Chapter 4731-10 | Licensing; Continuing Education

Rule 4731-10-01 | Definitions.

• Effective: May 31, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

As used in this chapter of the Administrative Code:

(A) "License" means the legal authorization issued by the board to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery in Ohio.

(B) "CME" means continuing medical education.

(C) "License renewal" means the extension of a current license by fulfilling the requirements of section 4731.281 of the Revised Code, and this chapter of the Administrative Code.

(D) "License reinstatement" means the reactivation of a license which has lapsed or been in a suspended or inactive status for two years or less for any reason.

(E) "License restoration" means the reactivation of a license which has lapsed or been in a suspended or inactive status for more than two years for any reason.

(F) "Licensee" means a person who holds a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery in Ohio.

(G) "Registration period" means the period between the granting or renewal of a license and the next scheduled license renewal date.

(H) "Volunteer registration period" means the period between the granting or renewal of a volunteer certificate and the next scheduled renewal date.

(I) "Board" means the state medical board of Ohio.

(J) "CME waiver" means a reduction of CME hours that may be granted by the board on an individual basis to licensees or certificate holders that have been disabled by illness or accident for a minimum of six consecutive months, or absent from United States for a minimum of six consecutive months, during a CME registration period, volunteer registration period, clinical research registration period, or conceded eminence registration period.

(K) "Clinical research registration period" means the period between the granting or renewal of a clinical research faculty certificate and the next scheduled renewal date."

(L) "Conceded eminence registration period" means the period between the granting or renewal of a certificate of conceded eminence and the next scheduled renewal date.

(M) "Certificate holder" means a person that holds a volunteer's certificate, clinical research faculty certificate, or certificate of conceded eminence.

Last updated June 1, 2021 at 8:50 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4731.05, 4731.282, 4731.295
Amplifies: 4731.281, 4731.282, 4731.291, 4731.293, 4731.294, 4731.295, 4731.297
Five Year Review Date: 5/31/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 2/28/2003

Rule 4731-10-02 | Requisite hours of continuing medical education for license renewal or reinstatement.

• Effective: May 31, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) During a registration period, a licensee shall be required to complete fifty hours of CME. A licensee must complete a minimum of one hour of CME, approved by the board, on the topic of a licensee's duty to report misconduct under section 4731.224 of the Revised Code. The remainder shall be completed by participating in the following:

(1) Educational activities recognized by the American medical association as category 1 pursuant to its CME categorization system, and

(a) Are certified for category 1 CME credit by the Ohio state medical association;

(b) Are certified for category 1 CME credit by an institution or organization accredited by the Ohio state medical association or the accreditation council for continuing medical education; or

(c) Have been awarded category 1 CME credit directly by the American medical association.

(2) Educational activities recognized by the American osteopathic association as category 1 pursuant to its CME categorization system, and

(a) Are certified for category 1 CME credit by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(b) Are certified for category 1 CME credit by an institution or organization accredited by the Ohio osteopathic association or the American osteopathic association; or

(c) Have been awarded category 1 CME credit directly by the American osteopathic association.

(3) Educational activities certified for category 1 CME credit by the Ohio foot and ankle medical association;

(4) Educational activities certified for continuing education contact hours by a provider approved by the council on podiatric medical education;

(5) Internships, residencies, or fellowships accredited by the accreditation council for graduate medical education, the American osteopathic association, or the council on podiatric medical education. Credit shall be earned at a rate of one hour of CME for each week of participation;

(6) Pursuant to section 4745.04 of the Revised Code, providing health care services in Ohio, as a volunteer, to indigent and uninsured persons.

(B) If a licensee has not completed the requisite hours of CME, a licensee is not eligible for license renewal or license reinstatement until such time as the requisite hours have been completed. Any CME undertaken after the end of a registration period and utilized for purposes of renewing or reinstating a suspended license cannot also be utilized to meet the CME requirement of the current registration period.

(C) Licensees who are not working in the medical profession or who are retired from practice but wish to renew or reinstate their licenses shall meet the CME requirements of section 4731.282 of the Revised Code and this chapter of the Administrative Code.

(D) Licensees residing or practicing out of the state who wish to renew or reinstate their licenses must meet the CME requirements of section 4731.282 of the Revised Code and this chapter of the Administrative Code even though not currently residing or practicing in Ohio.

