Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 360 - RULES OF GEORGIA COMPOSITE MEDICAL BOARD
Chapter 360-15 - CONTINUING EDUCATION
Rule 360-15-.01 - Requirements for Physicians
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1) Physicians licensed to practice medicine pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-34-26shall complete Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours biennially, with the following exceptions:
(2) The Board accepts the following as meeting its requirement for Board approval:
(3) Physicians who do not hold a certification in pain management or palliative medicine, and whose opioid pain management patients comprise 50% or more of the patient population must demonstrate competence by biennially obtaining 20 (twenty) hours of continuing medical education ("CME") pertaining to pain management or palliative medicine.
(4) Effective January 1, 2018, every physician not subject to Rule 360-15-.01(3) who maintains an active DEA certificate and prescribes controlled substances, except those holding a residency training permit, shall complete at least one time three or more hours of AMA/AOAPRA Category 1 CME that is designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices. The controlled substance prescribing CME shall include instruction on controlled substance prescribing guidelines, recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management. The certification of such completion must occur at the first renewal following January 1, 2018 or the first renewal following licensure. Completion of this requirement may count as three hours toward the CME requirement for license renewal.
(5) On and after January 1, 2022, all physicians shall be required to receive one-time education training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct. Such education training shall include subject matter relating to how to proceed with basic as well as sensitive or intimate examinations and the communication with patients that is required as a component of such examinations. The certification of such completion must occur at the first renewal following January 1, 2022 or the first renewal following licensure. Completion of this requirement may count as two hours toward the CME requirement for license renewal.
(6) In meeting the continuing education requirements, the Board will waive one hour CME requirement for physicians for each four hours of documented work by the physician in uncompensated health care services such as free clinics up to a maximum of ten CME hours per biennium. In order to receive the waiver, the physician shall submit to the Board documentation of such work at the time of renewal.
(7) In meeting the continuing education requirements, the Board will waive up to eight CME hours per biennium for peer reviews of Board investigative cases for the Board. Specifically, a physician may obtain waiver of two (2) CME hours for each investigative case peer review conducted at the request of the Board.
(8) Physicians who must meet the requirements of this Chapter must document the completion of Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours during the two year term of the license. The license will expire on the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls. License must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls and the licensee must satisfy the Board approved continuing education requirements during the biennial renewal cycle to be eligible for renewal.
(9) Each licensed physician who must meet these requirements must maintain records of attendance and supporting documents for continuing education for a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following must be kept:
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-34-3, 43-34-5, 43-34-11, 43-34-24, 43-34-26, 43-34-41.