Mont. Admin. r. 24.213.2130

Current through Register Vol. 23, December 6, 2024

Rule 24.213.2130 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

(1) Each respiratory care practitioner must obtain 12 continuing education (CE) units in the preceding 12 months, by the renewal deadline in ARM 24.101.413. One CE unit is equal to 50 minutes of instruction or coursework or as designated by the CE provider.

(2) Licensees affirm an understanding of their duty to comply with CE requirements as a part of license renewal.

(3) The CE requirements do not apply until a licensee's first full year of licensure.

(4) The board/staff does not preapprove CE programs or sponsors. Licensees must select quality programs that focus on protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public and contribute to licensees' professional knowledge and competence. Acceptable CE activities:

(a) contribute to the licensee's knowledge and professional competence;

(b) contain significant intellectual or practical content; and

(c) are germane to the profession of a respiratory care practitioner.

(5) Acceptable CE activities include:

(a) seminars;

(b) workshops;

(c) conferences;

(d) college course work:

(i) one semester credit equals 15 CE units; and

(ii) one quarter credit equals ten CE units;

(e) teaching:

(i) eight credits maximum; and

(ii) two credits for each hour of presentation;

(f) papers, publications, journals, exhibits, videos, and independent study (eight credits maximum);

(g) in-service programs; and

(h) online courses, webinars, and correspondence courses.

(6) The department may randomly audit up to 50 percent of renewed licensees.

(7) Licensees must maintain CE records for one year following the reporting period and make the records available upon request. Documentation must include:

(a) licensee name;

(b) course title and description of content;

(c) presenter or sponsor;

(d) course completion date(s); and

(e) number of CE hours earned.

(8) Licensees found noncompliant with CE requirements may be subject to administrative suspension.

(9) Licensees may request exemption from CE requirements.

(10) The department, with respect to any CE audit it performs, shall determine the percentage to audit based on a statistically relevant sampling of the total number of licensees and the compliance rate of past audits.

Mont. Admin. r. 24.213.2130

NEW, 2024 MAR p. 1470, Eff. 6/22/2024

AUTH: 37-1-131, 37-1-319, MCA; IMP: 37-1-131, 37-1-141, 37-1-306, 37-1-319, 37-1-321, MCA