(a)
The board shall establish standards for continuing education for acupuncturists.
(b)
The board shall require each acupuncturist to complete 50 hours of continuing education every two years as a condition for renewal of his or her license. No more than five hours of continuing education in each two-year period may be spent on issues unrelated to clinical matters or the actual provision of health care to patients. A provider of continuing education shall apply to the board for approval to offer continuing education courses for credit toward this requirement on a form developed by the board, shall pay a fee covering the cost of approval and for the monitoring of the provider by the board and shall set forth the following information on the application:
(1)
Course content.
(2)
Test criteria.
(3)
Hours of continuing education credit requested for the course.
(4)
Experience and training of instructors.
(5)
Other information as required by the board.
(6)
That interpreters or bilingual instruction will be made available, when necessary.
(c)
Licensees residing out of state or out of the country shall comply with the continuing education requirements.
(d)
Providers of continuing education shall be monitored by the board as determined by the board.
(e)
If the board determines that any acupuncturist has not obtained the required number of hours of continuing education, it may renew the acupuncturist’s license and require that the deficient hours of continuing education be made up during the following renewal period in addition to the current continuing education required for that period. If any acupuncturist fails to make up the deficient hours and complete the current requirement of hours of continuing education during the subsequent renewal period, then his or her license to practice acupuncture shall not be renewed until all the required hours are completed and documented to the board.