§ 18.309a. Requirement of continuing education.
(a) The following continuing education requirements shall be completed each biennial cycle:
(1) An applicant for biennial renewal or reactivation of licensure is required to complete, during the 2 years preceding the application for renewal or reactivation, a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education as set forth in section 36.1(f)(2) of the act (63 P.S. § 422.36a(f)(2)).
(2) At least 10 continuing education hours shall be obtained through classroom lecture, clinical presentation, real-time web-cast or other live sessions where a presenter is involved.
(3) At least 10 continuing education hours shall be obtained through traditional continuing education such as classroom lecture, clinical presentation, real-time web-cast or other live sessions where a presenter is involved. To qualify for credit, the provider shall make available documented verification of completion of the course or program.
(4) One continuing education hour shall be completed in medical ethics, 1 continuing education hour shall be completed in patient safety and at least 2 hours shall be completed in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 16.108(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).
(5) Credit will not be given for continuing education in basic life support, including basic cardiac life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In any given biennial renewal period, a licensee may receive credit for no more than 8 continuing education hours in advanced life support, including advanced cardiac life support, neonatal advanced life support/neonatal resuscitation and pediatric advanced life support.
(6) A licensee will not receive continuing education credit for participating in a continuing education activity with objectives and content identical to those of another continuing education activity within the same biennial renewal period for which credit was granted.
(b) An individual applying for the first time for licensure in this Commonwealth is exempt from completing the continuing education requirements during the initial biennial renewal period in which the license is issued.
(c) The Board may waive all or a portion of the requirements of continuing education in cases of serious illness, other demonstrated hardship or military service. It shall be the duty of each licensee who seeks a waiver to notify the Board in writing and request the waiver prior to the end of the renewal period. The request must be made in writing, with appropriate documentation, and include a description of circumstances sufficient to show why the licensee is unable to comply with the continuing education requirement. The Board will grant, deny or grant in part the request for waiver and will send the licensee written notification of its approval or denial in whole or in part of the request. A licensee who requests a waiver may not practice as a respiratory therapist after the expiration of the licensee’s current license until the Board grants the waiver request.
(d) A licensee shall maintain the information and documentation supporting completion of the hours of continuing education required, or the waiver granted, for at least 2 years after the conclusion of the biennial renewal period to which the continuing education or waiver applies, the date of completion of the continuing education or grant of the waiver, whichever is latest, and provide the information and documentation to representatives of the Board upon request.
Authority The provisions of this § 18.309a amended under sections 8, 8.1, 13(c) and 13.1(c) of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § § 422.8, 422.8a, 422.13(c) and 422.13a(c)); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 18.309a adopted August 11, 2006, effective August 12, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 4466; amended January 31, 2014, effective February 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 583; amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1899. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (370222) to (370223).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.309 (relating to renewal of licensure).
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