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| Reporting Period Change Ahead |
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The Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) has aligned continuing education reporting periods with the new two-year licensing period for all OHLA-regulated professions effective October 1, 2008.
However, the continuing education reporting period for the Board of Athletic Trainers will temporarily continue to be three years due to Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers requirements currently within Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 331-125-0010.
OHLA and the Board of Athletic Trainers will conduct public administrative rulemaking in the near future to review the current continuing education requirements for athletic trainers. The goal will be to align the Board of Athletic Trainers continuing education period to the new two-year licensing and continuing education period without creating duplicate procedures for athletic trainer registrants.
Permanent administrative rules became effective on October 1, 2008 to align athletic trainer registration and renewal periods with the agency new two-year licensing period and to implement a new fee structure for all OHLA-regulated professions.
Links to the Secretary of State's OAR Web site will not immediately reflect the revised administrative rules, which are posted to the Board of Athletic Trainers Laws & Rules page.
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| 75 Hours Every Three Years |
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Registrants must complete 75 clock hours of continuing education coinciding with the Board of Certification's (BOC) three-year reporting period. The three-year period is independent of the date of first registration, with reporting periods begin January 1 and end December 31, in three-year increments.
Continuing education experiences are programs beyond the basic education required to obtain registration which are designed to promote and enrich knowledge, improve skills, and develop attitudes for the enhancement of the practices of registered athletic trainers, thus improving athletic training care to the public.
Continuing education requirements apply whether the applicant renewing registration is living or working within Oregon or outside of the state, so long as Oregon registration is maintained.
For more information on continuing education requirements, go to Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 331-125-0010.
New Fact Sheet Highlights Requirements
OHLA has produced the following fact sheet to clarify continuing education requirements for both registrants and providers.
Continuing Education Fact Sheet (PDF)
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| Continuing Education Approval |
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To obtain pre-approval of continuing education courses or programs not approved by the Board of Certification please submit the following information and documentation:
- Name of sponsoring institution/association or organization
- Title of presentation and description of content
- Name of instructor or presenter
- Date of attendance and duration in hours (various dates and locations allowed)
- Course agenda
After continuing education offerings have been reviewed and approved, OHLA sends an approval letter that indicates the number of continuing education hours approved. The course is then posted to the OHLA Web site as a resource for licensees.
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| Self Attestation, Audits |
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Licensees must attest, or declare, they have met continuing education requirements upon license renewal and are subject to periodic audits specified in OAR 331-125-0020.
Applicants for registration renewal must submit the completed renewal form, with their signature as attestation to completion of required continuing education hours. Documentation of continuing education hours earned must be provided to the agency only when selected for audit.
OHLA audits a select percentage of registrant records to verify compliance with continuing education requirements. Audits will commence within six months after the end of a BOC three-year reporting period.
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| Audit Documentation |
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Registrants notified of selection for audit of continuing education shall submit to the agency, within 30 calendar days from the date of notification, satisfactory evidence of participation in required continuing education in accordance with OAR 331-125-0010.
Documentation of attendance at a program or course provided must include either a copy of current and valid BOC certification, or all of the following:
- Name of sponsoring institution/association or organization
- Title of presentation and description of content
- Name of instructor or presenter
- Date of attendance and duration in hours
- Course agenda
- Official transcript, diploma, certificate, statement or affidavit from the sponsor, attesting to attendance
Documentation verifying completion of all required continuing education shall be accumulated and held by the athletic trainer for three years following any reporting period, or until notification of audit is received. Continuing education documentation must be available and provided to the agency upon request.
If documentation of continuing education is invalid or incomplete, the practitioner must correct the deficiency within 30 calendar days from the date of notice. Failure to correct the deficiency within the prescribed time shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action.
Misrepresentation of continuing education or failing to meet continuing education requirements or documentation may result in disciplinary action, which may include but is not limited to, assessment of a civil penalty and suspension or revocation of the registration.
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| Additional Requirements |
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- Licensees failing to obtain the prescribed number of clock hours and/or complete appropriate continuing education content must reapply and meet requirements listed in OAR 331-115-0030.
- Hours of continuing education obtained that exceed the minimum requirements will not be carried forward as credit for the subsequent license renewal reporting cycle.
- Continuing education is required for renewal even if the athletic trainer registration has been inactive, revoked or suspended during that period.
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