Section 18.610. Continuing education for licensed perfusionists

(a) Credit hour requirements. A licensed perfusionist shall satisfy the following continuing education credit hour requirements.

(1) As a condition for biennial registration, a licensee shall complete at least 30 hours of continuing education applicable to the practice of perfusion, including at least 10 hours of category I continuing education. A licensee is not required to complete continuing education during the biennium in which the licensee is first licensed.

(2) Except when reactivating an inactive license, when the Board has granted a waiver or when ordered by the Board, continuing education credits may be used to satisfy the continuing education credit hour requirements only for the biennial period in which the credits were earned. An hour of continuing education may not be used to satisfy the requirement of paragraph (1) for more than 1 biennium.

(3) A licensee may request a waiver of the continuing education credit hour requirements because of serious illness, military service or other demonstrated hardship by submitting a request for waiver with supporting documentation to the Board at least 90 days prior to the end of the biennial registration period for which the waiver is sought. The Board may grant the waiver request in whole or in part and may extend the deadline by which the credit hour requirements shall be met.

(4) A licensee may be subject to disciplinary sanction as provided in section 41 of the act (63 P. S. § 422.41), including the suspension or revocation of the license, imposition of a civil penalty or other corrective measure as determined by the Board if the licensee either submits false information to the Board regarding completion of the continuing education credit hour requirements to complete biennial registration or fails to complete the continuing education hour requirements and practices as a perfusionist after the end of the biennial period.

(b) Documentation of continuing education. Continuing education shall be documented in the following manner.

(1) Proof of attendance at an ABCP-approved perfusion meeting consists of a certified record issued by the provider, including:

(i) The name of the participant.

(ii) The name of the provider.

(iii) The date or dates of the course.

(iv) The name of the course.

(v) The number of hours of continuing education credit.

(2) Proof of a perfusion-related publication consists of the complete citation reference to the book, chapter or paper in a professional publication.

(3) Proof of presentation at an ABCP-approved or international perfusion meeting consists of a copy of the program agenda.

(4) Proof of participation in an ABCP knowledge base survey consists of a letter from ABCP.

(5) Proof of reading or viewing medical journals, audio-visual or other educational materials consists of a list of the complete citation reference for the materials read or reviewed.

(6) Proof of participation in a perfusion-related self-study module or electronic forum consists of a copy of the printed completion document supplied by the provider.

(7) Proof of participation in a perfusion-related journal club consists of the meeting agenda with topic and date.

(8) Proof of completion of an academic course consists of a copy of the official college or university transcript.

(9) Proof of presentation of a perfusion topic at a meeting that is not approved by ABCP consists of a copy of the meeting agenda.

(10) Proof of participation as a clinical or didactic instructor in an accredited program consists of a letter of confirmation of the instructor’s status from the program director.

(11) Proof of participation in a site visitors’ workshop or as an official site visitor consists of a letter from ABCP.

(c) Proof of completion of continuing education. A licensee shall retain proof of completion of continuing education for 5 years after completion of the continuing education or after the completion of the biennial registration period for which the continuing education was required, whichever is later.

(d) Verification of compliance. The Board may audit licensees to verify compliance with continuing education requirements. A licensee shall submit proof of continuing education activities upon request by the Board.

(e) Continuing education activities. Credit for continuing education may be earned in the following activities.

(1) Category I continuing education may be earned by:

(i) Attendance at an ABCP-approved perfusion meeting. One continuing education credit may be earned for each hour of continuing education.

(ii) Publication of a perfusion-related book, chapter or paper in a professional publication. Five continuing education credits may be earned for each publication.

(iii) Presentation at an ABCP-approved or international, National, regional, state or local perfusion meeting. Five continuing education credits may be earned for each presentation. Two credits may be earned for each poster presentation or exhibit.

(iv) Completion of an ABCP knowledge base survey. Five continuing education hours may be earned for completing the continuing education activity. The activity may only be counted for credit once in a biennial period.

(2) In addition to category I, continuing education may also be earned by:

(i) Reading or viewing medical journals, audio-visual or other educational materials. One continuing education credit may be earned for each medical journal, audio-visual or other educational material read or viewed with a maximum of ten credits biennially.

(ii) Participation in perfusion-related self-study modules or electronic forums. One continuing education credit may be earned for each 50- to 60-minute period of the activity with a maximum of ten credits biennially.

(iii) Participation in a perfusion-related journal club. One continuing education credit may be earned for each 50- to 60-minute period of the activity, with a maximum of ten credits biennially.

(iv) Completion of a science or health care-related academic course at a regionally accredited college or university. One continuing education credit may be earned biennially.

(v) Presentation of a perfusion topic at a meeting that is not approved by ABCP. One continuing education credit may be earned biennially.

(vi) Working as a clinical or didactic instructor in an accredited school of perfusion. Two continuing education credits may be earned for teaching a single course with a maximum of four credits biennially.

(vii) Participation in a site visitors’ workshop or as an official site visitor for perfusion program accreditation. Five continuing education credits may be earned for participation in a site visitor’s workshop or as an official site visitor for perfusion program accreditation. The activity may only be counted for credit once in a biennial period.

(3) Continuing education credit may not be earned in a course in office management.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.607 (relating to biennial registration of perfusionist license); and 49 Pa. Code § 18.608 (relating to inactivate and expired status of perfusionist license; reactivation of inactive or expired license).