Rule 500-5-.02 - Continuing Education Reporting and Auditing(1) At the time a license to practice podiatric medicine is renewed, the applicant must acknowledge and state that the applicant has earned the required continuing education credit hours for license renewal.(2) The renewal applicant must keep on file a record of the accumulated continuing credit hours, titles, where the courses were obtained, and the certificate of completion with the number of approved CME credits/hours for no less than three (3) renewal periods or six (6) years from the date of attendance.(3) The Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners ("Board") shall conduct random audits of CME hours. (a) Audits conducted before license expiration date. Licensees whose renewal applications are selected for CME hours audit before the license expiration date must submit to the Board records of attendance and supporting documents for CME hours obtained before a licensee's renewal application is completed. (1) Before a licensee license is renewed, if an audit of the license renewal application shows that the number of CME hours or documentation for CME hours required for renewal is deficient, documentation satisfactory to the Board shall be submitted prior to granting renewal of the license.(2) The Board may take disciplinary action against a licensee based upon the outcome of an audit and may require, as a condition of granting renewal, that the licensee agree to terms and conditions that include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) pay a fine of $50.00 per unsubstantiated or deficient credit hour;(ii) submit proof satisfactory to the Board of completion of all deficient CE hours, none of which deficient hours may be used to satisfy the CE requirement of any subsequent renewal cycle;(iii) comply with and satisfy all terms and conditions required for license renewal imposed by the Board prior to the end of the late renewal period;(iv) failure to comply with all the Board's terms and conditions by the end of the late renewal period may result in revocation of the license; and(v) additional sanctions and penalties based upon the facts and circumstances as determined by the Board.(b) Audits conducted after license expiration date. After a license is renewed, an audit may be conducted of CE hours submitted in connection with the license renewal application. Licensees whose renewal applications are selected for CME hours audit after license renewal must submit upon request records of attendance and supporting documents for the CME hours obtained for license renewal. (1) The Board may take disciplinary action against a license if the licensee fails to certify or submit adequate proof of completed CE hours, or if the CE documentation submitted is incorrect, false, or fraudulent.(2) The Board's disciplinary action against a licensee based upon the outcome of an audit may include the suspension of the renewed license and the imposition of terms and conditions that include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) a fine of $50.0) per unsubstantiated credit hour;(ii) proof satisfactory to the Board documenting the completion of all deficient CE hours, none of which deficient hours may be used to satisfy the CE requirement of any subsequent renewal cycle;(iii) all terms and conditions shall be satisfied prior to the end of the late renewal period and/or prior to the lifting of license suspension and restoration of the license to active status; and(iv) failure to comply with the Board's terms and conditions by the end of the late renewal period may result in revocation of the license.(4) The submission of a false statement on a license renewal application that the CME hours requirement has been met, after substantiation thereof, may result in the revocation of a license by the Board.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 500-5-.02
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-4, 43-1-7, 43-1-25, 43-35-9, 43-35-15, and 43-35-16.
Original Rule entitled "Reporting and Auditing" adopted. F. Sept. 7, 1989; eff. Sept. 27, 1989.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted F. May 15, 1995; eff. June 4, 1995.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Continuing Education Reporting and Auditing" adopted F. May 7, 2012; eff. May 27, 2012.Amended: F. Sep. 4, 2015; eff. Sept. 24, 2015.