Rule 360-35-.04 - Continuing Education Requirements and Approved Providers(1) An applicant for renewal who has been initially licensed by the Board by examination for less than two years shall not be required to complete the continuing education hours in order to renew the license for the first time. However, for the next renewal, the licensee must obtain 5 hours of continuing education.(2) Each licensee must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls and the licensee must establish satisfaction of at least 5 (five) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education requirements to be eligible for renewal.(3) Each licensee shall be required to answer questions on their renewal application form that establish compliance with Board approved continuing education requirements. Licensees will not be required to send documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements for renewal, unless requested by the Board.(4) False statements regarding satisfaction of continuing education on the renewal form or any other document connected with the practice of cosmetic laser practitioner may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.(5) Each licensee who must meet the requirements of this chapter must maintain record of attendance and supporting documents for Board approved continuing education for a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following information must be kept: (c) hours of continuing education units completed; and(6) The Board will audit a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal applications to monitor compliance with the continuing education requirements. Any licensee so audited shall be required to furnish documentation of compliance including name of provider, name of program, hours/continuing education units completed and date of completion. Any licensee audited that has been found to be out of compliance with the Board's continuing education requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.(7) If the licensee has not complied with the continuing education requirement by the expiration of the license, his/her license shall not be renewed and the license holder shall not engage in the practice of cosmetic laser services.(8) A licensee may late renew during the three months following the expiration date of his or her license by presenting satisfactory evidence to the Board of completion of the contact hours or continuing education units of Board approved continuing education. Licenses not renewed within 3 months following the expiration date of the license shall be revoked for failure to renew. In order to obtain a valid license after revocation for failure to renew, an applicant must reapply for a new license and meet the requirements in effective at the time of the application.(9) Any licensee seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with the Board's continuing education requirements who wishes to seek a waiver or variance of this rule shall file with the Board: (a) A renewal application and fee and(b) A statement that complies with the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 50-13-9.1 setting forth the specific facts of substantial hardship which would justify a variance or waiver, including the alternative standards which the person seeking a waiver or variance agrees to meet and a showing that such alternative standards will afford adequate protection for the public health, safety and welfare; and the reason why the variance would serve the purpose of the underlying statute.(10) Courses should be in the area of cosmetic laser services, equipment safety and operation, procedures, and relative skin modalities, directly taught by a licensed physician or certified continuing medical education or continuing education educator. The following courses are approved by the Board as meeting the continuing education requirements:(a) Assistant and senior laser practitioners can obtain laser continuing education credit for courses from the following: 1. Courses approved for Category I credit by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).2. Courses approved for Category I Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit by AAPA, AMA, AOA, and NCCPA.3. Laser courses approved by the Georgia Board of Cosmetology.4. Laser courses approved for Category I credit by Medical Association of Georgia (MAG).5. Laser courses approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing6. Courses sponsored by the Georgia Composite Medical Board.7. Courses taught by a licensed physician specific to laser practice and safetyGa. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-35-.04
O.C.G.A.§§ 43-1-31, 43-34-5, 43-34-11, 43-34-245, 50-13-9.1.
Original Rule entitled "Continuing Education Requirements and Approved Providers" adopted. F. Sep. 14, 2015; eff. Oct. 4, 2015.