(A) Pursuant to section 4755.63 of the Revised Code, to renew an athletic trainers license, license holders shall complete:
(1) Not less than twenty-five hours of continuing education that meet the requirements of this rule; and
(2) At least one contact hour of ethics education per renewal cycle. The one hour ethics requirement shall be fulfilled by completing an acceptable activity outlined in paragraph (C) of this rule that contains at least one hour addressing professional ethics. In addition, any presentation by the athletic trainers section that addresses professional ethics meets the ethics requirement.
(3) At least one contact hour of mental health and/or substance use education per renewal cycle. The one hour mental health and/or substance use requirement shall be fulfilled by completing an acceptable activity outlined in paragraph (C) of this rule that contains at least one hour addressing mental health and/or substance use. In addition, any presentation by the board's safe haven program that addresses mental health and/or substance use meets this requirement.
(4) The same contact hour cannot be used to fulfill both the ethics and the mental health and/or substance use requirements.
(5) License holders are not required to obtain any continuing education units for the first renewal.
(B) The athletic trainers section shall determine if a continuing education activity meets the requirements of this rule. Continuing education is defined as participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. One contact hour equals sixty minutes.
(1) Applications for prior approval of workshop or conference content by the athletic trainers section may be obtained by the workshop or conference sponsor from the board office. For prior approval, completed applications shall be received by the section no later than ninety days prior to the date of the workshop or conference.
(2) If no other form of verification is used, license holders shall obtain from the board office verification of participation forms, which are to be signed by each presenter at the conclusion of each presentation. If a presentation is made by a panel, only one signature is required. Original continuing education certificates or other original documents indicating credits awarded may also be used as verification of participation.
(3) Continuing education hours shall exclude refreshment breaks, receptions and other social gatherings, and meals.
(C) Acceptable continuing education activities may include:
(1) Participation in professional workshops, seminars, and/or conferences.
(a) Credit is obtained for in person participation in presentations that have either been approved by the athletic trainers section, sponsored by the national athletic trainers association, the board of certification, inc., the great lakes athletic trainers association, the Ohio athletic trainers association, offered by a board of certification, inc. approved provider, or which otherwise meets all of the following criteria:
(i) Contributes directly to professional competency;
(ii) Relates directly to the clinical practice, management, or education of athletic training; and
(iii) Conducted by people who demonstrate expertise in the subject matter of the program.
(b) Proof of content shall be demonstrated by the original workshop or conference brochure, agenda, and/or other materials given to participants during the presentation and/or, if applicable, information documented on prior approval applications made with the board.
(2) Presentations. To be eligible to receive continuing education credit for making a presentation, including a poster presentation, the presentation shall be:
(a) To health or education professionals and/or students; and
(b) Directly related to the clinical practice, management, or education of athletic training professionals.
Five hours will be awarded per presentation, with a maximum of ten hours per renewal cycle. Proof of having conducted the presentation is the workshop, conference, or seminar contract, the brochure, agenda or other printed materials describing the content and audience.
Continuing education credit will not be awarded for subsequent presentations of the same material.
(3) Publication of original work. Ten hours will be awarded per original publication in a state or national scientific journal or publication of a related professional organization. A maximum of twenty hours may be earned in this category per renewal cycle.
(4) Postgraduate courses. Any course completed after receiving a bachelors degree may be submitted for consideration by the athletic trainers section provided the course is directly related to the management, practice, or education of athletic training. Proof of completion is an unofficial transcript and a copy of the course description. An official transcript may be requested at the discretion of the athletic trainers section. Five contact hours will be awarded for each semester hour or equivalent accepted. There is no limit of contact hours in this category.
(5) Self-study. Formal self-study packages, such as printed text, multi-media, or internet based activities, related to the practice of athletic training are acceptable. Proof of completion is the certificate of completion and/or a copy of the post-test results. A maximum of twenty hours may be earned in this category per renewal cycle.
(6) Post-professional athletic training education program. Graduation from a post-professional athletic training education program accredited by the commission on accreditation of athletic training education may be submitted for the continuing education requirement and will qualify for twenty-five hours of continuing education in the year the license holder graduates. Proof of completion is an unofficial transcript. An official transcript may be requested at the discretion of the athletic trainers section.
(7) Laws and rules examination. One contact hour may be earned for completing and passing the Ohio athletic training laws and rules examination. This contact hour may be utilized only once per renewal cycle for continuing education credit. Proof of completion will be supplied by the section. This contact hour may be used to fulfill the ethics requirement established in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule.
(8) Volunteer services to indigent and uninsured persons pursuant to section 4745.04 of the Revised Code. To qualify under this rule, volunteer services shall:
(a) Be provided at a free clinic or other non-profit organization that offers health care services based on eligibility screenings identifying the client as an "indigent and uninsured person" as that term is defined in division (A)(7) of section 2305.234 of the Revised Code.
(b) Be documented in writing in the form of a certificate or a written statement on letterhead from an administrative official at the organization where services were rendered, specifying at a minimum the license holder's name, license number, date(s) of qualifying volunteer services, number of hours of services, and describing the services that were rendered.
(c) Not be credited for license holders in a paid position at the organization at which the services are rendered.
(d) Not be credited for license holders who are also using the hours toward educational and academic pursuits.
(e) Be athletic training services provided in compliance with the Revised and Administrative Codes.
(f) Be credited as one hour of continuing education for each sixty minutes spent providing services as a volunteer, not to exceed four hours of the total biennial continuing education requirement.
(g) Not count toward the one contact hour of ethics or mental health and/or substance use per renewal cycle as required by paragraph (A)(2) or (A)(3) of this rule.
(D) An athletic training license shall not be renewed unless the license holder indicates on the renewal application that the person completed the required number of continuing education hours specified in paragraph (A) of this rule.
A license holder who falsifies a renewal application may be disciplined by the athletic trainers section for violating division (A)(3) of section 4755.64 of the Revised Code.
(E) Records and documentation of continuing education activities, such as verification of participation forms, conference brochures, certificates, college or university transcripts or grade reports, articles, books, and/or apprenticeship evaluations shall be maintained by the license holder.
(F) The athletic trainers section shall conduct an audit of the continuing education records of not less than five per cent of the license holders each renewal year.
(1) License holders chosen for the audit shall submit documentation to support the continuing education activities within the timeframe specified by the athletic training section. After review of the records and documentation, if requested, the materials shall be returned to the license holder.
(2) Failure to provide proof of the required number of continuing education hours in the appropriate categories, for the specified time period will result in the commencement of disciplinary action.
(3) Failure to respond to or acknowledge receipt of an audit notice will result in the commencement of disciplinary action.
Last updated August 7, 2023 at 8:53 AM