CHAPTER 82
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR DIETITIANS
[Prior to 6/26/02, see 645—Ch 81]
645—82.1(152A) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Active license” means the license is current and has not expired.
“Approved program/activity” means a continuing education program/activity meeting the standards set forth in these rules.
“Audit” means the selection of licensees for verification of satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements during a specified time period.
“Board” means the board of dietetic examiners.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts acquired during licensure designed to maintain, improve, or expand a licensee’s knowledge and skills in order for the licensee to develop new knowledge and skills relevant to the enhancement of practice, education, or theory development to improve the safety and welfare of the public.
“Hour of continuing education” means at least 50 minutes spent by a licensee in actual attendance at and completion of approved continuing education activity.
“Inactive license” means a license that has expired because it was not renewed by the end of the grace period. The category of “inactive license” may include licenses formerly known as lapsed, inactive, delinquent, closed, or retired.
“Independent study” means a subject/program/activity that a person pursues autonomously that meets standards for approval criteria in the rules and includes a posttest.
“License” means license to practice.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as a dietitian in the state of Iowa.
645—82.2(152A) Continuing education requirements.
	82.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period beginning on the sixteenth day of the licensee’s birth month and ending on the fifteenth day of the birth month two years later. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a dietitian in this state shall be required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education approved by the board.
	82.2(2) Requirements for new licensees. Those persons licensed for the first time shall not be required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the first renewal of their licenses. Continuing education hours acquired anytime from the initial licensing until the second license renewal may be used. The new licensee will be required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education per biennium for each subsequent license renewal.
	82.2(3) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity. These hours must be in accordance with these rules.
	82.2(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium except as stated for the second renewal. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.
	82.2(5) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
645—82.3(152A,272C) Standards.
	82.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:
	a. 	Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;
	b. 	Pertains to subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of the profession;
	c. 	Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of the presenters;
	d. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	e. 	Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:
	(1)	Date(s), location, course title, presenter(s);
	(2)	Number of program contact hours; and
	(3)	Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor.
	82.3(2) Specific criteria.
	a. 	Continuing education hours of credit may be obtained by completing programs/activities that reflect the educational needs of the dietitian and the nutritional needs of the consumer. Continuing education programs/activities that are scientifically founded and offered at a level beyond entry-level dietetics for professional growth shall be accepted for continuing education.
	b. 	The licensee shall participate in other types of activities identified in the individual licensee’s professional development portfolio for Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) certification. Programs or activities shall be subject to approval in the event of an audit.
	c. 	The following areas are appropriate for continuing education credit:
	(1)	Sciences related to dietetic practice, education, or research including biological sciences, food and resource management and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain people’s health.
	(2)	Dietetic practice related to assessment, counseling, teaching, or care of clients in any setting.
	(3)	Management or quality assurance of nutritional care delivery systems.
	(4)	Dietetic practice related to community health needs.
	d. 	Criteria for hours of credit are as follows:
	(1)	Academic coursework. Coursework for credit must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. In order for the licensee to receive continuing education credit, the coursework must be beyond entry-level dietetics.
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours
	(2)	Scholarly publications. Publication may be approved if submitted in published form in the continuing education documentation file of the licensee. All publications must appear in refereed professional journals. Material related to work responsibilities, such as diet and staff manuals, and publications for the lay public are unacceptable. Continuing education credit hours may be reported using the following guidelines:

1. Senior author: first of two or more authors listed.	
2. Coauthor: second of two authors listed.	
3. Contributing author: all but senior of the three or more authors.	
4. Research papers:	
● Single author	10 hours	
● Senior author	8 hours	
● Coauthor	5 hours	
● Contributing author	3 hours	
5. Technical articles:	
● Single author	5 hours	
● Senior author	4 hours	
● Coauthor	3 hours	
● Contributing author	2 hours	
6. Information-sharing articles:	1 hour	
7. Abstracts:	
● Senior author	2 hours	
● Coauthor	1 hour	
	(3)	Poster sessions. Continuing education credit may be obtained for attending juried poster sessions at national meetings that meet the criteria for appropriate subject matter as required in these rules. One hour of continuing education credit is allowed for each 12 posters reviewed not to exceed six hours in a continuing education biennium.
	(4)	Presenters. Presenters may receive continuing education credit. Presentations to the lay public shall not receive credit for continuing education. For each 50-minute hour of presentation, two hours of credit for continuing education shall be earned. Presenters of poster sessions at national professional meetings shall receive a maximum of two hours of credit per topic. A copy of the abstract or manuscript and documentation of the peer review process must be included in the licensee’s documentation list.
