Continuing Education

All persons licensed as a clinical perfusionist must comply with the following continuing education rules as a prerequisite to licensure renewal. (1) Continuing Education - Hours Required (a) All licensed clinical perfusionists must complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Committee and Board every calendar year (January 1-December 31). (b) Three (3) hours of the fifteen (15) hour requirement must be ABCP Category I courses. (c) Continuing education for new licensees - For new licensees, submitting proof of successful completion of all education and training requirements required for licensure in Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 0880-11-.05, shall be considered proof of sufficient preparatory education to constitute continuing education credit for the calendar year in which such education and training requirements were completed. (d) The Committee and Board approve a course 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. (e) The Committee and/or Board may waive or otherwise modify the requirements of this rule in cases where there is retirement, or an illness, disability or other undue hardship that prevents a licensee from obtaining the requisite number of continuing education hours. Requests for waivers or modification must be sent in writing to the Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the renewal period in which the continuing education is due. (2) Continuing Education - Proof of Compliance (a) The due date for completion of the required continuing education is December 31 st of every calendar year. (b) All clinical perfusionists must, on the license renewal form, enter a signature, electronic or otherwise, which indicates completion of the required continuing education hours and that such hours were obtained during the applicable calendar years. (c) All clinical perfusionists must retain independent documentation of completion of all continuing education hours. This documentation must be retained for a period of four (4) years from the end of the renewal period in which the continuing education was GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-11 THE PRACTICE OF CLINICAL PERFUSIONISTS acquired. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Division during its verification process. Documentation verifying the licensed individual’s completion of the continuing education program(s) may consist of any one or more of the following: 1. Certificates from the continuing education program’s sponsor, indicating the date, length in minutes awarded (continuing education units must be converted to clock hours), program title, licensed individual’s name, license number and social security number; or 2. An original letter on official stationery from the continuing education program’s sponsor indicating date, length in minutes awarded (continuing education units must be converted to clock hours), program title, licensed individual’s name, license number and social security number. (d) If a person submits documentation for continuing education that is not clearly identifiable as appropriate continuing education, the Committee and/or Board will request a written description of the education and how it applies to the practice as a clinical perfusionist. (3) Acceptable continuing education - To be utilized for satisfaction of the continuing education requirements of this rule, the continuing education program must be approved in content, structure and format by either the ABCP, the AMA or the TMA or any other AMA recognized medical specialty certification organization. If the continuing education is not approved or sponsored by the ABCP, the content and structure must be as strict as the standards utilized by the ABCP in approving or sponsoring continuing education. (4) Violations (a) Any clinical perfusionist who falsely attests to completion of the required hours of continuing education may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to Rule 0880-11- .15. (b) Any clinical perfusionist who fails to obtain the required continuing education hours may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to Rule 0880-11-.15 and may not be allowed to renew licensure. (c) Education hours obtained as a result of compliance with the terms of Committee and/or Board Orders in any disciplinary action shall not be credited toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained in any calendar year.