To update requirements for continuing education (CE) courses for the radiologic professions to comply with updated national standards, such that department-approved continuing education courses may be used to satisfy renewal ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division of Environmental Health

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64E-3.009Standards for Continuing Education Courses

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update requirements for continuing education (CE) courses for the radiologic professions to comply with updated national standards, such that department-approved continuing education courses may be used to satisfy renewal requirements for state and national radiologic technologist licensing and registration; and to correct spelling errors; and add language requiring a review which may result in a rule amendment, modification, or repeal. The proposed changes are supported by the Advisory Council on Radiation Protection.

SUMMARY: The proposed changes update requirements for CE courses for the radiologic professions to comply with updated national standards; to correct spelling errors; and add language requiring a review which may result in a rule amendment, modification, or repeal.

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: The department's analysis of the potential adverse impact and potential regulatory costs of the proposed rule did not exceed the criteria for a SERC established in section 120.541(2)(a), F.S. As part of this analysis, the department relied upon its own experiences with other rulemaking and licensure of this type; and the expertise and experience of the members of the state Advisory Council on Radiation Protection, made up of members representing the radiologic technology profession and various other radiation-related professions, which supported this amendment.

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: 468.303, 468.309(3), FS

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 468.309(3), 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: Brenda Andrews, Bin C21, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1741; [phone]; [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64E-3.009 Standards for Continuing Education Courses.

(1) through (6) No change.

(7) The content of each continuing education course shall be planned in logical order and reflect input from qualified persons in the subject matter. A target audience for each continuing education course shall be identified. The criteria for successful course completion shall be determined by the program provider and made available to attendees prior to the course. The subject matter for each continuing education course shall reflect the professional educational needs of the technologist to meet the health care needs of the patient, and shall consist of content from one or more of the following:

(a) Radiologic technology practice areas, such as:

1. through 16. No change.

17. Nuclear medicine, including but not limited to, Positron Emission Emmission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT), and Single Photon Emission Emmission Computed Tomography (SPECT),

18. through 24. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) Personal development subject matter, which must include application of content as it relates to improved patient care. A maximum of 3 continuing education hours in this area can be used for renewal requirements during each renewal cycle. The program may cover any topic which enhances technologist skills and improves patient care. However, awards presentations, introductions of new staff members, tributes to departing staff, employee satisfaction surveys, discussions of facility fiscal status or human resource policies, or similar topics will not be approved for personal development. Attendance at the entire course is required for credit.

(8) All Ccontinuing education courses shall be at least 30 minutes in length. A 30-minute course approved by the dDepartment will be awarded one-half (.5) contact hour of continuing education credit. An additional one-quarter (.25) contact hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each additional 15 minutes of course length. Completion of the entire course is required for credit.

(9) If the course offers a “hands-on” component along with a didactic component, and the same amount of time is spent on both components, the continuing education credit awarded shall be the same for both components.

(10)(9) All Sself-study courses must include a post-test to assess the attendee’s understanding of the course material and mastery attainment of course objectives. The provider must grade the post-test, and a course participant must, within a maximum of 3 attempts, achieve receive a score of at least 75% on the post-test to successfully complete a course. A minimum of 4 post-test questions is required for a course awarded one-half (.5) hour of continuing education credit. An additional 2 post-test questions are required for each additional one-quarter (.25) hour of continuing education credit. Time utilized to attempt to complete the course post-test shall not be considered part of the learning activity and shall not be awarded credit.

(10) renumbered as (11) No change.

(12) Continuing education courses that are based on a textbook or electronic book (e-book) must be submitted to and approved by the department on a per-chapter basis, as published in the textbook or e-book, rather than as subsections of a chapter, or as the entire textbook or e-book as one activity. Each textbook or e-book chapter activity must have its own post-test and must be assigned its own unique course number.

(12) The Department shall approve a course meeting the requirements of this rule for a period of up to 36 months.

(11) renumbered as (13) No change.

(a) At least 30 days prior to the date the course begins, make application on Form DH 374 (02/16), “CE Provider Information Sheet,” which is incorporated by reference and available from the dDepartment at www.http//flhealth.gov/radiation, and at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07088. The completed Form DH 374 (02/16) This form shall identify the format of the course as either live lecture or some type of self-study.

1. If the course is a live lecture, the provider shall submit course objectives and an outline for review to the dDepartment as an attachment to Form DH 374 (02/16).

2. If the course is self-study, the provider shall submit a copy of the self-study course material and post-test for review to the dDepartment.

(b) No change.

(14)(13) The provider shall furnish each successful course attendee with a written certificate of course completion which shall include the following, all but the last of which must be printed on the certificate and not handwritten:

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) Approved FLDOH-BRC course number in the format “FLDOH-BRC XXXXXXXX,” where “XXXXXXXX” is the 8-digit course number assigned by the dDepartment;

(d) through (g) No change.

(h) Name of course attendee; and,

(i) “Category A,” if the course is approved by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists for Category

A credit;

(j) Course learning objectives, if the course is “hands-on”; and

(k)(i) Signature of the instructor or provider.

(15) Department approval of a continuing education course is effective for up to 3 calendar years from the date approved.

(16)(14) No later than 30 days after each course presentation date, the provider shall submit to the dDepartment a copy of the previously-approved Department-approved Form DH 374 (02/16) that was submitted for the course, and as well as a completed Form DH 406 (02/16), “Continuing Education Roster,” incorporated by reference, a proof of which is available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07089. (PROOF IS NOT TO BE SUBMITTED AS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT as it is not machine-readable and, therefore, is for reference and viewing only).; Bblank, machine-readable versions of Form DH 406 this form must be obtained from the dDepartment of Health as follows:

(a) through (c) No change.

(17)(15) The provider must notify the dDepartment in writing within 60 days of any changes in information submitted to the Department on Form DH 374 (02/16) or Form DH 406 (02/16) or any attachments thereto.

(16) renumbered as (18) No change.

(19) Within 5 years after the effective date of this rule, the department will consider amendment, modification, or repeal of this rule if a review determines that the rule creates barriers to entry for private business competition, is duplicative, outdated, obsolete, overly burdensome, or imposes excessive costs.

Rulemaking Authority 468.303, 468.309(3)(1) FS. Law Implemented 468.309(3)(1) FS. History–New 4-10-85, Formerly 10D-74.52, Amended 9-17-92, 5-7-96, 12-12-96, Formerly 10D-74.052, Amended 3-4-08, 7-20-16,              .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Clark Eldredge, Interim Chief, Bureau of Radiation Control

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD, State Surgeon General

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 24, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: February 16, 2022