Ala. Admin. Code r. 746-X-2-.07
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024
Section 746-X-2-.07 - Continuing Professional Education Required(1)(a) Beginning January 1, 2005, as a condition of licensure renewal for, a prosthetist and/or orthotist must obtain every year a minimum of one hour of continuing education in Board approved courses on prosthetic and/or orthotic regulation and compliance with the Alabama Prosthetic and Orthotic Act and Board rules.(b) Beginning January 1, 2005, as a condition of licensure renewal for those who are currently licensed and actively practicing in this state, a prosthetist and/or orthotist must obtain every year a minimum of one hour of continuing education Board approved courses on prosthetic and/or orthotic practitioner ethics.(2) A minimum of 75 hours of continuing education for Single Disciplines and 100 hours of continuing education for Dual Disciplines as approved by the Alabama State Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists is required for each five (5) year period for license renewal. Continuing Education credit may be granted for: (a) Courses, seminars and workshops which are sponsored by ABC, BOC, and/or the Alabama Prosthetic and Orthotic Association(b) Certificate courses for an advanced specialty(c) ABC or BOC individual self-directed studies. Other self-directed studies may be considered(d) University/College courses which apply to the field of prosthetics and/or Orthotics. Ten hours will be awarded for each college semester credit earned with a grade of "b" or above, seven hours for each quarter hour.(e) No more than one third (1/3) of the required hours may be completed in a distance based continuing education format which complies with the provisions of this rule.(f) All education seminars, workshops, and/or conventions in a distance education format must be IDECC certified prior to submitting to the Executive Secretary for review by the Board.(3)Failure to Meet Requirements. (a) Licensees will be responsible for supplying copies of certificates of completion of approved continuing education courses along with renewal applications and fees.(b) No license will be renewed in the absence of satisfactory evidence that the required hours have been earned.(c) The board may consider exceptions in extenuating circumstances as described in subsection 4.(4)Educational Requirement May Be Waived Or Deferred. (a) A licensee who cannot complete the continuing educational requirements because of personal illness, military service or other circumstances beyond the licensees control which the board deems to be sufficient to impose a hardship may apply for a waiver or deferral of time to complete the continuing education requirements. Any wavier or deferral of time to complete the education requirements will be granted solely in the discretion of the board.(b) A licensee seeking a wavier or deferral must make application, prior to the December 31 license expiration for completion of the education requirement. For waivers or deferrals due to illness, the application must be accompanied by a written statement from a physician stating the diagnosis, prognosis and length of time the licensee will be unable to practice or attend an educational program. Waivers or deferrals due to illness may be granted only to a licensee who has suffered a personal illness or personal disability of a nature that prevented or will prevent him/her from engaging in the active practice of orthotics and prosthetics for a significant portion of the continuing education period.(c) All licensees seeking wavier or deferral shall provide full and complete written documentation of the grounds supporting the reasons for which a deferral is sought. A licensee who request a wavier or deferral of time to complete the required hours of continuing education shall not engage in the active practice of Orthotics and prosthetics beyond December 31 of any year and until the board grants the licensee's request for wavier or deferral.Ala. Admin. Code r. 746-X-2-.07
New Rule: Filed December 17, 2004; effective January 21, 2005. Amended (Rule No. Only): Filed April 29, 2005; effective June 3, 2005. New Rule: Filed March 17, 2010; effective April 21, 2010. Amended: Filed March 19, 2014; effective April 23, 2014.Authors: Joseph C. Elliott, Glenn Crumpton
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §34-25A-1-14.