Continuing Education

Electrology continuing education is considered to be those pre-planned/ formalized activities with written learning objectives that are directed at developing and enhancing an individual’s professional knowledge base and service delivery skills in the applicable areas of electrology. (1) Hours Required (a) Each licensed electrologist and limited license holder must annually attend and complete ten (10) clock hours of electrology related continuing education. An electrologist is exempt from acquiring continuing education hours during the calendar year the license is issued. (b) The Commissioner approves courses for only the number of hours contained in the course. The approved hours of any individual course will not be counted more than once in a calendar year toward the required hourly total regardless of the number of times the course is attended or completed by any individual licensee. (2) Acceptable Continuing Education (a) Acceptable continuing education shall consists of seminars, workshops, conferences, home study courses or mini-courses oriented to the enhancement of electrology practice and knowledge for the purpose of accomplishing specific written learning objectives which have been sanctioned by a state, regional, or national electrology association. The following constitute acceptable continuing education: 1. Attendance at educational events sponsored by national, state, regional, or local professional associations in the field, or events related to the practice of the profession for which a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education grants continuing education hours. Providers who measure continuing education activities in “continuing education units” shall define continuing education units in clock hours. 2. College level course work which is electrology-related taken for credit or audited from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education. 3. Home study courses that are endorsed by a national, state, regional, or local professional association in the field which issues a certificate of successful completion to the licensee. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING ELECTROLOGY, ELECTROLOGISTS, CHAPTER 0540-01 AND ELECTROLOGY INSTRUCTORS (b) Certificates issued for the purpose of verifying attendance and compliance of the continuing education obligation must have at least the following information: Licensee’s name, social security number, license number, total number of continuing education clock hours awarded, name of professional association endorser, program title, and date(s). (c) Continuing education credit will not be allowed for the following: 1. Regular work activities. 2. Membership, holding office in, or participation on boards or committees, business meetings of professional organizations, or banquet speeches. 3. Non-electrology course work - for example, computer, finance, or business management. (3) Course Approval. The Commissioner does not pre-approve continuing education programs. It is the licensee’s responsibility, using his professional judgment and guidelines provided within these rules, to determine whether or not the programs are applicable and appropriate to his professional development and meet the standards specified in these rules. (4) Proof of Compliance (a) The due date for attendance and completion of the required continuing education hours is at the time of submission of the renewal application. (b) Each electrologist must, on a form provided by the Registry’s administrative staff, check a box and/or enter signature which indicates attendance and completion of the required continuing education hours and that such hours were obtained during the calendar year of report. (c) Each electrologist must retain independent documentation of attendance and completion of all continuing education courses. This documentation must be retained for a period of four (4) years from the end of the calendar year in which the course is completed. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Commissioner during its verification process. (d) Acceptable documentation consists of: 1. Certification of the licensee’s attendance at continuing education program(s). The certificate must include the following: continuing education program’s sponsor, date, clock hours, awarded continuing education hours (continuing education units must be converted to clock hours), program title, licensee’s name, license number and social security number. 2. An original letter on official stationary from the continuing education program sponsor which clearly states completion of the program along with the identifying information specified in Rule 0540-01-.12(4)(e)1. (e) If a person submits continuing education documentation that is not clearly identifiable as appropriate, the Commissioner will request a written description of the training and how it applies to the practice of electrology. If the Commissioner determines that the training cannot be considered appropriate continuing education, the licensee will be GENERAL RULES GOVERNING ELECTROLOGY, ELECTROLOGISTS, CHAPTER 0540-01 AND ELECTROLOGY INSTRUCTORS given ninety (90) days to replace the hours not allowed. Those hours will be considered replacement hours and cannot be counted during the next renewal period. (5) Continuing Education for Reactivation of Retired License (a) An individual whose license has been retired for one (1) year or less will be required to fulfill continuing education requirements as outlined in this rule as a prerequisite to reactivation. Those hours will be considered replacement hours and can not be counted towards meeting the annual requirements of the following year. (b) Along with the reactivation request, any electrologist who applies for reactivation of a license which has been retired for more than one (1) year must submit proof of attendance and completion of ten (10) hours of Commissioner-approved continuing education. The electrologist who has retired his license may receive credit for courses completed during the time the license was retired provided that at least five (5) hours were completed within one (1) year preceding the application for reactivation. . (6) Continuing Education for Reinstatement of Expired License (a) A person whose license has expired may not be reinstated without complying with these requirements. (b) Continuing education requirements will accumulate at the same rate as for a license which is active. (c) An electrologist who applies for reinstatement of his expired license may receive credit for courses taken during the time the license was expired provided that at least five (5) hours were within twelve (12) months preceding application for reinstatement. (d) Continuing education hours obtained as a prerequisite for license reinstatement may not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained before the end of the calendar year of reinstatement. (7) Extension of Time to Complete or Waiver of Continuing Education Requirements (a) The Commissioner may grant an extension of the deadline to complete the annual continuing education requirements, or the Commissioner may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the annual continuing education requirements, if it can be shown that compliance is beyond the physical or mental capabilities of the person seeking the extension or waiver. (b) Extensions or waivers of the deadline will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Registry’s Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the calendar year (December 31) in which the continuing education is due: 1. A written request for an extension or waiver which specifies the deadline sought to be extended or the requirements sought to be waived, and a written and signed explanation of the reason for the request; and 2. Any documentation which supports the reason(s) for the extension or waiver request or which is subsequently requested by the Commissioner. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING ELECTROLOGY, ELECTROLOGISTS, CHAPTER 0540-01 AND ELECTROLOGY INSTRUCTORS (c) A waiver or deadline extension approved by the Commissioner is effective only for the calendar year for which either is sought. (8) Violations - Any licensee who fails to successfully complete or who falsely certifies attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing education may be subject to disciplinary action. (a) Prior to the institution of any disciplinary proceedings, a letter shall be issued to the last known address of the individual stating the facts or conduct which warrant the intended action. (b) The licensee has thirty (30) days from the date of notification to show compliance with all lawful requirements for the retention of the license. (c) Any licensee who fails to show compliance with the required continuing education hours in response to the notice contemplated by subparagraph (7) (a) above may be subject to disciplinary action. (d) Continuing education hours obtained as a result of compliance with the terms of a Commissioner’s Order in any disciplinary action shall not be credited toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained in any calendar year.