R156-16a-304. Continuing Education

  In accordance with Section 58-16a-304, the standards for the 30 hours of qualified continuing professional education are as follows:

  (1) Except for the special courses and volunteer hours described in Subsections R156-16a-304(2), (3) and (4), all qualified continuing professional education must be:

  (a) courses approved by the Council on Professional Education (COPE); or

  (b) optometry-related courses approved by the Council on Medical Education.

  (2) A maximum of two hours of continuing professional education may be courses in certification or recertification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BCLS).

  (3) A maximum of two hours of continuing professional education may come from the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing for training regarding the use of the Utah Controlled Substance Database.

  (4) Licensees may fulfill up to 15% of their continuing education requirement by providing volunteer services within the scope of their license at a qualified location, in accordance with Section 58-13-3. For every four documents hours of volunteer services, the licensee may earn one hour of continuing education.

  (5) Qualified continuing professional education hours for licensees who have not been licensed for the entire two-year renewal cycle will be prorated from the date of licensure.

  (6) A licensee shall maintain competent records of completed qualified continuing professional education for a period of four years after close of the two-year licensure period to which the records pertain. It is the responsibility of the licensee to demonstrate that their continuing professional education meets the requirements of this section.

  (7) Hours in excess of the 30 hours obtained in one two-year licensure cycle cannot be transferred to the next renewal cycle.

  (8) A licensee who has a serious health problem or who has left the United States for an extended period of time, which may prevent the licensee from being able to comply with the professional continuing education requirements established under this section, may be excused from completing some or all of the requirements established under this section by submitting a written request to the Division and receiving Division approval.

  (9) Additional continuing professional education hours required for controlled substance prescribers shall be in accordance with Section 58-37-6.5 and Section R156-37-402.