§ 18.309a. Requirement of continuing education.

 (a)  The following continuing education requirements shall be completed each biennial cycle, commencing with the biennial period ending December 31, 2006:

   (1)  An applicant for biennial renewal or reactivation of certification is required to complete, during the 2 years preceding the application for renewal or reactivation, a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education as set forth in section 36.1(f)(2) of the act (63 P. S. §  422.36.1(f)).

   (2)  At least 10 continuing education hours shall be obtained through classroom lecture, clinical presentation, real-time web-cast or other live sessions where a presenter is involved.

   (3)  No more than 10 continuing education hours may be obtained through Internet presentations, journal review programs, prerecorded video presentations or similar means of nontraditional education. To qualify, the provider shall make available documented verification of completion of the course or program.

   (4)  Commencing with the biennial period ending December 31, 2008, 1 continuing education hour shall be completed in medical ethics, and 1 continuing education hour shall be completed in patient safety.

 (b)  An individual applying for the first time for certification is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the biennial renewal period following initial certification.

 (c)  The Board may waive all or a portion of the requirements of continuing education in cases of serious illness, or other demonstrated hardship or military service. It shall be the duty of each certificateholder who seeks a waiver to notify the Board in writing and request the waiver prior to the end of the renewal period. The request must be made in writing, with appropriate documentation, and include a description of circumstances sufficient to show why the certificateholder is unable to comply with the continuing education requirement. The Board will grant, deny or grant in part the request for waiver and will send the certificateholder written notification of its approval or denial in whole or in part of the request. A certificateholder who requests a waiver may not practice as a respiratory care practitioner after the expiration of the certificateholder’s current certificate until the Board grants the waiver request.

 (d)  A certificateholder shall maintain the information and documentation supporting completion of the hours of continuing education required, or the waiver granted, for at least 2 years from the commencement of the biennial renewal period to which the continuing education or waiver applies and provide the information and documentation to representatives of the Board upon request.

   The provisions of this §  18.309a adopted August 11, 2006, effective August 12, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 4466.

   This section cited in 49 Pa. Code §  18.309 (relating to renewal of certification).