Rule 410-13-.02. Continuing Competency Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses

1. (1) Applicants for licensure renewal must satisfy one of the following continuing competency requirements during the biennial renewal period:

   1. (a) Completion of twenty (20) continuing education hours by a Board approved provider; or,
   2. (b) Completion of an accredited academic program of study in registered professional nursing, as recognized by the board.
2. (2) Failure to meet the minimum continuing competency requirement for renewal of a license shall be grounds for denial of a renewal application.
3. (3) The Board may waive or modify the requirements contained in this subsection in cases of hardship, disability, or illness or under such other circumstances as the board, in its discretion, deems appropriate.
4. (4) An applicant who is renewing a license for the first time shall not be required to meet the requirements of this subsection until the time of the second renewal if the applicant's initial license period is six months or less.

5. (5) Licensees must maintain documentation of completion of the continuing competency activities as required in 410-13-.02(1) for no less than four (4) years from the date of licensure renewal. Licensees shall be required to produce documentation of the completion of the continuing competency activities for renewal of the license if audited during the renewal process and during any investigation. Failure to provide documentation shall be grounds for the denial of the renewal application or revocation or immediate suspension of the licensure. In order to assist licensees in the maintenance of these records, the Georgia Board of Nursing has adopted CE Broker, Incorporated to serve as the online reporting and recording system for licensees.

   1. (a) Licensees and applicants shall incur no costs from CE Broker, Incorporated for use of basic reporting and recording services.
   2. (b) Every licensee or applicant subject to the rules of the Georgia Board of Nursing shall be deemed to have given consent to the Board and its representatives to access their continuing competency records retained within the online database for the purposes of auditing and verifying completion of the Board's continuing competency requirements. Such licensee or applicant waives any objections to the admissibility of the record and/or any continuing competency documentation introduced in any proceeding or hearing before the Board.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 43-26-5(a)(2),(3),(10), 43-26-9.

History. Original Rule entitled "Regulation of Protocol Use By Advanced Practice Registered Nurses as Authorized by O.C.G.A. Section 43-34-26.3 " adopted. F. Jan. 23, 2008; eff. Feb. 12, 2008.

Repealed: New rule with same title adopted. F. Jan. 23, 2013; eff. Feb. 12, 2013.

Repealed: F. Aug. 24, 2015; eff. Sept. 13, 2015.

Adopted: New Rule entitled "Continuing Competency Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses." F. Mar. 6, 2018; eff. Mar. 26, 2018.