Continuing Education: Requirements & Licensure Renewal

Continuing Education: Requirements & Licensure Renewal

Medicine

In Georgia, allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) doctors are both classified as physicians. Georgia does not make a distinction between the two, and they are issued the same type of medical license.

Physicians must renew their licenses every two years before the last day of their birthday month. Failure to do so will lead to revocation of the physician’s license by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. However, physicians have the right to obtain a late renewal of their license during the three-month period immediately following the expiration date. Additionally, physicians are required to complete 40 continuing medical education (CME) hours every two years. These hours must be Georgia Composite Medical Board-approved credits. Up to 10 hours of CME credit can be waived per biennium with volunteer work. According to Rule 360-15-.01 (3), in meeting the continuing education requirements, the Georgia Composite Medical Board will waive one of the required CME hours per each four hours of work documented by the physician in uncompensated healthcare services, such as free clinics. In order to receive the waiver, the physician must submit documentation to the Georgia Composite Board of such work at the time of renewal. Some exceptions to the CME requirement do apply. Retired physicians who have an active license, and who provide uncompensated healthcare services pursuant to Code Section 43-34-41, are only required to complete 10 hours of Board-approved continuing education biennially. Furthermore, physicians enrolled in full-time graduate medical education programs, such as residencies and fellowships, which are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association are exempt from the CME requirement. Finally, physicians who are initially licensed by the Board and who have not renewed their licenses for the first time, physicians with inactive licenses, and those specifically exempted due to cases of hardship, disability, illness, etc. are not responsible for the CME requirement. Any physician seeking such an exemption must submit a written request and documentation to support their exemption eligibility in a sufficient time period prior to the expiration of his or her license.

Exemptions:

Any service member whose medical license expires while on active duty outside the state of Georgia is permitted to practice in accordance with the expired license, without being charged a violation fee, for a period of six months from the date of their discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state. The service member is entitled to renew the expired license within the six months without penalty by presenting a copy of official military orders or written verification signed by the service member’s commanding officer to the Georgia Composite Board.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistant licenses must be renewed every two years by the last day of their birthday month. Licenses expired for three months or less may be renewed by meeting all the requirements for renewal and paying a late renewal fee. Licenses that are not renewed within three months

after the expiration date will be revoked by the Georgia Composite Board, and the physician assistant will have to apply for reinstatement. Additionally, the licensee must complete 40 hours of Georgia Composite Boardapproved continuing medical education (CME) prior to renewal. At least 10 hours must be directly related to the specialty of the Georgia Composite Board-approved primary supervising physician. Physician assistants who are initially licensed by the Board and who have not renewed their license for the first time will not be required to complete the 40 hours of continuing education during their first renewal. Any physician assistants who are authorized to carry out prescription drug orders, including those who are exempt from the 40 required CME hours, are required to complete a minimum of three hours (as part of the 40 CME hours required, when applicable) in practice-specific pharmaceuticals for which the physician assistant has prescriptionorder privileges.

Nursing

Under the Georgia Board of Nursing, licenses for registered nurses expire Jan. 31 of even- or odd-numbered years. If licenses are not renewed by Jan. 31 of the expiring year, the license will be revoked and the licensee will be required to apply for reinstatement with the Georgia Board of Nursing. Registered nurses have five options to fulfill continuing education requirements: completion of 30 CE hours, maintenance of certification by a national certifying body, completion of an accredited academic program, verification of competency by a healthcare facility or entity, or completion of a Board-approved reentry program. All practical nursing licenses expire on March 31 of odd-numbered years. Licenses not renewed by this expiration date may be renewed by June 30 of the same year by payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional late renewal fee. Licenses not renewed by April 30 following the March 31 expiration date will be administratively revoked and the licensee will be required to apply for reinstatement. For renewal purposes, practical nurses must complete 20 CE hours by a Board-approved provider.

Dentistry

Dentists must renew their licenses by Dec. 31 of odd-numbered years. If the license is not renewed, it will lapse on July 1 of the following year, and the dentist will be required to apply for reinstatement. Dentists are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education biennially, 20 of the which must be completed at an onsite course. Thirty of those hours must classify as clinical courses and at most, 10 hours may be obtained by providing uncompensated dental care at a public agency, not-for-profit agency or an association that provides services to indigent patients. For every four hours of indigent patient care, dentists and hygienists may earn one CE hour. As of 2019, one hour of the minimum requirement must include the impact of opioid abuse and/or the proper prescription writing and use of opioids in dentistry. New licensees may submit proof of American Dental Association (ADA) accredited dental coursework taken within the previous two years to meet the CE requirements of their first renewal period. Dentists and dental hygienists may earn up to four credit hours by completing the CPR course that is required per Georgia law.

Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist licenses also expire on Dec. 31 of odd-numbered years. Late renewal is allowed from Jan. 1 of the following year through June 30. If the license is not renewed, it will lapse on July 1 of the following year, and the dental hygienist will be required to apply for reinstatement. Additionally, dental hygienists are required to complete 22 CE hours during the twoyear renewal period. At least 11 of these hours must be completed in person at an on-site course or seminar. Dental hygienists are not permitted to acquire all CE hours through online courses, journal studies, etc. Furthermore, 15 of the required hours must be in clinical science. New licensees may submit proof of ADA accredited dental hygiene coursework taken within the previous two years to meet the CE requirements of their first renewal period.

Source: Georgia Composite Medical Board website. For more continuing education requirements and licensure renewal of Georgia healthcare professionals, please visit: http://medicalboard.georgia.gov.