Chapter 4779-9 Continuing Education

(A) All licensees shall verify the successful attainment of approved OPPCE as set forth in rule 4779-9-02 of the Administrative Code.

(1) A licensed orthotist or prosthetist must achieve forty-five OPPCE units during each three-year accrual period.

(2) A licensed orthotist and prosthetist or licensed prosthetist-orthotist must achieve seventy-five OPPCE units during each three-year accrual period.

(3) A licensed pedorthist must achieve thirty-three OPPCE units during each three-year accrual period.

(B) OPPCE hours must be earned no later than thirty days prior to the license expiration date for that renewal period. An excess of approved hours attained during a renewal period will not be applied towards future requirements, unless they are earned after signature date on the renewal application for that period.

(C) The application for renewal shall include a section for verification of OPPCE compliance. Licensees shall complete the section to certify the completion of the required hours of OPPCE for the current renewal period.

(D) It shall be the responsibility of the licensee to maintain and keep all records to serve as documentation for any audit pertaining to the completion of OPPCE requirements; including, but not limited to certificates of completion, transcripts, letters of attendance, or attendance registers. Records shall be maintained for a period of four years beyond the renewal date requiring attestation of OPPCE compliance for the holders of a license issued under sections 4779.10, 4779.11, 4779.12, 4779.13, 4779.16, and 4779.17 of the Revised Code. Legible copies shall be sent to the board only in response to an audit.

(E) Failure to meet OPPCE requirements or failure to provide attestation of completion of necessary OPPCE hours sent to the board by January thirty-first of any relevant renewal year may result in automatic suspension of license by April first of that year, pursuant to section 4779.20 of the Revised Code. Failure to verify completion of necessary OPPCE hours within thirty days after receipt of an audit request from the board may result in disciplinary action pursuant to section 4779.28 of the Revised Code. If reinstatement is desired, such individual shall be required to submit a formal request for reinstatement of licensure.

Effective: 11/01/2008

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/31/2012

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4779.08

Rule Amplifies: 4779.20

Prior Effective Dates: 8/9/02, 1/23/03, 4/9/2007

Applicants for renewal shall successfully complete the required number of OPPCE hours according to section 4779.20 of the Revised Code and rule 4779-9-01 of the Administrative Code. The board will accept as continuing education units all courses approved by the board for orthotist/prosthetist certification (BOC), and the American board for certification in orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics (ABC).

The board will also accept continuing education units as specified by section 4779.24 of the Revised Code.

Effective: 11/01/2008

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/12/2008 and 01/01/2012

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4779.08

Rule Amplifies: 4779.20

Prior Effective Dates: 8/9/02, 1/23/2003

In the case of a licensee who determines that the licensee cannot truthfully attest to having completed the OPPCE accrual as required by section 4779.20 of the Revised Code at the time the licensee is completing an annual license renewal application, or in the case of a licensee who for the first time has failed to document appropriate OPPCE accrual for a renewal period in which the licensee has mistakenly certified appropriate OPPCE accrual, such licensee may correct the non-compliance through the following protocol:

(A) Notify the board office of the problem in writing by mail, email or fax.

(B) If the OPPCE deficiency is recognized prior to the license expiration date, the licensee may make up the deficiency by the license expiration date. In such a case, the licensee shall certify to the board the number of OPPCE units accrued during the appropriate three-year period, and the amount accrued during the month of January in the renewal year. In such a case, the OPPCE units accrued during January of the renewal year shall not be allowed to count toward the OPPCE accrual required for the accrual period that began on the first of January of that month.

(C) If the OPPCE deficiency is recognized or discovered when the option allowed by paragraph (B) of this rule is not available, or is discovered pursuant to an OPPCE audit, and is the first such occurrence of such a deficiency in that individual’s license history, the following protocol may be employed:

(1) Sign off on an OPPCE remediation agreement worksheet form as provided by the board office;

(2) In the case of a licensed orthotist or licensed prosthetist, the licensee will make up the deficiency and accrue an additional fifteen OPPCE units as an augmented requirement by a date certain no later than six months from the date of the discovery of the deficiency, and pay the OPPCE late certification fee as provided for in rule 4779-12-01 of the Administrative Code.

(3) In the case of a licensed pedorthist, the licensee will make up the deficiency and accrue an additional eleven OPPCE units as an augmented requirement by a date certain no later than six months from the date of the discovery of the deficiency, and pay the OPPCE late certification fee as provided for in rule 4779-12-01 of the Administrative Code.

(4) In the case of a licensed prosthetist-orthotist, or an individual who holds licenses in both orthotics and prosthetics, the licensee will make up the deficiency and accrue an additional twenty OPPCE units as an augmented requirement by a date certain no later than six months from the date of the discovery of the deficiency, and pay the OPPCE late certification fee as provided for in rule 4779-12-01 of the Administrative Code.

Effective: 11/01/2008

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/01/2012

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4779.08

Rule Amplifies: 4779.20