D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-4710

Current through Register 71, No. 45, November 7, 2024

Rule 17-4710 - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

4710.1

In order to renew a license, an acupuncturist shall confirm on the renewal application that he or she has completed at least thirty (30) hours of continuing education. At least ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District every five (5) years or less frequently as deemed appropriate by the Director, with notice of the subject matter published in the D.C. Register. The Board shall disseminate the identified subjects to its licensees when determined by the Director via electronic communication and through publication on its website. The continuing education shall be conducted through any of the following continuing education methods:

(a) Successfully completing a continuing education course that has been approved by NCCAOM or by boards or committees regulating acupuncture in other states;

(b) Successfully completing up to fifteen (15) hours of a distance learning course approved by NCCAOM; or

(c) Successfully completing continuing education courses or programs that are pre-approved by the Board.

4710.2

Beginning with the renewal period ending December 31, 2018, two (2) of the thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education shall relate to cultural competence or appropriate clinical treatment specifically for individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression (LGBTQ) and shall meet the requirement of § 4710.1. Continuing education hours that are completed in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for individuals who are LGBTQ shall, at a minimum, provide information and skills to enable a licensed acupuncturist to care effectively and respectfully for patients who identify as LGBTQ, which may include:

(a) Specialized clinical training relevant to patients who identify as LGBTQ, including training on how to use cultural information and terminology to establish clinical relationships;

(b) Training that improves the understanding and application, in a clinical setting, of relevant data concerning health disparities and risk factors for patients who identify as LGBTQ;

(c) Training that outlines the legal obligations associated with treating patients who identify as LGBTQ;

(d) Best practices for collecting, storing, using, and keeping confidential, information regarding sexual orientation and gender identity;

(e) Best practices for training support staff regarding the treatment of patients who identify as LGBTQ and their families;

(f) Training that improves the understanding of the intersections between systems of oppression and discrimination and improves the recognition that those who identify as LGBTQ may experience these systems in varying degrees of intensity; and

(g) Training that addresses underlying cultural biases aimed at improving the provision of nondiscriminatory care for patients who identify as LGBTQ.

4710.3

The Board may approve upon consultation with, and advice from, the Advisory Committee on Acupuncture continuing education credits obtained through methods other than described in § 4710.1.

(a) A licensed acupuncturist may accrue no more than a combined total of six (6) hours of continuing education credits under § 4710.3(b) as part of the overall requirement of thirty (30) hours of continuing education required in § 4710.1;

(b) The methods through which a licensed acupuncturist may obtain continuing education credits other than as described in § 4710.1 are as follows:

(1)Pro bono activities consisting of work for the provision of acupuncture services provided through an organization offering humanitarian services to:

(A) Victims of an emergency situation or catastrophic disaster area;

(B) Low income or underserved areas or populations in the District;

(C) Special needs populations in the District; or

(D) Active duty military personnel in the United States Armed Services.

(2) A licensed acupuncturist may accrue a maximum of three (3) hours of continuing education credit for pro bono activities, only upon the following conditions:

(A) Upon completion of the pro bono activity, the licensed acupuncturist shall obtain from the facility written documentation of completion of pro bono hours including:

(i) The name of the facility;

(ii) The address where the pro bono work was provided;

(iii) The type of work that was done;

(iv) The number of hours of actual work provided for which the licensee desires credit hours; and

(v) A statement guaranteeing that the work provided no financial benefit to licensee.

(3) Publishing a research-based article in a nationally recognized, peer-reviewed journal for which a licensed acupuncturist may accrue no more than three hours of continuing education credit.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, r. 17-4710

Amended by Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 7413 (6/21/2019); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 887 (1/31/2020)