1. (a)

   1. (1) All registered sanitarians shall be required biennially to complete a continuing education program in subjects relating to practices of the profession.
   2. (2) The number of CEUs shall be determined by the Arkansas State Board of Sanitarians, but shall not be less than two (2) continuing education units every two (2) years.
   3. (3) A maximum of one-half (1/2) the number of required continuing education units in a two-year period may be carried forward to meet continuing education requirements for the following two-year period.
   4. (4) Any continuing education units completed prior to July 1, 1986, cannot be used to meet the requirements of this part.

2. (b) Hours of continuing education required.

   1. (1) All registered sanitarians shall complete the requirements as established under subsection (a) of this section to be eligible to apply for renewal of their registered sanitarian certificate.
   2. (2) A new registrant will be required to complete a prorated number of the biennial requirements of contact hours based from the date of the registration.

3. (c) Continuing education courses. A course of study or program of instruction offered to meet the education requirements for renewal of the certificate of registration shall be in the following areas with the final determination being made by the board:

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Credit and noncredit college courses offered by an accredited educational institution of higher learning approved by the board.
      2. (B) A one-hour course is considered the equivalent of ten (10) contact hours.
      3. (C)

4. (i) Such courses shall be related to the functions of a sanitarian.

   1. (ii) This will normally be given broad interpretation, but the registered sanitarian may be required to explain and document the relevance of a particular course to the board;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Attendance at the annual conference of professional, public health organizations such as Arkansas Society of Professional Sanitarians, Public Health Association, etc., may count toward the continuing education requirements.
      2. (B) For prior approval, the conference program should be submitted to the board sixty (60) days in advance of the meeting.
      3. (C) Attendance at the conference shall be certified by an officer of the organization or the conference moderator;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Completion of CEUs awarded by an institution of higher learning or state or national association approved to award CEUs.
      2. (B) These will be approved by the board if the subject area is related to the functions of the registered sanitarian;

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Credit may be given for the completion of correspondence courses when related to the registered sanitarian’s function, provided that approval is given by the board.

      2. (B) The application must contain:

         1. (i) An outline of the course content;
         2. (ii) The identity of the sponsor; and
         3. (iii) Certification that the applicant satisfactorily completed the course;

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Credit may be given for the completion of workshops, courses, and seminars for registered sanitarians sponsored by governmental agencies or industry that have been approved by the board.
      2. (B) Attendance shall be certified by the sponsor; and

   6. (6)

      1. (A) Completion of any other type of continuing education program that a registered sanitarian may utilize to stay abreast of the profession.
      2. (B) These programs may be approved either prior to the beginning of the program or on an individual basis after completion of the program.

      3. (C) Some examples include, but are not limited to:

         1. (i) Extension courses;
         2. (ii) Articles published;
         3. (iii) Scientific papers published;
         4. (iv) Course preparation; and
         5. (v) Special areas of endeavor.
         6. (d) Requirements for approval of continuing education courses.
   7. (1) Credit or noncredit college courses offered by an accredited educational institution of higher learning and approved by the board are exempt from this section.
   8. (2) Any training sponsor may request board approval of their training program to be accepted as CEUs for registered sanitarians.

   9. (3) The following information must be submitted to the board on a form prescribed and furnished by the board:

      1. (A) Name, address and, telephone number of the training sponsor;
      2. (B) Name of educational coordinator;
      3. (C) A resume of the instructional staff;
      4. (D) Information indicating that the type of training offered meets the requirements in 17 CAR § 165-103; and
      5. (E) A description of the course, instructional material, and the benefits of the course to be derived.
   10. (4) After initial approval by the board, each course shall continue to be approved unless the course is altered or fails to meet the requirements of this part.
   11. (5) The board shall act on all requests for approval of a course within ninety (90) days of receipt of the prescribed forms.

5. (e) Submission of continuing education documentation.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Proof of attendance of continuing education courses and or other substantiating documentation shall be submitted by the registered sanitarian within sixty (60) days from the completion of the course.
      2. (B) All documentation will be recorded on forms prescribed by the board and returned to the registered sanitarian.
   2. (2) It shall be the sole responsibility of the registered sanitarian to ensure that required evidence of meeting continuing education requirements is submitted to the board on forms prescribed and furnished by the board.
   3. (3) The board shall notify all registered sanitarians who have not provided the board documentation of minimum completion of continuing education requirements one hundred eighty (180) days prior to renewal date each biennium.

6. (f) Attendance at continuing education courses not previously approved by the board.

   1. (1) An applicant who wishes to receive credit for attendance at a continuing education course that has not been previously approved by the board shall make application to the board.
   2. (2) Requests for course approval shall be submitted to the board within sixty (60) days of completion of course.
   3. (3) For the board to consider the request, the applicant shall submit adequate documentation to the board on a form provided by the board.
   4. (4) The board shall act on all requests received from applicants within ninety (90) days of receipt.

7. (g) List of approved courses.

   1. (1) Annually, the board shall mail to each registered sanitarian a list of approved courses applying toward the continuing education requirements of this part.
   2. (2) The Secretary of the Arkansas State Board of Sanitarians shall, upon request of a registered sanitarian, provide a list of any additional courses that the board has approved since the most recent mailing.

8. (h) Exemptions from continuing education requirements.

   1. (1) Nonresident/nonpracticing. Those who are not residents of Arkansas and/or those who do not practice in Arkansas will be exempt from continuing education requirements until such time as they begin to practice in Arkansas.
   2. (2) The continuing education requirements will not be retroactive but shall be applicable beginning with the first date of practice in the state.
   3. (3) All other requests for exemption shall be submitted to the board for review in accordance with Arkansas Code § 17-43-101 et seq.

Codification Notes: “CEU” means continuing education units.