201 KAR 6:070. Continuing education requirements.

201 KAR 6:070. Continuing education requirements.

RELATES TO: KRS 216A.090

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 216A.070(3), 216A.090

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 216A.090 authorizes the board to promulgate an administrative regulation requiring a licensed nursing home administrator to complete continuing education requirements as a condition of renewal of his licensure. This administrative regulation delineates the requirements for continuing education and prescribes methods and standards for the accreditation of continuing education courses.

Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Approved" means recognized by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Nursing Home Administrators.

(2) "Continuing education hour" means sixty (60) clock minutes of participation in a continuing educational experience.

(3) "Program" means an organized learning experience planned and evaluated to meet behavioral objectives, including an experience presented in one (1) session or in a series.

(4) "Provider" means an organization approved by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Nursing Home Administrators for providing a continuing education program.

(5) "Relevant" means having content applicable to the practice of nursing home administration as determined by the board.

Section 2. Accrual of Continuing Education Hours; Computation of Accrual. (1) A minimum of thirty (30) continuing education hours shall be accrued by each person holding licensure during the two (2) year period for renewal.

(2) All continuing education hours shall be in or related to the field of nursing home administration.

Section 3. Methods of Acquiring Continuing Education Hours. Continuing education hours applicable to the renewal of the license shall be directly related to the professional growth and development of a nursing home administrator. A continuing education hour shall be earned by completing any of the following educational activities:

(1) Programs not requiring board review and approval. An educational program from any of the following providers shall be deemed to be relevant to the practice of nursing home administration and shall be approved without further review by the board if it is:

(a) Sponsored or approved by the National Association of Boards of Licensure for Nursing Home Administrators (NAB) or another board of licensure which is a member of NAB;

(b) Sponsored by:

1. The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, or any of its affiliated state chapters;

2. The American College of Health Care Administrators, or any of its affiliated state chapters;

3. The American College of Healthcare Executives;

4. The American Health Care Association, or any of its affiliated state chapters;

5. The American Hospital Association or any of its affiliated state chapters;

6. The Kentucky Board of Nursing; or

(c) A college course directly related to business administration, economics, marketing, computer science, social services, psychology, gerontology, or health professions including nursing or premedicine;

(2) Programs requiring board review and approval. A program from one (1) of the following sources shall be approved by the board if the board determines the program is relevant:

(a) Relevant programs, including home study courses or in-service training provided by other organizations, educational institutions, or other service providers approved by the board;

(b) Relevant programs or academic courses presented by the licensee. A presenter of relevant programs or academic courses shall earn full continuing education credit for each contact hour of instruction, not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the continuing education renewal requirements. Credit shall not be issued for repeated instruction of the same course;

(c) Authoring an article in a relevant, professionally recognized or juried publication. Credit shall be granted for an article that was published within the two (2) year period immediately preceding the renewal date if the licensee has not received credit for another publication during that renewal period. A licensee shall earn one-half (1/2) of the continuing education hours required for a relevant publication.

Section 4. Procedures for approval of Continuing Education Programs. A course which has not been preapproved by the board may be used for continuing education if approval is secured from the board for the course. In order for the board to adequately review this program, the following information shall be submitted:

(1) A published course or similar description;

(2) Names and qualifications of the instructors;

(3) A copy of the program agenda indicating hours of education, coffee and lunch breaks;

(4) Number of continuing education hours requested;

(5) Official certificate of completion or college transcript from the sponsoring agency or college; and

(6) Application for continuing education credits approval.

Section 5. Procedures for Preapproval of Continuing Education Sponsors and Programs. (1) Sponsor approval. Any entity seeking to obtain approval:

(a) Of a continuing education program prior to its offering shall apply to the board at least sixty (60) days in advance of the commencement of the program, and shall provide the information required in Section 4 of this administrative regulation.

(b) As a prior-authorized continuing education provider under Section 3(1) of this administrative regulation, shall satisfy the board that the entity seeking this status:

1. Consistently offers programs which meet or exceed all the requirements set forth in Section 2 of this administrative regulation; and

2. Does not exclude any licensee from its programs.

(2) A continuing education activity shall be qualified for approval if the board determines the activity being presented:

(a) Is an organized program of learning;

(b) Pertains to subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of nursing home administration;

(d) Is conducted by individuals who have educational training or experience acceptance to the board.

Section 6. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Licensees. Each licensee shall be responsible for obtaining required continuing education hours. He shall identify his own continuing education needs, take the initiative in seeking continuing professional education activities to meet these needs, and seek ways to integrate new knowledge, skills and attitudes. Each person holding licensure shall:

(1) Select approved activities by which to earn continuing education hours;

(2) Submit to the board, if applicable, a request for continuing education activities requiring approval by the board as established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation;

(3) Maintain his own records of continuing education hours;

(4) At the time of renewal, list the continuing education hours obtained during that licensure renewal period;

(5) Furnish documentation of attendance and participation in the appropriate number of continuing education hours at the time of his renewal, as follows:

(a) Each person holding licensure shall maintain, for a period of two (2) years from the date of renewal, all documentation verifying successful completion of continuing education hours;

(b) During the two (2) year licensure renewal period, up to fifteen (15) percent of all licensees shall be required by the board to furnish documentation of the completion of the appropriate number of continuing education hours for the current renewal period;

(d) Documentation sent in to the board prior to renewal shall be returned to the licensee by regular mail;

(e) Documentation shall take the form of official documents including:

1. Transcripts;

2. Certificates;

3. Affidavits signed by instructors; or

4. Receipts for fees paid to the sponsor; and

(f) Each licensee shall retain copies of his documentation.

Section 7. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Providers. (1) Providers of continuing education not requiring board approval shall be responsible for providing documentation, as established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation, directly to the licensee.

(2) Providers of continuing education requiring board approval shall be responsible for submitting a course offering to the board for review and approval before listing or advertising that offering as approved by the board.

Section 8. Board to Approve Continuing Education Hours; Appeal when Approval Denied. If an application for approval of continuing education hours is denied, the licensee shall have the right to request reconsideration by the board of its decision. The request shall be in writing and shall be received by the board within thirty (30) days after the date of the board’s decision denying approval of continuing education hours.

Section 9. Waiver or Extensions of Continuing Education. (1) The board may, in individual cases involving medical disability, illness, or undue hardship as determined by the board, grant waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the requirements or make the required reports.

(2) A written request for waiver or extension of time involving medical disability or illness shall be submitted by the person holding a license and shall be accompanied by a verifying document signed by a licensed physician.

(3) Waivers of the minimum continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the continuing education requirements shall be granted by the board for a period of time not to exceed one (1) calendar year.

(4) If the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension has been granted continues beyond the period of the waiver or extension, the person holding licensure shall reapply for the waiver or extension.

Section 10. Continuing Education Requirements for Reinstatement or Reactivation of Licensure. (1) A person requesting reinstatement or reactivation of licensure shall submit evidence of thirty (30) hours of continuing education within the twenty-four (24) month period immediately preceding the date on which the request for reinstatement or reactivation is submitted to the board.

(2) Upon request by a licensee, the board may permit him to resume practice, with the provision that he shall receive thirty (30) hours continuing education within six (6) months of the date on which he is approved to resume practice.

(3) The continuing education hours received in compliance with this section shall be in addition to the continuing education requirements established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation and shall not be used to comply with the requirements of that section. (25 Ky.R. 682; Am. 1586; eff. 1-19-99.)