date of the offering, on the Application for
Continuing Education Approval stating the type of learning activity, the
subject matter, the date and time of the program, and the names and
qualifications of the instructors. A continuing education activity shall be approved
if the board determines that the activity being presented:
(a) Is an organized program of learning;
(b) Pertains to subject matters which are
integrally relevant to the practice of respiratory care;
(c) Contributes to the professional
competency of the licensee; and
(d) Is conducted by individuals who have
educational training, or experience acceptable to the board.
(2) A nonrefundable and one-time fee of
ten (10) dollars shall be charged for each continuing education offering.
(3) An approved continuing education
offering shall expire two (2) years from the date of approval.
(4) A continuing education offering shall
be approved in increments of no less than thirty minutes.
(5) Product based continuing education
offerings shall be approved for a maximum of up to two (2) continuing education
units per product.
(6) The Board may choose not to approve a
sponsor’s offerings if the Board finds the sponsor engaged in fraud, deceit, or
misrepresentations concerning any continuing education offerings.
Section 5. Procedure for Postapproval of
an Individual Holding a Mandatory Certificate. (1) An individual holding a
mandatory certificate desiring postapproval of a continuing education offering shall,
within ninety (90) days after the date the continuing education program is
conducted, submit an Application for Continuing Education Approval stating the
type of learning activity, the subject matter, the date and time of the
program, and the names and qualifications of the instructors. A continuing
education activity shall be postapproved if the board determines that the
activity presented:
(a) Was an organized program of learning;
(b) Pertained to subject matters which
are integrally relevant to the practice of respiratory care;
(c) Contributed to the professional
competency of the licensee; and
(d) Was conducted by individuals who have
educational training, or experience acceptable to the board.
(2) An approved continuing education
offering shall expire two (2) years from the date of approval.
(3) A continuing education offering shall
be approved in increments of no less than thirty (30) minutes.
(4) Product based continuing education
offerings shall be approved for a maximum of up to two continuing education
units per product.
(5) The Board may choose not to approve
an individual’s offerings if the Board finds the individual engaged in fraud,
deceit, or misrepresentations concerning any continuing education offerings.
Section 6. All continuing education units
and academic courses shall be preapproved or postapproved for credit.
(1) If a continuing education unit is
approved by ARRC, it shall be considered preapproved.
(2) An academic course shall be
postapproved upon completion of the course.
Section 7. Responsibilities and Reporting
Requirements of Certificate Holders. A certificate holder shall be responsible
for obtaining required continuing education units. The certificate holder shall
identify his or her own continuing education needs, take the initiative in
seeking continuing professional education activities to meet these needs, and
seek ways to integrate new knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Each person holding
mandatory certification shall:
(1) Select approved activities by which
to earn continuing education units; and
(2) Maintain all documentation verifying
successful completion of continuing education units for a period of three (3)
years from conclusion of the certification period in which the continuing education
unit was obtained.
Section 8. Audit Procedures. (1) In
January following the certification period, the Board shall audit a minimum of
fifteen (15) percent of certificate holders who were designated to complete
continuing education by December 31 of the preceding year.
(2) Each certificate holder chosen for an
audit shall furnish documentation of completion of continuing education units
for the certification period. Documentation shall include:
(a) Official transcripts for completed
academic courses;
(b) A copy of the program showing an
individual as a presenter of scientific and educational lectures, workshops, or
seminars;
(c) Official verification from an
official Registrar for academic courses taught; or
(d) Completion certificates or cards,
including a course number, for relevant offerings whether preapproved or postapproved.
(3) Each certificate holder chosen for an
audit shall also submit a Continuing Education Audit Verification Form. It shall
be submitted before March 1 of the year following the certification period.
(4) Failure to fully comply with the
provisions of this administrative regulation shall constitute unprofessional
conduct as set forth in KRS 314A.225 and may result in the refusal to renew,
suspension, or revocation of the certification.
Section 9. Temporary Certificate Holders;
Limited Mandatory Certificate Holders. Continuing education requirements shall
not apply to the holders of a temporary certificate or a limited mandatory
certificate.
Section 10. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:
(a) "Application for Continuing
Education Approval", 6/11;
(b) "Continuing Education Audit
Verification Form", 6/11; and
(c) "Application for Renewal",
8/11.
(2) This material may be inspected, copied,
or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Board of Respiratory
Care, 163 W. Short Street, Suite 350, Lexington, Kentucky, 40507, Monday
through Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (19 Ky.R. 838; Am. 1072; eff. 11-9-92; 2089; eff. 4-21-93;
27 Ky.R. 3135; 28 Ky.R. 70; eff. 7-16-2001; 30 Ky.R. 391; 858; eff. 10-15-03;
32 Ky.R. 2328; eff. 9-1-06; 38 Ky.R. 300; 787; 897; eff. 11-16-11; TAm 8-2-2013.)