201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 46:060

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 46:060 - Continuing education requirements

RELATES TO: KRS 311B.050, 311B.110

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 311B.050(2) requires the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy to promulgate administrative regulations to administer and enforce KRS Chapter 311B. KRS 311B.050(4) and 311B.110(6) require the board to determine and enforce continuing education requirements and establish guidelines for the approval of continuing education. KRS 311B.110(3) authorizes the board to require that all licensees obtain continuing education for ongoing knowledge of current practices in radiation safety and clinical procedures prior to licensure renewal. This administrative regulation delineates the requirements for continuing education and prescribes methods and standards for the approval of continuing education courses.

Section 1. Mandatory Continuing Education Units.

(1) Medical imaging technologists, advanced imaging professionals, radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists shall obtain a minimum of twenty-four (24) continuing education units per biennium.

(2) Limited X-Ray machine operators shall obtain a minimum of twelve (12) continuing education units per biennium.

(3) A continuing education unit shall be earned by participating in fifty (50) contact minutes in an approved continuing education program.

Section 2. Methods of Acquiring Continuing Education.

(1) Continuing education units applicable to the renewal of a license shall be directly relevant to the professional growth and development of the medical imaging technologist, radiation therapist, advanced imaging professional, radiographer, nuclear medicine technologist, or limited x-ray machine operator.

(2) Continuing education units may be earned by completing any of the following educational activities:

(a) Academic courses relevant to the radiologic sciences or patient care and is offered by a post-secondary educational institution accredited by a mechanism recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or the Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board (NMTCB). Relevant courses in the biologic sciences, physical sciences, medical imaging, interventional procedures, radiation therapy, health and medical sciences, social sciences, verbal communication (oral and written), mathematics, computer use related to medical imaging or radiation therapy, management, cultural competency and ethics related to medical professionals, or post-secondary adult education methodology shall be considered for acceptance. Some subject areas that shall not be applicable include formal education clinical hours or credits, independent study, courses in archeology, astronomy, fine arts, geology, geography, history, music, philosophy, and religion;

(b) Continuing education units approved by a professional organization recognized by the board or designated as a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM); or

(c) Continuing education units offered by other individuals, organizations, or institutions that have been approved by the board.

(3) Academic course credit equivalency for continuing education units shall be based on one (1) academic quarter credit hour is equal to twelve (12) continuing education units or one (1) academic semester credit hour is equal to sixteen (16) continuing education units.

Section 3. Procedure for Preapproval of Continuing Education Programs.

(1) A continuing education program may be approved by two (2) mechanisms:

(a) By applying and receiving approval from a RCEEM; or

(b) By applying and receiving approval from the board.

(2) For board approval of continuing education programs, a person, agency, or company, "CE Sponsor", shall:

(a) Submit KBMIRT Form 9, Continuing Education Program Approval Request Form at least twenty (20) business days in advance of the date of the offering;

(b) Submit the continuing education approval fee as established by 201 KAR 46:020, Section 12;

(c) Provide program participants with documentation of participation such as a certificate of completion;

(d) Participate in the audit of approved continuing education programs including presentation evaluations, attendance, and continuing education participation documentation, as requested by the board; and

(e) Comply with policies set forth by the board, the ARRT, and NMTCB regarding continuing education programs.

(3) A continuing education activity shall be approved if the board determines that the activity is appropriate. The criteria as established in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this subsection shall be used by the board to determine the preapproval of a continuing education program.

(a) The activity shall enhance knowledge and skills associated with professional performance.

(b) It shall pertain to services provided to patients, the public, or medical profession by an advanced imaging professional, a medical imaging technologist, a radiographer, a radiation therapist, a nuclear medicine technologist, or a limited x-ray machine operator.

(c) The presenter shall submit a curriculum vitae, an abstract, the objectives, and an outline of the presentation.

(d) The objectives shall be obtainable for the time frame, outline, and scope of the presentation.

Section 4. Responsibilities and Reporting Requirements of Licensee. A licensee shall be responsible for obtaining required continuing education units and submit documents only if requested by the board. Each licensee shall maintain all documentation verifying successful completion of continuing education units for the current and prior biennium. Documentation shall include:

(1) Official transcripts for completed academic courses;

(2) A copy of the program showing an individual as a presenter of an approved continuing education program; or

(3) Completion certificates or cards for continuing education programs.

Section 5. Audit Procedures.

(1) The board shall audit a random selection of twenty-five (25) percent of limited x-ray machine operator licensees and ten (10) percent of all other licensees per year and notify the randomly-selected licensees.

(2) Each licensee selected for audit shall furnish documentation of completed continuing education units on KBMIRT Form 8, Licensee Continuing Education Documentation Form, for the identified time frame, and provide the board with a copy of the certificates or records of completion.

(3) Failure to comply with an audit may result in non-renewal, suspension or revocation of license.

Section 6. Temporary Licensees. Continuing education requirements shall not apply to the holders of a temporary license.

Section 7. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) KBMIRT Form 9, "Continuing Education Program Approval Request Form", March 2020; and

(b) KBMIRT Form 8, "Licensee Continuing Education Documentation Form", March 2020.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, 125 Holmes Street, Suite 320, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This material is also available on the board's Web site at https://kbmirt.ky.gov.

201 KAR 46:060

41 Ky.R. 2452; 42 Ky.R. 1496; eff. 11-18-2015; 43 Ky.R. 1651; eff. 7-17-2017; TAm eff. 11-30-2017; 46 Ky.R. 3003; eff. 10-28-2020; 48 Ky.R. 2509, 2966; eff. 7/20/2022.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 311B.050(2), (4), 311B.110(6)