Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0260-02-.12 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

(1) Basic requirements - The Board of Chiropractic Examiners requires each licensee to complete twenty-four (24) clock hours of Board-approved continuing education each calendar year (January 1 - December 31).

(a) Acupuncture - Licensees who practice acupuncture shall have six (6) classroom hours each year of the required twenty-four (24) hours in the area of acupuncture. Such licensees must have first met the requirements of Rule 0260-02-.02(4). No credit for continuing education shall be awarded beyond the six (6) hours each year.

(b) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - Two (2) hours of the twenty-four (24) hour requirement may be in CPR training.

(c) A maximum of three (3) hours may be in courses that pertain to the promotion, growth, business management, and/or clinical documentation of a chiropractic practice.

(d) No prior approval is required for continuing education courses conducted by the American Chiropractic Association, the International Chiropractors Association, or the Tennessee Chiropractic Association. Courses approved by the Tennessee Chiropractic Association are allowed. Courses approved for CPR training provided by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross are allowed.

(e) Prior approval is required for all course providers not mentioned in subparagraph (d) of this rule, and may be obtained by submitting the following information to the Board's administrative office at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled date of the course:

1. A detailed course outline or syllabus, including method of instruction and testing materials, if any; and

2. Names of all lecturers and affiliations, if any; and

3. Brief résumé of all lecturers; and

4. Number of hours of educational credit requested; and

5. Date of course; and

6. Copies of materials to be utilized in the course; and

7. How verification of attendance is to be documented.

(f) Whenever the Board decides that there is information that is crucial for licensees to have, it may prepare and send that information to all continuing education providers in a format no larger than two (2) pages. All approved continuing education providers must, as a prerequisite to remaining an approved provider, reproduce and distribute this information from the Board to every licensee attending each of its individual continuing education courses or group of courses.

(2) New Licensee Requirements

(a) A six (6) hour Board approved course in risk management, sexual/professional boundaries, and Tennessee statutory and regulatory chiropractic jurisprudence must be taken within six (6) months prior to licensure or within the first six (6) months of licensure. If taken prior to licensure, the course must be an additional course beyond the regular chiropractic school program. If taken within the first six (6) months after licensure, the course shall not constitute part of the twenty-four (24) clock hour continuing education requirement in paragraph (1) of this rule for the first calendar year that continuing education is required.

(b) New licensee by examination or reciprocity - New licensees, whether by examination or reciprocity, shall be exempted from the continuing education requirements of 0260-02-.12(1) for the calendar year in which they are licensed, but must take the six (6) hour course as described above in 0260-02-.12(2)(a).

(3) Documentation

(a) The licensee must, within (thirty) 30 days of a request from the Board, provide evidence of continuing education activities. Such evidence must be copies of one (1) or more of the following proofs:

1. Original certificates or photocopies of original certificates verifying the licensee's attendance at approved continuing education program(s). The original certificates or photocopies of original certificates must include the following: continuing education program's approved provider or course, name and logo of the approved course provider or sponsor, date, clock hours awarded (continuing education units must be converted to clock hours), approved program or course title, licensee's name, and license number.

2. Original documents or photocopies of original documents verifying successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention upon completion of a multi-media course, as provided in paragraph (5). The original documents or photocopies of original documents must include the clock hours awarded (continuing education units must be converted to clock hours), program title, licensee's name, and license number.

(b) Each licensee must retain original documents or photocopies of original documents which verify proof of attendance and completion of all continuing education requirements. 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 acquired. 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) If a person submits documentation for training that is not clearly identifiable as appropriate continuing education, the Board will request a written description of the training and how it applies to the practice of chiropractic. If the Board determines that the training cannot be considered appropriate continuing education, the individual will be given ninety (90) days to replace the hours not allowed. Those hours will be considered replacement hours and cannot be counted during the next renewal period.

(4) Distance Learning

(a) Continuing education courses may be presented in the traditional lecture and classroom formats or, with successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention, in multi-media formats. Multi-media courses may include courses utilizing:

1. The internet

2. Closed circuit television

3. Satellite broadcasts

4. Correspondence courses

5. Videotapes

6. CD-ROM

7. DVD

8. Teleconferencing

9. Videoconferencing

10. Distance learning

(b) A maximum of six (6) credit hours may be granted for distance learning courses during each calendar year. If the licensee practices acupuncture, three (3) of these six (6) hours may pertain to such acupuncture practice.

