Effective beginning in calendar year 2004, every physician licensed to practice medicine within this state shall, in connection with biannual registration, on or before the first day of June in each even-numbered year, provide satisfactory evidence to the board of medical licensure and discipline that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner has completed a prescribed course of continuing medical education established by the appropriate medical or osteopathic society and approved by rule or regulation of the director or by the board of medical licensure and discipline. The board may extend for only one six-month (6) period these educational requirements if the board is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that prevented meeting the educational requirement. No recertification to practice medicine in this state shall be refused, nor shall any certificate be suspended or revoked except:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37-2.1