1. (a) A physician assistant who holds an active license to practice in the State of Arkansas shall complete twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical education.
2. (b) If a person holding an active license as a physician assistant in this state fails to meet the foregoing requirement because of illness, military service, medical or religious missionary activity, residence in a foreign country, or other extenuating circumstances, the Arkansas State Medical Board upon appropriate written application may grant an extension of time to complete the same on an individual basis.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Each year, with the application for renewal of an active license as a physician assistant in this state, the board will include a form which requires the person holding the license to certify by signature, under penalty of perjury and discipline by the board, that he or she has met the stipulating continuing medical education requirements.
   2. (2) In addition, the board may randomly require physician assistants submitting such a certification to demonstrate, prior to renewal of license, satisfaction of continuing medical education requirements stated in his or her certification.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Continuing medical education records must be kept by the licensee in an orderly manner.
   2. (2) All records relative to continuing medical education must be maintained by the licensee for at least three (3) years from the end of the reporting period.
   3. (3) The records or copies of the forms must be provided or made available to the board.

5. (e) Failure to complete continuing education hours as required or failure to be able to produce records reflecting that one has completed the required minimum medical education hours:

   1. (1) Shall be a violation; and
   2. (2) May result in the licensee having his or her license suspended and/or revoked.
6. (f) A physician assistant who is authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products reclassified from Schedule III to Schedule II as of October 6, 2014, must complete at least five (5) continuing education hours in the area of pain management.

7. (g)

   1. (1) Each year, each physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.
   2. (2) The one (1) hour may be included in the twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical education required and shall not constitute an additional hour of CME per year.

Codification Notes: “CME” means continuing medical education.