(E) During a volunteer registration period, every holder of a volunteer's certificate shall be required to complete one hundred fifty hours of CME pursuant to the requirements of section 4731.295 of the Revised Code. Seventy-five hours must meet the criteria established in paragraph (A)(1) of this rule. If a holder of a volunteer's certificate has not completed the requisite hours of CME, a holder is not eligible for certificate renewal until such time as the requisite hours have been completed. Any CME undertaken after the end of a volunteer registration period and utilized for purposes of renewing a suspended certificate cannot also be utilized to meet the CME requirement of the current volunteer registration period.

(F) During a conceded eminence registration period, every holder of a certificate of conceded eminence shall be required to complete fifty hours of CME pursuant to the requirements of section 4731.297. Such hours must meet the criteria established in paragraph (A)(1) of this rule. If a holder of a certificate of conceded eminence has not completed the requisite hours of CME, a holder is not eligible for certificate renewal until such time as the requisite hours have been completed. Any CME undertaken after the end of a conceded eminence registration period and utilized for purposes of renewing a suspended certificate cannot also be utilized to meet the CME requirement of the current conceded eminence registration period.

Last updated June 1, 2021 at 8:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4731.05, 4745.04
Amplifies: 4731.282, 4731.291, 4731.293, 4731.295, 4731.297, 4745.04
Five Year Review Date: 5/31/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 2/28/2003

Rule 4731-10-03 | CME waiver.

• Effective: May 31, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

For purposes of obtaining a CME waiver, a licensee or certificate holder shall have the burden of establishing that the illness, accident, or absence affected the reasonable opportunity to participate in CME activities. Request for a CME waiver shall be submitted to the board at least sixty days prior to the end of the registration period, volunteer registration period, clinical research registration period, or conceded eminence registration period, as applicable. A licensee or holder of a certificate shall not submit the renewal application prior to receiving approval from the board of the waiver request.

Last updated June 1, 2021 at 8:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4731.05, 4731.282
Amplifies: 4731.282
Five Year Review Date: 5/31/2026

Rule 4731-10-04 | Continuing medical education requirements for restoration of a license.

• Effective: May 31, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

To be eligible for restoration of a license the licensee shall submit evidence establishing that the licensee has met the requirements of rule 4731-10-02 of the Administrative Code during the twenty four months preceding the board's receipt of the application for restoration. If the licensee has not met the requirements, the licensee must do so as a prerequisite to restoration of the license.

Last updated June 1, 2021 at 8:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4731.05
Amplifies: 4731.282
Five Year Review Date: 5/31/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 5/16/1983, 3/10/1998 (Emer.), 5/31/2018

Rule 4731-10-08 | Evidence of continuing medical education.

• Effective: May 31, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Each licensee or certificate holder applying for license renewal or license reinstatement shall certify completion of the requisite hours of CME pursuant to the rules in this chapter.

(B) The board may select applications for verification that all CME requirements have been met. Licensees and certificate holders whose applications are selected shall submit additional documentation of compliance with CME requirements as the board may require. Failure to submit the additional documents shall constitute a violation of section 4731.282 of the Revised Code and section 4731.22 of the Revised Code.

(C) Licensees and certificate holders have a continuing obligation to maintain detailed records of CME hours completed. The licensee or certificate holder shall obtain verification of completion of CME activities. At a minimum, verification shall include a description of the CME activity, the date of attendance or completion, and the number of hours completed. Records of all CME undertaken shall be retained by the licensee or certificate holder for two years after the end of the CME period and shall be made available to the board upon request.

(D) Licensees seeking to receive credit pursuant to paragraph (A)(6) of rule 4731-10-02 of the Administrative Code shall maintain a log of their qualifying activities. The log shall indicate the dates the health care services were provided, the number of hours spent providing health care services on those dates, and the location where the health care services were provided.

(E) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (C) of this rule, licensees and certificate holders shall not destroy or otherwise make unavailable written documentation of CME activity after the board has requested verification of CME pursuant to this rule or section 4731.22 of the Revised Code. Upon verification that all CME requirements have been met, the applicant or licensee or certificate holder may destroy the requested records.

(F) Nothing in this rule shall limit the board's authority to investigate and take action under section 4731.22 of the Revised Code.

Last updated June 1, 2021 at 8:52 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4745.04, 4731.282, 4731.05
Amplifies: 4731.22, 4745.04, 4731.282
Five Year Review Date: 5/31/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 3/10/1998 (Emer.), 5/31/2018