Standards for Continuing Education

A Continuing Education activity may be used to satisfy the Continuing Education requirements set forth in 105 CMR 803.300 only if it contributes directly to the professional competence of a Certified Health Officer and meets all of the applicable standards set forth in 105 CMR 803.310. (1) Amount of Credit Earned. (a) 50 consecutive clock minutes is equivalent to one Contact Hour. (b) A Certified Health Officer is required to complete a total of 12 Contact Hours for each calendar year. (2) Provider Standards. (a) Learner Objectives shall be written and be the basis for determining content, learning experience, teaching methodologies, and Evaluation. (b) Subject matter description shall include learner Objectives, content, time allotment, teaching methods, faculty, and Evaluation format. (c) Learning experiences and teaching methods should be appropriate to achieve the Objectives of the Program. (d) Principles of adult education should be used in the design of the Program. (e) Time allotted for each activity should be sufficient for the learner to meet the Objectives of the Program. (f) Facilities and educational resources should be adequate to implement the Programs. (g) Faculty should possess knowledge of the principles of adult education and should provide documentation to the Provider/learner illustrating competency in the content of the planned learning experience. (3) Evaluation. Provision must be made for evaluating the participant’s attainment of the stated learner Objectives or outcomes. Participants must be given the opportunity to evaluate faculty, learning experiences, instructional methods, facilities, and educational resources used for the Programs. (4) Records. Records of completed Programs shall be kept by the Provider for a period of four years. Records should include content, Objectives, outline of offering, faculty qualifications, teaching methods and materials, Evaluation tools and data, and a list of participants. 803.310: continued (5) Subject Matter. (a) Appropriate subject matter for Continuing Education purposes shall include, but shall not be limited to, one or more of the following: 1. Public health management, administration, and leadership; 2. Social, economic, political, or legal aspects of public health; 3. Public health science and practice; 4. Public health education; 5. Research in public health; 6. Public health and consumer education; 7. Health and racial equity; 8. Emergency preparedness; 9. Community health and disease prevention; 10. Subject matter which improves competency and is not specified on this list. (b) Effective January 1, 2023, a minimum of six Contact Hours of each certification period shall pertain to subject matters in public health administration, management, or leadership. (6) Methods of Obtaining Contact Hours. Continuing Education Contact Hours shall be obtained as follows: (a) By attending workshops, lectures, and seminars in accordance with 105 CMR 803.300 and 105 CMR 803.310; or (b) By completing an academic course within the framework of a curriculum that leads to an academic degree in public health or any course within that curriculum necessary to an individual’s professional growth and development as a Certified Health Officer; or (c) By completing a self-study or correspondence course. The course should: 1. be developed by a professional group such as an educational corporation or professional association; 2. follow logical sequence; 3. involve the learner by requiring active response to module materials and providing feedback; 4. contain a test to indicate progress and verify completion of module; and 5. supply a bibliography for continued study; or (d) By teaching a particular academic course, seminar series, or workshop in the field of public health for the first time; or (e) By delivering a paper or lecture in the field of public health; or (f) By publishing an article in a peer-reviewed professional or scientific journal or a book in the field of public health. (7) As provided in 105 CMR 803.310(6), first time teaching of an academic course, seminar series, workshop, or publishing of a book may be considered for up to nine Contact Hours; a published article may be considered the equivalent of up to five Contact Hours; and a lecture or paper may be considered the equivalent of up to three Contact Hours. (8) Employee orientation or in-service training presentations concerning standard operating procedures specific to the employing agency or entity shall not be accepted for Continuing Education purposes.