43-17-27.1. Physician continuing education requirements

43-17-27.1. Physician continuing education requirements 1. The board shall promote a high degree of competence in the practice of medicine by establishing rules requiring every physician licensed in the state to fulfill continuing education requirements. Compliance with these rules must be documented at such times and in such manner as is required by the board. Physicians failing to comply with continuing education requirements in the time and manner specified by rule of the board will be assessed a fee up to three times the licensure fee, in addition to such other penalties as are authorized by law. 2. The board shall require physicians to complete a minimum of one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle. 3. Before a license may be renewed, the physician shall submit evidence to the board establishing that all continuing education requirements prescribed by the rules adopted by the board have been met. 4. The board may accept current certification, maintenance of certification, or recertification by a member of the American board of medical specialties, the American osteopathic association, or the royal college of physician and surgeons of Canada in lieu of compliance with continuing education requirements. 5. The board may exempt a physician from the requirements of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the board. 6. Notwithstanding subsection 1, if an individual fails to file a timely response, the board may determine whether the individual's failure to file a timely response to an audit constitutes an admission of noncompliance with this section and whether the individual's license should be subject to action by the board. If the board determines that the individual's failure to file a timely response is an admission of noncompliance and that the individual's license should be subject to action by the board, the board shall hold a hearing in accordance with chapter 28-32 to take any appropriate action. 7. The board shall provide access on the board's website to an instructional course on chapters 12.1-19.1, 14-02.1, and 14-02.6 as the chapters relate to the practice of medicine. The instructional course must be developed by contract through the office of management and budget, in consultation with and with final approval from the attorney general. This section does not create a right of action against the board by a physician acting upon reliance of the instructional course. The instructional course must be updated periodically to accurately reflect state law.