Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
A. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §
17-80-104,
each person holding an active license to practice medicine in the State of
Arkansas shall complete twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical
education. One hour of credit will be allowed for each clock hour of
participation and approved continuing education activities, unless otherwise
designated in Subsection B below.
B. Approved continuing medical education
activities include the following:
1.
Internship, residency or fellowship in a teaching institution approved fay the
Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or programs
approved by the American Osteopathic Association Council on Postdoctoral
Training or the American Medical Association or the Association of American
Medical Colleges or the American Osteopadiic Association. One credit hour may
be claimed for each full day of training. No other credit may be claimed during
the time a physician is in full-time training in an accredited program. Less
than full-time study may be claimed on a pro-rata basis.
2. Education for an advanced degree in a
medical or medically related field in a teaching institution approved by the
American Medical Association or the Association of American Medical Colleges or
the American Osteopathic Association. One credit hour may be claimed for each
full day of study. Less than full-time study may be claimed on a pro-rata basis
3 Full-time research in a teaching
institution approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or
the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education or the
American Medical Association or the Association of American Medical Colleges or
the American Osteopathic Association. One credit hour may be claimed for each
full day of research. Less than full-time study may be claimed on a pro-rata
basis.
4. Activities designated as
Category 1 or 2 by an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council on
Continuing Medical Education or a state medical society or be explicitly
approved for Category 1 or 2 by the American Medical Association, or the
Arkansas State Medical Board, or by the Council on Continuing Medical Education
of the American Osteopathic Association. Activities designated as
prescribed hours by the American Academy of Family
Physicians.
5. Medical education
programs may also be claimed for credit if said medical education programs have
not been designated for specific categories referred to in Number 4 above, and
are designed to provide necessary understanding of current developments,
skills, procedures or treatment related to the practice of medicine.
6. Serving as an instructor of medical
students, house staff, other physicians or allied health professionals from a
hospital or institution with a formal training program, where the instruction
activities are such as will provide the licentiate with necessary understanding
of current developments, skills, procedures or treatment related to the
practice of medicine.
7.
Publication or presentation of a medical paper, report, book, that is authored
and published, and deals with current developments, skills, procedures or
treatment related to the practice of medicine. Credits may be claimed only once
for materials presented. Credits may be claimed as of the date of the
publication or presentation. One credit hour may be reported per hour of
preparation, writing and/or presentation.
8. Credit hours may be earned for any of the
following activities which provide necessary understanding of current
developments, skills, procedures or treatment related to the practice of
medicine:
(a) completion of a medical
education program based on self-instruction which utilized videotapes,
audiotapes, films, filmstrips, slides, radio broadcasts and
computers;
(b) independent reading
of scientific journals and books;
(c) preparation for specialty Board
certification or recertification examinations;
(d) participation on a staff committee or
quality of care and/or utilization review in a hospital or institution or
government agency.
C. If a person holding an active license to
practice medicine in this State fails to meet the foregoing requirements
because of illness, military service, medical or religious missionary activity,
residence in a foreign country, or other extenuating circumstances, the Board
upon appropriate written application may grant an extension of time to complete
same on an individual basis.
D.
Each year, with the application for renewal of a active license to practice
medicine in this State, the Board will include a form which requires the person
holding the license to certify by signature, under penalty of perjury, that he
or she has met the stipulated continuing medical education requirements. In
addition, the Board may randomly require physicians submitting such a
certification to demonstrate, prior to renewal of license, satisfaction of the
continuing medical education requirements stated in his or her certification. A
copy of an American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award (AMA PRA)
certificate awarded to the physician and covering the reporting period shall be
bona fide evidence of meeting the requirements of the Arkansas State Medical
Board. A copy of the American Osteopathic Association or the State Osteopathic
Association certificate of continuing medical education completion or the
American Osteopathic Association's individual activity report shall be bona
fide evidence of meeting the requirements of the Arkansas State Medical
Board.
E. Continuing medical
education records must be kept by the licensee in an orderly manner. All
records relative to continuing medical education must be maintained by the
licensee for at least three (3) years from the end of the reporting period. The
records or copies of the forms must be provided or made available to the
Arkansas State Medical Board upon request.
F. Failure to complete continuing medical
education hours as required or failure to be able to produce records reflecting
that one has completed the required minimum continuing medical education hours
shall be a violation of the Medical Practice Act and may result in the licensee
having his license suspended and/or revoked.
G. A person may apply to the Board for a
waiver from the continuing medical education requirements stated herein if he
has a license to practice medicine in the State of Arkansas, is wiling to enter
a sworn statement to the Board that he is retiring from the active practice of
medicine and will not practice medicine in the future, he may present his
application to the Board for said exemption.
