The Board proposes a rule amendment intended to update the language for continuing education required for license renewal.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Podiatric Medicine

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B18-17.001Continuing Education Required for License Renewal

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes a rule amendment intended to update the language for continuing education required for license renewal.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule updates the language for continuing education required for license 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), 456.033, 461.005, 461.007(3) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(6), (7), (9), 456.033, 456.0341, 456.036(11), 461.003(5), 461.007(1), (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: Ashleigh Irving, Executive Director, Board of Podiatric Medicine, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3258.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B18-17.001 Continuing Education Required for License Renewal.

(1) All actively licensed podiatric physicians shall obtain continuing education thatwhich contributes to the reduction of risk in the practice of podiatric medicine and the advancement, extension or enhancement of professional skill and knowledge in the field of podiatric medicine and the licensee’s understanding of the regulatory law and rules which govern the practice of podiatric medicine. The continuing education that contributes to the advancement, extension or enhancement of professional skill and knowledge in the field of podiatric medicine, shall focus on subjects thatwhich are primarily scientific in nature and of significant benefit to the podiatric physician on a post-graduate level. No commercial laboratories will be approved for continuing education credit because those laboratories are designed primarily to demonstrate equipment and procedures for the purpose of making a sale.

(2) All licensees who seek to renew the active status of their licensure must demonstrate that they have completed, during the previous two years, at least forty (40) hours of continuing education.

(a) Within each license renewal biennium, a licensed podiatric physician shall complete a minimum of 32 hours via live in-person, or live interactive virtual events of professional continuing education, according to the criteria set forth in these rules. A maximum of 8 hours of continuing professional education may be earned from courses involving home study or anytime courses. 

(a) through (b) renumbered (b) through (c)  No change. 

 

(d)(c) At least onetwo (2) 2-hour courseof the forty (40) hours must be on the subject of prevention of medical errors pursuant to section 456.013(7), F.S.

(e)(d) At least two (2) of the forty (40) hours must be on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances, as required by sSection 461.007, F.S.

(e) through (g) renumbered (f) through (h)  No change.

(i) All 40 hours may be  earned through live in-person or live interactive virtual events as defined in 64B18-17.002(8)(b), but a maximum of only eight (8)  hours may be obtained through homestudy or anytime courses asd defined in 64B18-17.002(8)(a).

(3)  No change.

(4) Except for the home study authorized by subsection 64B18-17.002(1), F.A.C., Aa licensed podiatric physician may only receive only up to 8 hours of professional credit for home study continuing education from courses involving home study or anytime coursesprograms taken during the biennium. For the 2020-2022 biennial renewal period, there shall be no cap on the number of credit hours that a licensed podiatric physician may receive for continuing education hours obtained through home study continuing education programs.

(5) through (6) No change. 

(7) If the licensee has not actively practiced podiatric medicine for at least 2 years of the immediately preceding 4 years, the board shall require the licensee to successfully complete a board-approved course prior to renewal of the license. For a licensee to have “actively practiced podiatric medicine” as defined in sSection 461.007, F.S., the annual practice, teaching, or administration of podiatric medicine must minimally constitute an average of 20 hours per week.

(8) No change. 

(9) Licensees must retain proof of attendance at continuing education programs for two years subsequent to the expiration of the biennial period for which the programs are claimed. Proof of attendance must be documented by a record of registration or certification of attendance issued by the program which states the number of credit hours received. An acceptableAcceptable record of registration at a program is a receipt for the program, a copy of an embossed badge identifying the name, date and location of the program, or a copy of the front and back of the canceled check used by the licensee to pay for the program.

(10) Certified podiatric x-ray assistants must complete a 6-hour board-approved recertification course which includes an examiantion asthe eight hour course set forth in sSection 461.0135, F.S., prior to renewal of certification. Certified podiatric x-ray assistants shall also complete a (2) hour course on the subject of prevention of medical errors pursuant to section 456.013(7), F.S.

(11) through (12) No change. 

Rulemaking Authority 456.013(6), 456.033, 461.005, 461.007(3) FS. Law Implemented 456.013(6), (7), (9), 456.033, 456.0341, 456.036(11), 461.003(5), 461.007(1), (3) FS. History–New 11-24-80, Formerly 21T-17.01, Amended 10-14-86, 2-21-88, 5-16-89, Formerly 21T-17.001, Amended 7-6-94, Formerly 61F12-17.001, Amended 1-1-96, 1-2-97, 6-1-97, Formerly 59Z-17.001, Amended 4-25-00, 9-27-01, 11-27-05, 1-29-07, 11-19-12, 8-6-18, 5-14-20, 6-1-21, 11-3-21,_____________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Podiatric Medicine

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Podiatric Medicine

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 20, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: December 14, 2022