Section 12.44.610. Continuing education requirements.

	(a)  Except as provided in (d) of this section, the board will accept continuing education toward fulfillment of the continuing competency requirements set out in 12 AAC 44.600 if the applicant documents  
		(1) completion of at least 30 contact hours of continuing education for renewal of a license, during the two years before the licensing period for which the applicant seeks renewal; the applicant shall earn at least 20 of the contact hours in a continuing education program provided  
			(A) under the accreditation standards established or followed by one of the following organizations:  
				(i) American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC);  
				(ii) Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME);  
				(iii) Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) - courses with a "P" designation or identification number;  
				(iv) a nurse practitioner certifying body;  
				(v) a nurse anesthetist certifying body; or  
			(B) by a sponsor for which an applicant obtains board approval; the board will approve only those sponsors who offer "continuing education" as defined in (c)(2) of this section;  
		(2) that no more than 10 of the contact hours required under (1) of this subsection were earned through in-service nursing education offered by a licensed health care facility that does not meet the qualifications required under (1) of this subsection; and  
		(3) that the contact hours required under (1) of this subsection were earned in at least one of the following subject areas:  
			(A) nursing practice areas and special health care problems;  
			(B) biological, physical, or behavioral sciences;   
			(C) legal or ethical aspects of health care;  
			(D) management or administration of health care personnel and patient care;  
			(E) subjects approved by the board that are required as part of a formal nursing program but that are more advanced than those completed for original licensure.  
	(b)  The board will accept continuing education contact hours that are part of a mediated learning system such as educational television, audio or video cassettes, the Internet, or printed media, or that are part of an independent study program, if the system or program is accredited by an agency that the board has approved. The board will maintain a list of accrediting agencies and will approve an accrediting agency that is approved by a national certifying body.  
	(c)  In this section,  
		(1) "contact hour" means a minimum of 60 minutes of actual organized instruction; academic credit will be converted to contact hours as follows:  
			(A) one quarter academic credit equals 10 contact hours;  
			(B) one semester academic credit equals 15 contact hours;  
		(2) "continuing education" means a systematic educational experience that grants academic credit or contact hours beyond the basic nursing program preparation.  
	(d)  The board will not accept continuing education contact hours or in-service hours for the completion of courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).  

Authorities

08.68.100;08.68.276;08.68.330

Notes

Reference

12 AAC 44.440
12 AAC 44.525
12 AAC 44.600
12 AAC 44.640

Authority

AS 08.68.100 AS 08.68.276 AS 08.68.330

History

Eff. 1/1/87, Register 97; am 7/28/95, Register 135; am 11/2/2001, Register 160; am 3/28/2008, Register 185; am 11/19/2008, Register 188; am 3/19/2014, Register 209; am 8/10/2016, Register 219