CHAPTER 328
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
645—328.1(148C) 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 physician assistants.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts 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.
“License” means license to practice.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as a physician assistant in the state of Iowa.
645—328.2(148C) Continuing education requirements.
	328.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period beginning on October 1 of each year and ending on September 30 two years later. Each biennium, each licensee shall be required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of continuing education approved by the board.
	328.2(2) Requirements of 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. The new licensee will be required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of continuing education per biennium for each subsequent license renewal.
	328.2(3) 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.
645—328.3(148C,272C) Standards.
	328.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity 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;
	d. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	e. 	Provides an individual certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the course sponsor. This documentation must contain the course title, date(s), contact hours, sponsor and licensee’s name.
	328.3(2) Specific criteria. Continuing education requirements are as follows:
	a. 	The licensee shall complete a minimum of 50 hours of credit designated as Category I by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association Council on Continuing Medical Education, the American Academy of Family Physicians or other organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
	b. 	For the remaining 50 hours of required continuing medical education (CME), Category I or Category II credit, as accepted by the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA), shall satisfy the CME requirements. In case of audit, licensees shall provide evidence of NCCPA certification during the time period being audited or an activity log for all Category II credits for which a certificate of completion is not available. The activity log shall list for each activity the date and type of activity and number of hours claimed per activity.
	c. 	Licensees who maintain certification by the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA) may show proof of meeting the board’s CME requirements by providing proof of current certification by the NCCPA for the time period being reviewed or audited.
[ARC 9517B, IAB 5/18/11, effective 6/22/11]
645—328.4(148C,272C) Audit of continuing education report. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—328.5(148C,272C) Automatic exemption. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—328.6(148C,272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—328.7(148C,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—328.8(148C) Continuing education exemption for inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 8/17/05, effective 9/21/05.
645—328.9(148C) Reinstatement of inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 8/17/05, effective 9/21/05.
645—328.10(272C) Hearings. Rescinded IAB 8/17/05, effective 9/21/05.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.2 and chapter 148C.
[Filed 1/19/01, Notice 11/15/00—published 2/7/01, effective 3/14/01]
[Filed 7/19/02, Notice 4/3/02—published 8/7/02, effective 9/11/02]
[Filed emergency 7/18/03—published 8/6/03, effective 7/18/03]
[Filed 7/21/05, Notice 5/11/05—published 8/17/05, effective 9/21/05]
[Filed 1/20/06, Notice 11/9/05—published 2/15/06, effective 3/22/06]
[Filed 10/19/07, Notice 8/15/07—published 11/7/07, effective 12/12/07]
[Filed 7/17/08, Notice 5/7/08—published 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08]
[Filed ARC 9517B (Notice ARC 9360B, IAB 2/9/11), IAB 5/18/11, effective 6/22/11]