Rule 360-15-.01 - Requirements for Physicians(1) Physicians licensed to practice medicine pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-34-26 shall complete Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours biennially, with the following exceptions:(a) Physicians enrolled in full time graduate medical education programs (residencies and fellowships) which are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association.(b) Physicians who are initially licensed by the Board and who have not renewed their licenses for the first time.(c) Physicians whose licenses are not active, such as those who are Inactive or Revoked. Physicians who are suspended or in some other way disciplined by the Board must meet the requirements unless otherwise stipulated by Board Order.(d) Physicians who are retired, who have an active license, and who provide uncompensated health care services pursuant to Code Section 43-34-41; shall be required to complete 10 hours of Board approved continuing education biennially.(e) Physicians specifically exempted from this requirement due to cases of hardship, disability, illness, service in the United States Congress, service in the Georgia General Assembly or military service, if supported by adequate documentation acceptable to the Board. 1. Physicians seeking such an exemption must submit a written request and documentation to support their eligibility for such an exemption.2. Said request for an exemption should be submitted to the Board in a sufficient time period prior to the expiration of the license to receive a determination from the Board as to whether an exemption would be granted.(2) The Board accepts the following as meeting its requirement for Board approval: (a) A.M.A. (American Medical Association) Category 1 credit;(b) A.O.A. (American Osteopathic Association) Category 1 credit;(c) A.A.F.P. (American Academy of Family Physicians) Prescribed credit;(d) A.C.O.G. (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Cognates, Category 1;(e) A.C.E.P. (American College of Emergency Physicians) Category 1. 1. It is the responsibility of the licensee to verify approval with the source of the program, not with the Board, and the licensee should verify approval before taking the course.(3) Physicians who do not hold a certification in pain management or palliative medicine, and whose opioid pain management patients comprise 50% or more of the patient population must demonstrate competence by biennially obtaining 20 (twenty) hours of continuing medical education ("CME") pertaining to pain management or palliative medicine. 1. Such CME must be an AMA/AOA PRA Category 1 CME, a board approved CME program, or any federally approved CME. The CME obtained pursuant to this rule may count towards the CME required for license renewal.(4) Effective January 1, 2018, every physician not subject to Rule 360-15-.01(3) who maintains an active DEA certificate and prescribes controlled substances, except those holding a residency training permit, shall complete at least one time three or more hours of AMA/AOAPRA Category 1 CME that is designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices. The controlled substance prescribing CME shall include instruction on controlled substance prescribing guidelines, recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management. The certification of such completion must occur at the first renewal following January 1, 2018 or the first renewal following licensure. Completion of this requirement may count as three hours toward the CME requirement for license renewal.(5) On and after January 1, 2022, all physicians shall be required to receive one-time education training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct. Such education training shall include subject matter relating to how to proceed with basic as well as sensitive or intimate examinations and the communication with patients that is required as a component of such examinations. The certification of such completion must occur at the first renewal following January 1, 2022 or the first renewal following licensure. Completion of this requirement may count as two hours toward the CME requirement for license renewal.(6) In meeting the continuing education requirements, the Board will waive one hour CME requirement for physicians for each four hours of documented work by the physician in uncompensated health care services such as free clinics up to a maximum of ten CME hours per biennium. In order to receive the waiver, the physician shall submit to the Board documentation of such work at the time of renewal.(7) In meeting the continuing education requirements, the Board will waive up to eight CME hours per biennium for peer reviews of Board investigative cases for the Board. Specifically, a physician may obtain waiver of two (2) CME hours for each investigative case peer review conducted at the request of the Board.(8) Physicians who must meet the requirements of this Chapter must document the completion of Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours during the two year term of the license. The license will expire on the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls. License must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls and the licensee must satisfy the Board approved continuing education requirements during the biennial renewal cycle to be eligible for renewal.(9) Each licensed physician who must meet these requirements must maintain records of attendance and supporting documents for continuing education for a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following must be kept: (c) Hours/continuing education Units completed;(e) Evidence of A.M.A. Category 1 credit or A.O.A. Category 1 credit.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-34-3, 43-34-5, 43-34-11, 43-34-24, 43-34-26, 43-34-41.
Original Rule entitled "Requirements for Physicians" adopted. F. Sept. 11, 1991; eff. Oct. 1, 1991.Amended: F. June 5, 1992; eff. June 25, 1992.Amended: F. Sept. 18, 2003; eff. Oct. 8, 2003.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Sept. 7, 2005; eff. Sept. 27, 2005.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Nov. 10, 2008; eff. Nov. 30, 2008.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 10, 2009; eff. Mar. 30, 2009.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 9, 2010; eff. July 29, 2010.Amended: F. Nov. 9, 2012; eff. Nov. 29, 2012.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 2, 2016; eff. Mar. 22, 2016.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Nov. 16, 2017; eff. Dec. 6, 2017.Amended: F. Apr. 17, 2023; eff. May 7, 2023.