N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-9.20

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

Section 13:35-9.20 - Continuing professional education requirements

(a) For purposes of this section, "contact hour" means at least 50 minutes of instruction.

(b) The provisions of this section shall apply to all acupuncturists applying for biennial license renewal except those seeking renewal for the first time.

(c) No license renewal shall be issued by the Board unless the acupuncturist confirms on the renewal application that he or she completed at least 26 hours of continuing education detailed in (d) below and holds current certification in CPR, first aid, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) from courses offered by the American Heart Association or a substantially similar course approved or offered by the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, Coyne First Aid, Inc., the American Safety and Health Institute, EMP International Inc., or EMS Safety Services Inc.

(d) Credit for continuing professional education shall be granted as follows for each biennial period:

1. Publishing in a national professional journal, an article related to the practice of acupuncture: three continuing education hours per article, up to 13 hours;

2. Attending seminars and conferences related to the practice of acupuncture: one continuing education hour per contact hour;

3. Successfully completing graduate course work related to the practice of acupuncture taken beyond that required for a professional license in a college or university that is regionally accredited or accredited by the ACAOM: one continuing education hour per credit hour;

4. Teaching new courses or seminars related to the practice of acupuncture. "New" means that the acupuncturist has never taught or developed curriculum for that seminar or lecture in any educational setting: one continuing education hour per contact hour, up to 13 hours;

5. Acting as a clinical supervisor in an acupuncture program that meets the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:35-9.4(e): one continuing education hour per each 15 hours of supervision, up to 10 hours;

6. Successfully completing a continuing education course that has been approved by NCCAOM or by boards or committees regulating acupuncture in other states: one continuing education hour for each contact hour;

7. Successfully completing a distance learning course approved by NCCAOM: one continuing education hour for each contact hour, up to 13 hours;

8. Successfully completing continuing education courses or programs that are pre-approved by the Board pursuant to (e) below: one continuing education hour for each contact hour; and

9. Successfully completing a course that an acupuncturist submits for approval to the Board pursuant to (f) below, one continuing education hour for each contact hour.

(e) Sponsors of continuing education programs or courses seeking Board approval shall obtain Board approval every biennial period prior to representing that any course, program or seminar fulfills the requirements of (c) above and shall:

1. At least 90 days prior to the commencement of the course, submit the following for each course, program or seminar offered for evaluation by the Board:

i. A detailed descriptive outline of course content and estimated hours of instruction; and

ii. The curriculum vitae of each lecturer, including specific background information, which qualifies the individual as a lecturer in the area of instruction;

2. Monitor the attendance at each approved course, program or seminar and furnish to each enrollee a written verification of attendance, which shall include at least the following information:

i. The title, date and location of the course, program or seminar offering;

ii. The name and license number of the attendee;

iii. The hours of instruction provided; and

iv. The name and signature of the sponsor and the seal of the organization;

3. Evaluate course offerings. Evaluations shall be solicited from both the attendees and the instructors; and

4. Submit a fee pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:35-9.8(a)11 for each submission of new courses, programs or seminars reviewed by the Board during the biennial licensing period.

(f) An acupuncturist may apply to the Board for approval of a course that does not meet the requirements of (d)2, 3, 6, 7 or 8 above. The acupuncturist shall submit to the Board the title, date and location of the course, program or seminar for which approval is being sought and the information required of a continuing professional education provider pursuant to (e)1 above.

(g) The Board may perform audits on randomly selected acupuncturists to determine compliance with continuing education requirements. An acupuncturist shall maintain the following documentation for a period of four years after completion of the hours and shall submit such documentation to the Board upon request:

1. For publication of an article: the published item, including the date of publication;

2. For attendance at seminars and conferences or completion of continuing education courses: a certificate of completion from the provider;

3. For completion of graduate course work: an official transcript;

4. For teaching a course or seminar: documentation, including a copy of the curriculum, location, date and time of course or seminar, duration of course or seminar by hour and letter from provider confirming that the acupuncturist taught the course or seminar; and

5. For clinical supervision: documentation signed by the director of the acupuncture program indicating the number of hours of clinical supervision the acupuncturist provided.

(h) An acupuncturist who completes more than the minimum continuing education hours set forth in (b) above, in any biennial license renewal period, may carry over the additional hours to the immediately succeeding biennial license renewal period.

(i) The Board may waive continuing education requirements on an individual basis for reasons of hardship, such as illness, disability, active service in the military, or other good cause. An acupuncturist who seeks a waiver of the continuing education requirements shall apply to the Board in writing at least 90 days prior to license renewal and set forth in specific detail the reasons for requesting the waiver. The acupuncturist shall provide the Board with such supplemental materials as will support the request for waiver. A waiver of continuing education requirements granted pursuant to this subsection shall be effective only for the biennial period in which such waiver is granted. If the condition(s) that necessitated the waiver continue into the next biennial period, an acupuncturist shall apply to the Board for the renewal of such waiver for the new biennial period.

(j) The Board may direct or order an acupuncturist to successfully complete continuing education credits:

1. As part of a disciplinary or remedial measure in addition to the required credits of continuing education; or

2. To correct a deficiency in the acupuncturist's continuing education requirements.

(k) Any continuing education credits completed by the acupuncturist in compliance with an order or directive from the Board as set forth in (i) above shall not be used to satisfy the minimum continuing education requirements as set forth in this section.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-9.20

Amended by R.1999 d.356, effective 10/18/1999.
See: 31 N.J.R. 1742(a), 31 N.J.R. 3117(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2005 d.120, effective 4/18/2005.
See: 36 N.J.R. 4633(a), 37 N.J.R. 1203(a).
In (a), substituted "certificate" for "registration"; in (b), substituted "biennial period" for "two calendar years" preceding "preceding application" and substituted "certificate" for "registration" and "license" in the first and second sentences respectively in the introductory paragraph; in (c), substituted "certificate" for "license" in 3; .in (e), substituted "certificate" for "registration".
Recodified from N.J.A.C. 13:35-9.17 and amended by R.2010 d.101, effective 6/21/2010.
See: 41 N.J.R. 2617(a), 42 N.J.R. 1216(a).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2014 d.066, effective 4/21/2014.
See: 45 N.J.R. 729(a), 45 N.J.R. 1589(a), 46 N.J.R. 695(b).
In (b), (c), (d)3, (h), and (i), substituted "license" for "certificate"; in (d)3, inserted "a" preceding "professional", and substituted "ACAOM" for "Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)"; in (h), substituted "30" for "20"; and in (i), inserted a comma following "military", and substituted "that" for ", which".
Amended by R.2022 d.012, effective 1/18/2022.
See: 51 N.J.R. 1664(a), 54 N.J.R. 152(a).
Rewrote (c); in (d)1, (d)4, and (d)7, substituted "13" for "15"; and rewrote (h).