	(5)	Staff development training. Staff development training that meets the criteria in this subrule shall be credited on the basis of the defined hour of continuing education stated in these rules.
645—82.4(152A,272C) Audit of continuing education report. After each educational biennium, the board may audit licensees to review compliance with continuing education requirements.
	82.4(1) The board may audit a percentage of its licensees and may, at its discretion, determine to audit a licensee. A licensee whose license renewal application is submitted during the grace period may be subject to a continuing education audit.
	82.4(2) The licensee shall provide the following information to the board for auditing purposes:
	a. 	Date and location of course, course title, course description, course outline, course schedule, names and qualifications of instructors/speakers and method of presentation; or a program brochure which includes all the information required in this paragraph;
	b. 	Number of contact hours for program attended; and
	c. 	Individual certificate of completion issued to the licensee or evidence of successful completion of the course from the course sponsor.
	d. 	For other professional development activities identified in the licensee’s CDR portfolio, the licensee shall provide a brief narrative of the learning plan objective, the completed activity and the hours accrued.
	82.4(3) For auditing purposes, all licensees must retain the above information for two years after the biennium has ended.
	82.4(4) Information identified in subrule 82.4(2) must be submitted within one month after the date of notification of the audit. Extension of time may be granted on an individual basis.
	82.4(5) If the submitted materials are incomplete or unsatisfactory, the licensee may be given the opportunity to submit make-up credit to cover the deficit found through the audit if the board determines that the deficiency was the result of good-faith conduct on the part of the licensee. The deadline for receipt of the documentation for this make-up credit is within 120 days from the date of mailing to the address of record at the board office.
	82.4(6) Failure to notify the board of a current mailing address will not absolve the licensee from the audit requirement, and an audit must be completed before license renewal.
645—82.5(152A,272C) Automatic exemption. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirement during the license biennium when that person:
	1.	Served honorably on active duty in the military service; or
	2.	Resided in another state or district having continuing education requirements for the profession and met all requirements of that state or district for practice therein; or
	3.	Was a government employee working in the licensee’s specialty and assigned to duty outside the United States; or
	4.	Was absent from the state but engaged in active practice under circumstances which are approved by the board.
645—82.6(152A,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. The board may take formal disciplinary action on the following grounds:
	82.6(1) Failure to cooperate with a board audit.
	82.6(2) Failure to meet the continuing education requirement for licensure.
	82.6(3) Falsification of information on the license renewal form.
	82.6(4) Falsification of continuing education information.
645—82.7(152A,272C) Continuing education waiver for active practitioners. Rescinded IAB 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05.
645—82.8(152A,272C) Continuing education exemption for inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05.
645—82.9(152A,272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. A licensee who has had a physical or mental disability or illness during the license period may apply for an exemption. An exemption provides for an extension of time or exemption from some or all of the continuing education requirements. Applicants shall submit a completed application form approved by the board for an exemption. The application form is available upon request from the board office. The application requires the signature of a licensed health care professional who can attest to the existence of a disability or illness during the license period. If the application is from a licensee who is the primary caregiver to a relative who is ill or disabled and needs care from that primary caregiver, the physician shall verify status as the primary caregiver. A licensee who applies for an exemption shall be notified of the decision regarding the application. A licensee who obtains approval shall retain a copy of the exemption to be presented to the board upon request.
	82.9(1) The board may grant an extension of time to fulfill the continuing education requirement.
	82.9(2) The board may grant an exemption from the continuing education requirement for any period of time not to exceed two calendar years. If the physical or mental disability or illness for which an extension or exemption was granted continues beyond the period initially approved by the board, the licensee must reapply for a continuance of the extension or exemption.
	82.9(3) The board may, as a condition of any extension or exemption granted, require the licensee to make up a portion of the continuing education requirement in the manner determined by the board.
645—82.10(152A,272C) Reinstatement of inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05.
645—82.11(272C) Hearings. Rescinded IAB 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.2 and chapter 152A.
[Filed 10/13/00, Notice 8/23/00—published 11/1/00, effective 12/6/00]
[Filed 8/30/01, Notice 5/30/01—published 9/19/01, effective 10/24/01]
[Filed 6/7/02, Notice 4/3/02—published 6/26/02, effective 7/31/02]
[Filed 6/15/05, Notice 3/30/05—published 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05]
[Filed 12/2/05, Notice 10/12/05—published 1/4/06, effective 2/8/06]