Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-14-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 540-X-14-.02 - Basic Requirement

(1) Every physician licensed to practice medicine in Alabama who resides or practices in the state must earn in each calendar year, on or before December 31, not less than twenty five (25) AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsT or the equivalent as defined in this rule of continuing medical education.

(a) Effective January 1, 2025, each new applicant issued a license to practice medicine or osteopathy shall complete a Board-designated course in the area of professional boundaries within twelve (12) months of the license issue date. The sole exemption from this requirement is for physicians licensed pursuant to Ala. Code § 34-24-75 ("limited licensee") who are enrolled in a residency training program or a clinical fellowship.

(b) Effective January 1, 2025, all actively licensed physicians shall complete a Board-designated course in the area of professional boundaries by December 31, 2025. The sole exemption from this requirement is for physicians licensed pursuant to Ala. Code § 34-24-75 ("limited licensee") who are enrolled in a residency training program or a clinical fellowship.

(2) For the purposes of this chapter, AMA PRA Category 1 CreditT continuing medical education shall mean those programs of continuing medical education designated as AMA PRA Category 1 CreditT which are sponsored or conducted by those organizations or entities accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama or by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor or conduct Category 1 continuing medical education programs.

(3) The following continuing medical education courses shall be deemed, for the purposes of this Chapter, to be the equivalent of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditT continuing medical education:

(a) Programs of continuing medical education designated as Category 1-A which are sponsored or conducted by organizations or entities accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to sponsor or conduct Category 1-A continuing medical education for osteopathic physicians.

(b) Programs of continuing medical education designated to confer "Prescribed credits" which are sponsored or conducted by organizations or entities accredited by the American Academy of Family Physicians to sponsor or conduct "Prescribed credit" continuing medical education activities.

(c) Programs of continuing medical education designated to confer "ACOG Cognate Credits" which are sponsored or conducted by organizations or entities which are accredited by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to sponsor or conduct approved ACOG Cognate Credit activities on obstetrical and gynecologic related subjects.

(d) Programs of continuing medical education designated as such by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.

(e) Effective January 1, 2014, nationally recognized advanced life support/resuscitation certification courses, not otherwise accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditT, for a maximum of two (2) Category 1 credits for each course. Basic life support courses are excluded and are not deemed to be the equivalent of Category 1 continuing medical education.

(4) Effective January 1, 2003, the Board may require all physicians and osteopaths to successfully complete a prescribed course of continuing medical education on a subject or subjects designated by the Board. The Board may prescribe by regulation a fixed period of time or deadline for completion of the prescribed continuing medical education course or courses. The Board may make provision for a physician or osteopath to be excused from this requirement for reasons satisfactory to the Board. The Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama may, subject to notice and hearing, within its discretion, indefinitely suspend the license to practice medicine of a physician or osteopath who fails to successfully complete the course or courses of continuing medical education required by this subsection or impose administrative fines or other penalties as authorized by Section 34-24-381.

(a) Prescribed programs of continuing medical education required by the Board under the provisions of this paragraph shall count toward the basic requirement for continuing medical education as set forth in paragraph (1) above in the calendar year in which the program or course of continuing medical education was completed. Programs of continuing medical education developed by the Board under the provisions of this section and made available to physicians and osteopaths shall be deemed to be the equivalent of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditT continuing medical education for the purposes of this rule. The Board may fix a reasonable charge to the licensee for any program of continuing medical education developed by the Board.

(b) Physicians holding an active license to practice medicine in this state will be notified by the Board of Medical Examiners of any prescribed course of continuing medical education by written notice which may accompany the licensee's annual license renewal application. The notice will designate the subject matter, course content and credit hours of the prescribed continuing medical education course and will provide licensees with information concerning the source or sources of such programs of continuing medical education. The notice will contain a deadline by which time the licensee must have completed the prescribed course of continuing medical education, provided, however, that the deadline will not be less than 12 months following the date that the notice was mailed to the licensees.

(c) The Board may excuse a licensee from the requirement to complete a prescribed course of continuing medical education and may grant extensions for the completion deadline of prescribed courses of continuing medical education for reasons related to ill health, disability, financial hardship or other reasons deemed sufficient by the Board. Applications for excusal or extension of deadline should be addressed to Executive Director, State Board of Medical Examiners, Post Office Box 946, Montgomery, Alabama 36101-0946.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-14-.02

Filed November 2, 1990; effective October 1, 1991. Amended: Filed December 16, 1999; effective January 20, 2000. Amended: Filed August 22, 2002; effective September 26, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed April 23, 2004; effective May 28, 2004. Amended: Filed August 27, 2004; effective October 1, 2004. Amended: Filed November 18, 2009; effective December 23, 2009. Amended: Filed August 24, 2012; effective September 28, 2012. Amended: Filed December 12, 2013; effective January 16, 2014.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLII, Issue No. 11, August 30, 2024, eff. 10/14/2024.

Author: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 34-24-53; Act 89-244.