CHAPTER 222
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PODIATRISTS
645—222.1(149,272C) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Active license” means a license that 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 podiatry.
“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 an 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 include a posttest.
“License” means license to practice.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as a podiatrist in the state of Iowa.
645—222.2(149,272C) Continuing education requirements.
	222.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period beginning on July 1 of each even-numbered year and ending on June 30 of the next even-numbered year. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a podiatrist in this state shall be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education.
	222.2(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 40 hours of continuing education per biennium for each subsequent license renewal.
	222.2(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.
	222.2(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium.
	222.2(5) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.
645—222.3(149,272C) Standards.
	222.3(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 presenters;
	d. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	e. 	Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:
	(1)	Date, 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.
	222.3(2) Specific criteria.
	a. 	Licensees may obtain continuing education hours of credit by teaching in a college, university, or graduate school that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis for the first offering of a course.
	b. 	Continuing education hours of credit may be obtained by completing the following programs/activities of a podiatric scientific nature and sponsored by an accredited college of podiatric medicine or the American Podiatric Medical Association or a regional or state affiliate or nonprofit hospital that are:
	(1)	Educational activities in which participants and faculty are present at the same time and attendance can be verified. Such activities include lectures, conferences, focused seminars, clinical and practical workshops, simultaneous live satellite broadcasts and teleconferences;
	(2)	Scientifically oriented material or risk management activities.
	c. 	If the podiatrist utilizes conscious sedation, the podiatrist shall obtain a minimum of one hour of continuing education in the area of conscious sedation or other related topics.
	d. 	Combined maximum per biennium of 20 hours for the following continuing education source areas shall not exceed:
	(1)	Presenting professional programs which meet the criteria listed in this subrule. Two hours of credit will be awarded for each hour of presentation. A course schedule or brochure must be maintained for audit.
	(2)	Ten hours of credit for viewing videotaped presentations if the following criteria are met:
	1.	There is an approved sponsoring group or agency;
	2.	There is a facilitator or program official present;
	3.	The program official is not the only attendee; and
	4.	The program meets all the criteria in 645—222.3(149,272C).
	(3)	Ten hours of credit for computer-assisted instructional courses or programs pertaining to patient care and the practice of podiatric medicine and surgery. These courses and programs must be approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association or its affiliates and have a certificate of completion that includes the following information:
	1.	Date course/program was completed;
	2.	Title of course/program;
	3.	Number of course/program contact hours; and
	4.	Official signature or verification of course/program sponsor.
	(4)	Five hours of credit for reading journal articles pertaining to patient care and the practice of podiatric medicine and surgery. The licensee must pass a required posttest and be provided with a certificate of completion.
	e. 	No office management courses will be accepted by the board.
	f. 	Continuing education hours of credit equivalents for academic coursework per biennium are as follows:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours
	g. 	Credit is given only for actual hours attended.
[ARC 1420C, IAB 4/16/14, effective 5/21/14]
645—222.4(149,272C) Audit of continuing education report. Rescinded IAB 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08.
645—222.5(149,272C) Automatic exemption. Rescinded IAB 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08.
645—222.6(272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08.
645—222.7(149,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. Rescinded IAB 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08.
645—222.8(272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 8/3/05, effective 9/7/05.
645—222.9(272C) Reinstatement of inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 8/3/05, effective 9/7/05.
645—222.10(272C) Hearings. Rescinded IAB 8/3/05, effective 9/7/05.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.2 and chapter 149.
[Filed 2/1/01, Notice 11/1/00—published 2/21/01, effective 3/28/01]
[Filed 1/17/02, Notice 10/31/01—published 2/6/02, effective 3/13/02]
[Filed 10/10/03, Notice 8/6/03—published 10/29/03, effective 12/3/03]
[Filed 7/12/05, Notice 5/11/05—published 8/3/05, effective 9/7/05]◊
[Filed 10/17/08, Notice 8/13/08—published 11/5/08, effective 12/10/08]
[Filed ARC 1420C (Notice ARC 1199C, IAB 11/27/13), IAB 4/16/14, effective 5/21/14]
◊	Two or more ARCs