Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 3, September 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
314A.115
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.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 314.115,
314A.205(3)
