Subchapter G. CONTINUING EDUCATION

§ 5.71. Institutions and organizations eligible to conduct continuing
education courses; faculty.

 Chiropractic continuing education courses may be conducted or sponsored by an approved chiropractic college or by an individual or chiropractic association or organization. Course instructors shall be faculty members of an approved chiropractic college or certified by an approved chiropractic college as qualified to teach the course.

   The provisions of this §  5.71 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 Continuing education courses will be approved for continuing education credit at the rate of 1 credit hour per 50 minutes of applicable instruction, exclusive of coffee breaks, lunches, visits to exhibits, and the like.

   The provisions of this §  5.72 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 (a)  Providers of continuing education courses shall submit applications for course approval with the required fee to the Board at least 90 days prior to the scheduled date of the program. Prior to Board approval, a course may not be advertised as approved for continuing education required for biennial registration in an announcement or publication.

 (b)  An application for course approval shall include the following information:

   (1)  The full name and address of the approved chiropractic college, individual, chiropractic organization or chiropractic association conducting or sponsoring the course.

   (2)  The title of the course.

   (3)  The date and location of the course.

   (4)  The name, title, affiliation and professional background of each course instructor and certification by an approved chiropractic college that the instructor is a faculty member of the chiropractic college or recognized by the chiropractic college as qualified to teach the course.

   (5)  A detailed outline of the course which includes a brief description of the subject matter to be presented and the order of presentation.

   (6)  The total number of credit hours included in the program, excluding coffee breaks, lunches, visits to exhibits, and the like.

   (7)  The signature and title of the individual designated by the provider to authenticate attendance at the course.

   (8)  The name and address of the person designated by the sponsor to receive the official notification of the action of the Board upon the application for course approval.

 (c)  The Board will appoint a Committee of Board members to review applications for course approval. The Committee will approve or disapprove a course based on the standards contained in section 507 of the act (63 P. S. §  625.507) and this subchapter. The administrative office of the Board will notify the provider of the Committee’s decision within 45 days of receipt of the application for course approval.

 (d)  Notification of disapproval of a course will include the reasons for the Committee’s decision. A provider may submit for review by the Board an amended application within 10 days after receipt of notification of disapproval. An amended application shall document alterations to rectify deficiencies noted by the Committee.

 (e)  The administrative office of the Board shall be notified immediately of material changes in an approved course. Committee approval may be withdrawn if changes in the course do not adhere to section 507 of the act or this subchapter.

 (f)  Statements made in the application for course approval shall be sworn to be true and correct to the best of the provider’s information, knowledge and belief.

 (g)  The attendance certificate issued to licensees shall contain a statement that the attendance certificate shall be maintained on file by the licensee for 4 years.

   The provisions of this §  5.73 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 (a)  The provider of a continuing education program is responsible for designating an authorized representative to authenticate attendance and compile an official list of Pennsylvania licensees in attendance at the program.

 (b)  The authorized representative is responsible for submitting an official attendance list to the Board’s administrative office within 30 days following the final day of the program.

   The provisions of this §  5.74 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 (a)  A licensee who is practicing in this Commonwealth shall certify on a form supplied by the Board by the expiration of the biennial registration period that the licensee has satisfied continuing education requirements. The following information shall be included on the form:

   (1)  The dates of the courses attended.

   (2)  The credit hours claimed.

   (3)  The title of the courses attended and a brief description of the content.

   (4)  The name and address of the providers of the courses attended.

   (5)  The location of the courses attended.

 (b)  Licensees are required to maintain attendance certificates on file subject to Board audit for 4 years.

   The provisions of this §  5.75 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 (a)  The Board may grant a waiver of all or a portion of the continuing education required for biennial registration in cases of emergency, illness or undue hardship. A licensee requesting a waiver from the Board shall state, in writing, the reasons why the licensee is unable to comply with continuing education requirements. Before making a determination, the Board may require a personal appearance by the licensee. If the Board finds probable cause that the licensee is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of the same condition for which he is granted a waiver, the Board may, after notice and hearing, suspend or revoke the license or place restrictions on the license limiting the scope of the licensee’s practice, in accordance with section 506(a)(8) and (b) of the act (63 P. S. §  625.506(a)(8) and (b)).

 (b)  The Board may grant approval for courses which have met all of the academic requirements established by the act and this chapter, despite a procedural defect in the approval process, when a licensee requests an exception, in writing, setting forth that the procedural defects are beyond his control as well as reasons why failure to approve the course would create a hardship for the licensee.

   The provisions of this §  5.76 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 (a)  Unless granted a waiver, a licensee who fails to satisfy continuing education requirements for a biennial registration period will have his license classified as unregistered and will be prohibited from practicing chiropractic until the licensee satisfies continuing education requirements and renews registration in accordance with §  5.18 (relating to reporting of other licenses, certificates or authorizations to practice, disciplinary sanctions and criminal dispositions).

 (b)  A licensee attending a continuing education course to reinstate an unregistered license will not have the same credit hours applied toward the continuing education requirement for the next biennial registration period.

 (c)  A licensee is not required to satisfy continuing education requirements for a biennial period in which a license has been classified as inactive and the licensee has not practiced in this Commonwealth for the entire biennial period.

   The provisions of this §  5.77 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

 Falsification by a licensee of information required under this subchapter may result in disciplinary sanctions issued against the licensee. Falsification by a course provider of information required under this subchapter may result in the withdrawal of course approval.

   The provisions of this §  5.78 issued under section 302 of the Chiropractic Practice Act (63 P. S. §  625.302).

   The provisions of this §  5.78 adopted December 17, 1991, effective December 18, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 5944.