Rule 24.177.2105 - CONTINUING EDUCATION(1) Licensees are required to obtain eight hours of continuing education (CE) annually, prior to renewal.(2) Continuing education requirements will not apply until after the licensee's first renewal.(3) Licensees are responsible for selecting quality programs that focus on protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public and contribute to licensees' professional knowledge and competence. Acceptable CE activities:(a) directly relate to the licensee's scope of practice as defined in board statute or rule;(b) review existing concepts and techniques;(c) convey information beyond the basic professional education;(d) update knowledge on the practice and advances in the profession; or(e) reinforce professional conduct or ethical obligations of the licensee.(4) The department may randomly audit up to 50 percent of renewed licensees in each odd-numbered year.(5) Licensees must establish and maintain detailed records of completed CE in the form of programs and certificates of attendance for three years and make the records available upon board request.(6) Any CE hours required by disciplinary order do not apply towards the eight hours that are required annually under this rule.(7) A licensee may request an exemption from CE requirements due to hardship. Requests will be considered by the department.(8) Licensees found to be in noncompliance with CE requirements may be subject to administrative suspension.Mont. Admin. r. 24.177.2105
NEW, 1997 MAR p. 38, Eff. 1/17/97; AMD, 1998 MAR p. 460, Eff. 2/13/98; AMD, 2001 MAR p. 344, Eff. 2/23/01; AMD, 2004 MAR p. 75, Eff. 10/17/03; TRANS, from Commerce, 2005 MAR p. 380; AMD, 2009 MAR p. 2153, Eff. 11/13/09; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 1526, Eff. 7/27/12; AMD, 2014 MAR p. 2835, Eff. 11/21/14; AMD, 2016 MAR p. 1697, Eff. 9/24/2016; AMD, 2018 MAR p. 443, Eff. 2/24/2018; AMD, 2020 MAR p. 904, Eff. 5/16/2020; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 1882, Eff. 7/27/2024AUTH: 37-1-131, 37-1-319, MCA; IMP: 37-1-131, 37-1-306, 37-1-319, 37-1-321, MCA