Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) A sponsor
review program is established for the purpose of monitoring the compliance by
board registered CPE sponsors and the courses they offer with the registration
requirements, CPE standards and/or applicable board rules. The program shall
emphasize high quality education and compliance with professional standards. In
the event a sponsor does not comply with the registration requirements, CPE
standards, or applicable board rules, the board shall take appropriate
action.
(b) The presiding officer
shall appoint three members who shall be either board members or advisory
members to the Sponsor Review Program Committee (SRPC). The SRPC's duties are
to:
(1) monitor the sponsor review program to
provide assurance to the CPE committee that the CPE sponsors are being reviewed
and that the reviews are conducted and reported in accordance with established
CPE program standards;
(2) serve as
mediators between the reviewers and sponsors whose courses are being reviewed;
and
(3) report to the CPE committee
as requested and make recommendations as appropriate.
(c) The board shall contract with qualified
persons selected by the CPE committee to review the courses of sponsors
("reviewers"). The board will compensate reviewers from revenue received from
sponsors' registration fees.
(1) If the
reviewer is a CPA, the reviewer must be in good standing with the licensing
board.
(2) A reviewer must recuse
himself from service if the reviewer has an interest in the sponsoring
organization under review or if the reviewer believes he cannot be impartial or
objective.
(3) A reviewer may not
concurrently serve as a member of the board or one of its committees.
(d) The reviewers shall:
(1) assess board-registered sponsors of CPE
to provide reasonable assurance that quality CPE is being offered in accordance
with registration requirement, CPE standards, or applicable board
rules;
(2) review the policies and
procedures of board registered CPE sponsors as to their conformity with the
rules;
(3) when necessary,
prescribe actions designed to assure correction of the deficiencies in the
program or CPE;
(4) report to the
SRPC as required:
(A) problems experienced
with sponsor compliance; and
(B)
problems experienced in the implementation of the review program.
(e) The procedures used
by the reviewers in monitoring of sponsors of CPE may include, but not be
limited to:
(1) random visits of sponsors as
deemed appropriate, and review of course materials;
(2) meetings with the sponsor;
(3) reviewing educational materials and
record keeping documents;
(4)
reviewing the sponsor's educational philosophy;
(5) reviewing, on the basis of a random
selection, the course evaluations from licensees to determine whether the
materials have received adverse comments;
(6) expanding the review of records if
significant deficiencies, problems, or inconsistencies are encountered during
the review of the materials; and
(7) determining that courses offered by
board-registered CPE sponsors comply with all applicable board rules including
§
523.102
of this chapter (relating to CPE Purpose and Definitions) and this subchapter
and provide that:
(A) educational content
meets the course objectives;
(B)
course material is up-to-date and relevant; and
(C) adequate documentation procedures are in
place;
(8) other
procedures as deemed necessary by the board so that the CPE sponsor is in
compliance with the registration requirements, CPE standards and applicable
board rules.
