New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 35 - BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS › Subchapter 6 - GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE › Section 13:35-6.15 - Continuing medical education

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Category I" and "Category II" mean the categories of medical education courses recognized by the American Medical Association as credited toward the Physician Recognition Award, and those categories of medical education courses recognized by the American Osteopathic Association or the American Podiatric Medical Association.
"Licensee" means a physician or podiatrist licensed and subject to regulation by the Board of Medical Examiners (the "Board").
(b) Except as provided in (d) below, a licensee applying for a biennial license renewal shall complete 100 continuing medical education credits in Category I or Category II courses, of which at least 40 of such credits shall be in Category I.
(c) Commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on July 1, 2013, two of the 40 credits in Category I courses shall, pursuant to P.L. 2011, c. 145 (N.J.S.A. 45:9-7.7), be in programs or topics related to end-of-life care. Commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on July 1, 2017, one of the 40 credits in Category I courses shall, pursuant to P.L. 2017, c. 28, be in programs or topics concerning prescription opioid drugs, including responsible prescribing practices, alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion.
(d) An applicant for initial licensure who has completed an accredited graduate medical education program within 12 months prior to licensure shall be exempt from the continuing medical education requirements of this section for the initial biennial period of licensure. Notwithstanding such exemption from the continuing medical education requirements, the applicant, once licensed by the Board, shall complete, within 24 months of becoming licensed, an orientation course which is presented or approved by the Board.
(e) A licensee shall certify on the application for biennial licensure renewal that he or she has completed the required number of continuing medical education credits. The Board may conduct random audits to determine licensee compliance with the continuing medical education requirements of this section.
(f) A licensee who completes credits in excess of the 100 continuing medical education credits required pursuant to this section may apply no more than 25 of the excess credits to the continuing medical education requirements for the following biennial period only.
(g) Licensees holding an inactive or retired license shall be exempt from continuing medical education requirements, except that any licensee holding an inactive or retired license, or whose license is suspended or revoked, who applies to resume practice shall provide proof of having attained 50 credits of continuing medical education for each year out of practice in New Jersey. At least 50 credits shall have been obtained in the year preceding the application to resume practice. At the time of application to resume practice, the licensee shall provide proof of the completed continuing medical education during the period while out of practice in New Jersey. The Board may accept such continuing medical education credits or require additional credits as a condition to return to practice.
(h) The Board may delineate specific topics of medical education which the Board deems necessary to address a particular issue or problem. Notification of the specific topic(s) shall be through the Board newsletter, the Division of Consumer Affairs website or by direct communication to licensees.
(i) To report continuing medical education credits, a licensee shall:
1. Certify, on the application for biennial renewal, completion of the required number of continuing medical education credits; and
2. Maintain all evidence of verification of continuing medical education requirements for a period of six years after completion of the credits and submit such documentation to the Board upon request.