(5) Continuing education credit will not be allowed for the following:

(a) Regular work activities, administrative staff meetings, case staffing/reporting, etc.

(b) Membership in, holding office in, or participation on boards or committees, business meetings of professional organizations, or banquet speeches.

(c) Training specifically related to policies and procedures of an agency.

(6) Continuing Education for Reactivation or Reinstatement of Retired, Revoked, or Expired Licensure

(a) Reactivation of Retired Licensure

1. An individual whose license has been retired for one year or less will be required to fulfill continuing education requirements as outlined in this rule as a prerequisite to reactivation. Those hours will be considered replacement hours and cannot be counted toward meeting the calendar year end requirement.

2. Any individual requesting reactivation of a license which has been retired for more than one (1) year must submit, along with the reactivation request, verification which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education. The continuing education hours must have been successfully completed before the date of reactivation.

(b) Reactivation of Revoked Licensure - No person whose license has been revoked for failure to comply with continuing education may be reactivated without complying with these requirements. Continuing education requirements will accumulate at the same rate as that for those licenses which are active. The required clock hours of continuing education must have been begun and successfully completed before the date of reactivation.

(c) Reactivation or Reinstatement of Expired Licensure - No person whose license has expired may be reactivated or reinstated without submitting evidence of continuing education. The continuing education hours documented at the time of reactivation or reinstatement must equal the hours required, had the license remained in an active status, and must have been begun and successfully completed before the date of reactivation or reinstatement.

(d) Continuing education hours obtained as a prerequisite for reactivating or reinstating a license may not be counted toward the calendar year requirement.

(7) Violations

(a) Any licensee who falsely certifies attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing education requirements, or who does not or cannot adequately substantiate completed continuing education hours with the required documentation, may be subject to disciplinary action.

(b) Prior to the institution of any disciplinary proceedings, a letter shall be issued to the last known address of the individual stating the facts or conduct which warrant the intended action.

(c) The licensee has thirty (30) days from the date of notification to show compliance with all lawful requirements for the retention of the license.

(d) Any licensee who fails to show compliance with the required continuing education hours in response to the notice contemplated by subparagraph (b) above may be subject to disciplinary action. That disciplinary action will include:

(1) Assessment of a civil penalty in the amount of six hundred dollars ($600.00), which must be paid no later than 30 days after the assessment becomes final; and

(2) A requirement that the licensee must make up the hours in which he is deficient, in addition to the continuing education hours necessary to be obtained annually. The deficient hours must be made up in the subsequent year. Failure to fulfill these requirements may result in additional disciplinary action.

(e) Continuing education hours obtained as a result of compliance with the terms of a Board Order in any disciplinary action shall not be credited toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained in any renewal period.

(8) Waiver of Continuing Education

(a) The Board may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the required hours of continuing education if it can be shown to the Board that compliance was beyond the physical capabilities of or would constitute undue hardship to the person seeking the waiver.

(b) Waivers will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board's administrative office:

1. A written request for a waiver which specifies what requirement is sought to be waived and written and signed explanation of the reason for the request.

2. Any documentation which supports the reason for the waiver requested or which is subsequently requested by the Board.

(c) A waiver approved by the Board is effective only for the calendar year for which the waiver is sought.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0260-02-.12

Original rule filed December 28, 1995; effective March 12, 1996. Amendment filed December 13, 2000; effective February 26, 2001. Amendment filed August 26, 2002; effective November 9, 2002. Amendment filed September 13, 2002; effective November 27, 2002. Amendment filed September 27, 2002; effective December 11, 2002. Amendment filed December 4, 2003; effective February 17, 2004. Amendments filed January 5, 2006; effective March 21, 2006. Amendment filed October 18, 2006; effective January 1, 2007. Amendment filed January 11, 2007; effective March 27, 2007. Amendment filed April 10, 2007; effective June 24, 2007. Amendments filed October 27, 2008; effective January 10, 2009. Amendment filed July 26, 2010; effective October 24, 2010. Amendment filed October 14, 2011; effective January 12, 2012. Amendments filed February 17, 2017; effective May 18, 2017. Amendments filed February 19, 2025; effective 5/20/2025.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-4-106, 63-4-114, 63-4-119, 63-4-121, 63-4-122, and 63-4-123.