Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-38-116 - Continuing Education Requirement

A. Under A.R.S. § 32-2915(F), a licensee shall complete at least 20 hours of Board-approved continuing education in the 12 months before submitting the license renewal materials required under R4-38-109. If a licensee completes more than 20 hours of continuing education during a year, the licensee shall not report the extra hours in a subsequent year.

B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensee obtains and maintains for two years documentary evidence of complying with the continuing education requirement.

C. An hour of continuing education consists of 60 minutes of participation unless specified otherwise in subsection (D).

D. The following continuing education programs and activities are approved by the Board and do not require an application under R4-38-117 :

1. Participating in an internship, residency, or fellowship at a teaching institution approved by the American Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, or American Osteopathic Association. A licensee may claim one credit hour of continuing education for each day of training in a full-time approved program, or for a less than full-time training on a pro-rata basis. For purposes of this subsection, teaching institutions define "full-time";

2. Participating in an education program for an advanced degree in a medical or medically-related field in a teaching institution approved by the American Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, or American Osteopathic Association. A licensee may claim one credit hour of continuing education for each one day of full-time study or less than a full-time study on a pro rata basis. For purposes of this subsection, teaching institutions define "full-time";

3. Participating in full-time research in a teaching institution approved by the American Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, or American Osteopathic Association. A licensee may claim one credit hour of continuing education for each one day of full-time research, or less than full-time research on a pro rata basis. For purposes of this subsection, teaching institutions define "full-time";

4. An educational program certified as Category 1 by an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association;

5. A medical education program designed to provide understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of medicine and provided by an organization or institution accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association; and

6. A homeopathic medical education course approved or offered by the Council on Homeopathic Education.

E. The following activities are approved by the Board as continuing education and do not require an application under R4-38-117 subject to the specified limitations:

1. Serving as an instructor of medical students, house staff, other physicians, or allied health professionals from a hospital or other health care institution if serving as an instructor provides the licensee with an understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of allopathic, osteopathic, or homeopathic medicine. A licensee who serves as an instructor:

a. May claim one hour of continuing education for each hour of instruction up to a maximum of 10 hours, and

b. If the licensee teaches substantially the same class more than once, may claim hours of continuing education only for the first time the class is taught;

2. Publishing or presenting a paper, report, or book that deals with current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of allopathic, osteopathic, or homeopathic medicine. A licensee who publishes or presents a paper, report, or book:

a. May claim one hour of continuing education for each hour preparing, writing, and presenting up to a maximum of 10 hours; and

b. May claim hours of continuing education only after the date of publication or presentation; and

3. Participating in the following activities if the participation provides the licensee with an understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of allopathic, osteopathic, or homeopathic medicine. A licensee may claim one hour of continuing education for each hour of participation in the following activities up to a maximum of six hours:

a. Completing a self-instructed medical education program through the use of videotape, audiotape, film, filmstrip, radio broadcast, or computer;

b. Reading scientific journals and books;

c. Preparing for and obtaining specialty board certification or recertification; and

d. Participating on a staff or quality of care committee or utilization review committee in a hospital, health care institution, or government agency.

F. The Board shall approve a program or activity note listed in subsection (D) or (E) as continuing education if the provider of the program or activity makes application under R4-38-117 and the Board determines that the program or activity:

1. Is designed to provide the participant with:

a. Understanding of current developments, procedures, or treatments related to the practice of homeopathic medicine as defined at A.R.S. § 32-2901(22);

b. Knowledge and skills used to practice homeopathic medicine safely and competently; or

c. Knowledge and skills related directly or indirectly to patient care including practice management, medical ethics, or language necessary to the patient population served;

2. Includes a method by which the participant evaluates the:

a. Stated objectives of the program or activity,

b. Instructor knowledge and teaching ability,

c. Effectiveness of the teaching methods used, and

d. Usefulness or applicability of the information provided; and

3. Provides the participant with a certificate of attendance that shows the:

a. Name of the participant;

b. Name of the approved continuing education;

c. Name of the continuing education provider;

d. Date, time, and location of the continuing education; and

e. Hours of instruction provided.

G. Except as specified in subsection (H), a licensee who fails to comply with subsection (A) may submit to the Board a notice of 60-day extension. The licensee shall submit the notice of 60-day extension no later than the date indicated in R4-38-109(B). If a licensee who submits a notice of 60-day extension fails to comply with the continuing education requirement and submit the affirmation required by R4-38-109(E)(7) within the extension period, the licensee's license expires and the licensee shall immediately cease practicing homeopathic medicine. A licensee whose license expires may obtain licensure only by complying again with R4-38-108 and taking the examination specified in R4-38-107.

H. If a licensee fails to comply with subsection (A) because of disability, military service, absence from the U.S., or other circumstance beyond the control of the licensee, the licensee may submit to the Board a request for a temporary waiver of the continuing education requirement that includes the reason for noncompliance, the number of hours of continuing education completed, and the amount of time requested for the licensee to complete the continuing education requirement. The licensee shall submit the request for temporary waiver no later than the date specified in R4-38-109(B). The Board shall evaluate the request for temporary waiver and provide written notice to the licensee of the time within which the licensee shall comply with subsection (A).

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-38-116

New Section made by final rulemaking at 17 A.A.R. 1980, effective November 12, 2011 (Supp. 11-3).