§ 1399.352. Criteria for Acceptability of Courses.

Acceptable courses and programs shall meet the following criteria:

(a) The content of the course or program shall be relevant to the scope of practice of respiratory care. Credit may be given for a course that is not directly related to clinical practice if the content of the course or program relates to any of the following:

(1) Those activities relevant to specialized aspects of respiratory care, which activities include education, supervision, and management.

(2) Health care cost containment or cost management.

(3) Preventative health services and health promotion.

(4) Required abuse reporting.

(5) Other subject matter which is directed by legislation to be included in CE for licensed healing arts practitioners.

(6) Re-certification for ACLS, NRP, PALS, and ATLS.

(7) Review and/or preparation courses for credentialing examinations provided by the National Board for Respiratory Care, excluding those courses for entry-level respiratory therapy certification.

(b) The faculty shall be knowledgeable in the subject matter as evidenced by:

(1) A degree from an accredited college or university and verifiable experience in the subject matter, or

(2) Teaching and/or clinical experience in the same or similar subject matter.

(c) Educational objectives shall be listed.

(d) The teaching methods shall be described, e.g., lecture, seminar, audio-visual, simulation.

(e) Evaluation methods shall document that the objectives have been met.

(f) Each course must be provided in accordance with this Article.

(g) Each course or provider shall hold approval from one of the entities listed in subdivision (h) from the time the course is distributed or instruction is given through the completion of the course.

(h) Each course must be provided or approved by one of the following entities. Courses that are provided by one of the following entities must be approved by the entity's president, director, or other appropriate personnel:

(1) Any post-secondary institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(2) A hospital or health-care facility licensed by the California Department of Health Services.

(3) The American Association for Respiratory Care.

(4) The California Society for Respiratory Care (and all other state societies directly affiliated with the American Association for Respiratory Care).

(5) The American Medical Association.

(6) The California Medical Association.

(7) The California Thoracic Society.

(8) The American College of Surgeons.

(9) The American College of Chest Physicians.

(10) Any entity approved or accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing or the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

(i) Course organizers shall maintain a record of attendance of participants, documentation of participant's completion, and evidence of course approval for four years.

(j) All program information by providers of CE shall state: “This course meets the requirements for CE for RCPs in California.”

(k) All course providers shall provide documentation to course participants that includes participant name, RCP number, course title, course approval identifying information, number of hours of CE, date(s), and name and address of course provider.

(l) For quarter or semester-long courses (or their equivalent) completed at any post-secondary institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education, an official transcript showing successful completion of the course accompanied by the catalog's course description shall fulfill the requirements in subdivisions (i), (j) and (k).

(m) The board may audit providers offering CE for compliance with the criteria set forth in this Article.

HISTORY

1. Amendment filed 2-23-89; operative 3-25-89 (Register 89, No. 9).

2. Amendment of subsection (a) and new subsection (i) filed 6-9-97; operative 7-9-97 (Register 97, No. 24).

3. Amendment filed 4-22-2004; operative 5-22-2004 (Register 2004, No. 17).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3719 and 3722, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 3719, Business and Professions Code.