To clarify continuing education necessary for renewal.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Hearing Aid Specialists

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B6-5.001Continuing Education as a Condition for Renewal

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To clarify continuing education necessary for renewal.

SUMMARY: To clarify continuing education necessary for renewal.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board concluded that this rule change will not have any impact on licensees and their businesses or the businesses that employ them. The rule will not increase any fees, business costs, personnel costs, will not decrease profit opportunities, and will not require any specialized knowledge to comply. This change will not increase any direct or indirect regulatory costs. Hence, the Board determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature. No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 456.013(6), (8), 484.044, 484.047(1), (4) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(6), (7), (8), 456.033, 484.047(4) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Ashleigh Irving, Executive Director, Board of Hearing Aid Specialist, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3258.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B6-5.001 Continuing Education as a Condition for Renewal.

(1) As a condition of the biennial renewal of an active license, each hearing aid specialist shall attend and certify attending 20 credit hours (per biennium) of Board approved continuing education which are relevant to, and which enhance, the licensee’s ability to dispense hearing aids. A person who was initially licensed during the biennium prior to renewal is not required to earn continuing education credit as a condition of first licensure renewal.  Attendance at continuing education courses shall be in person. Board-approved means approved by a chairman-appointed committee of one, or as specified by subsection 64B6-5.002(1), F.A.C. Continuing education courses, or portions thereof, which are devoted to content areas other than those identified in Rule 64B6-8.003, F.A.C., or risk management, shall not be approved for continuing education credit. Effective for the biennium beginning in 2001, these certified hours shall include two hours per biennium relating to hearing aid laws and rules.

(a) The laws and rules course shall be taught by an instructor approved by the Board or its designee and shall include the following subject areas:

1. Chapter 484, Part II, F.S.

2. Rule division 64B6, F.A.C.

3. Chapter 456, F.S.

(b) The laws and rules course must provide integration of the above subject areas into the competencies required for the practice of dispensing hearing aids.

(2) Manner of delivery:

(a)Ten of the required twenty hours must be earned in-person.

(b) Ten of the required twenty hours may be earned by courses that are self-paced, for instance, home study or courses offered anytime on-line.  Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this rule, no person who was initially licensed in the biennium prior to renewal shall be required to attend continuing education programs as a condition of renewing the initial license.

(3) Mandatory content.  Each licensee must complete:

(a) two hours related to human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) no later than the first biennium when licensee is required to earn continuing education for renewal.  (Licensees holding more than one license issued pursuant to Chapter 456, F.S. are only required to take one HIV/AIDS to satisfy the requirement for this Board);

(b) two hours related to laws and rules;

1. taught by an instructor appoved by the Board

2. include training on Chapters 456, and 484 Part II, F.S.; and rules contained in 64B6, Florida Administrative Code.

(c) a two hour course in the prevention of medical errors.

Each licensee shall be required to complete no later than upon first renewal that requires continuing education, a two-hour course on human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Each licensee may take up to four (4) hours per biennium of continuing education which includes the topics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and other communicable illness to protect both the recipient and dispenser; modes of transmission, infection control procedures, clinical management, and prevention of any communicable illness. Dually-licensed individuals, under Chapter 456, F.S., shall only be required to take one HIV/AIDS course to satisfy the continuing education requirements for this Board.

(4) The remainder of the required hours, general credits, may be earned by courses satisfying 64B6-5.001(1), F.A.C. Each licensee as part of the renewal process shall attend and certify attending a Board-approved two-hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors. The two-hour course shall count toward the total number of continuing education hours required for license renewal.

(5) For the 2021 – 2023 biennial renewal period, all continuing education specified by Chapter 64B6-5, F.A.C., may be obtained by completion of courses offered in a distance learning format.

Rulemaking Authority 456.013(6), (8), 484.044, 484.047(1), (4) FS. Law Implemented 456.013(6), (7), (8), 456.033, 484.047(4) FS. History–New 4-1-85, Formerly 21JJ-15.001, Amended 8-5-87, 4-8-90, 8-21-90, 8-19-91, Formerly 21JJ-5.005, Amended 11-20-95, Formerly 61G9-5.005, Amended 9-23-99, 6-28-00, 11-9-00, 2-19-03, 3-4-08, 5-28-09, 7-27-16, 9-2-21, ____________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Hearing Aid Specialist

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Hearing Aid Specialist

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: October 28, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 18, 2022