Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-7-.29

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

Section 540-X-7-.29 - Continuing Medical Education - Physician Assistant

(1) Effective January 1, 2025, every two calendar years, each physician assistant licensed by the Board must earn not less than fifty (50) hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsT or the equivalent as defined in this rule of continuing medical education as a condition precedent to receiving his or her annual renewal of license, unless he or she is exempt from the minimum continuing medical education requirement.

(a) Effective January 1, 2025, each new applicant issued a license to practice as a physician assistant shall complete a Board-designated course in the area of professional boundaries within twelve (12) months of the license issue date. This requirement must be met regardless of any existing exemption provided in these rules.

(b) Effective January 1, 2025, all actively licensed physician assistants shall complete a Board-designated course in the area of professional boundaries by December 31, 2025. There are no exemptions to this requirement.

(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 courses and 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 as such by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.

(d) 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.

(e) Programs of continuing medical education designated as AAPA Category I CME Credits which are sponsored or conducted by those organizations or entities accredited by the Education Council of the American Academy of Physician Assistants to sponsor or conduct AAPA Category I continuing medical education programs.

(f) 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) Every physician assistant subject to the minimum continuing medical education requirement established in these rules shall maintain records of attendance or certificates of completion demonstrating compliance with the minimum continuing medical education requirement. Documentation adequate to demonstrate compliance with the minimum continuing medical education requirements of these rules shall consist of certificates of attendance, completion certificates, proof of registration, or similar documentation issued by the organization or entity sponsoring or conducting the continuing medical education program. The records shall be maintained by the physician assistant for a period of three (3) years following the year in which the continuing medical education credits were earned and shall be subject to examination by representatives of the State Board of Medical Examiners upon request. Every physician assistant subject to the continuing medical education requirements of these rules must, upon request, submit a copy of such records to the State Board of Medical Examiners for verification. Failure to maintain records documenting that a physician assistant has met the minimum continuing medical education requirement, and/or failure to provide such records upon request to the Board is hereby declared to be unprofessional conduct and may constitute grounds for discipline of the physician assistant's license to practice as a physician assistant, in accordance with the statutes and regulations governing the disciplining of a physician assistant's license.

(5) Every physician assistant shall certify annually that he or she has met the minimum annual continuing medical education requirement established pursuant to these rules or that he or she is exempt. This certification will be made on a form provided on the annual renewal of license application required to be submitted by every physician assistant on or before December 31st of each year. The Board shall not issue a renewed license to any physician assistant who has not certified that he or she has met the minimum continuing medical education requirement unless the physician assistant is exempt from the requirement.

(6) A physician assistant who is unable to meet the minimum continuing medical education requirement by reason of illness, disability or other circumstances beyond his or her control may apply to the Board for a waiver of the requirement for the calendar year in which such illness, disability or other hardship condition existed. A waiver may be granted or denied within the sole discretion of the Board, and the decision of the Board shall not be considered a contested case and shall not be subject to judicial review under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. If a waiver is granted, the physician assistant shall be exempt from the continuing medical education requirement for the calendar year in which the illness, disability or other hardship condition existed.

(7) A physician assistant receiving his or her initial license to practice medicine in Alabama is exempt from the minimum continuing medical education requirement for the calendar year in which he or she receives his or her initial license.

(8) A physician assistant who is a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States and who is deployed for military service is exempt from the continuing medical education requirement for the calendar year in which he or she is deployed.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-7-.29

Repealed and Replaced: Filed September 21, 1998; effective October 26, 1998. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 22, 2002; effective September 26, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 19, 2002; effective October 24, 2002. Amended: Filed May 21, 2004; effective June 25, 2004. Amended: Filed November 18, 2009; effective December 23, 2009. Amended: Filed March 11, 2010; effective April 15, 2010. Amended: Filed April 12, 2013; effective May 17, 2013. Amended: Filed December 12, 2013; effective January 16, 2014.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 02, November 30, 2020, eff. 1/14/2021.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLII, Issue No. 04, January 31, 2024, eff. 3/16/2024.

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, §§ 34-24-290, et. seq.