Sec. 10.40.02.03. Initial Licensing and License Renewal

A. Initial Licensing.

(1) To qualify for licensure, an applicant shall:

(a) Meet all of the requirements as identified in Health Occupations Article, §§16-302-16-305, Annotated Code of Maryland, including submit to a State and national criminal history records check in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §16–302.1, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) Except as provided in §A(2) of this regulation, at the time of application, possess a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification that was attained through completion of a Board-approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course that includes a hands-on practical component.

(2) The Board may waive, modify, or waive and modify the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification required in §A(1)(b) of this regulation if the applicant submits a written request and documentation that sufficiently demonstrates an extraordinary hardship.

(3) The Board may not issue a license if the criminal history record information required under Health Occupations Article, §16–302.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, has not been received.

B. License Renewal.

(1) Biennial renewal of each practitioner's license is contingent upon the submission, upon request of the Board, of satisfactory proof of completion of the required number of credit hours of continuing education programs approved by the Board.

(2) The Board shall establish the required number of credit hours. Except as set forth in §B(5) of this regulation, the required number of credit hours may not exceed 50 hours for 2 years.

(3) The Board may refuse to renew the license of any podiatrist who fails to comply with these regulations.

(4) The licensee shall earn the required number of credit hours on or before December 1 of the license renewal year.

(5) If by December 1 of the license renewal year, the licensee fails to earn the required number of credit hours, the licensee may request an extension of time until December 31 of the license renewal year to earn the required number of credit hours plus an additional number of credit hours as established by the Board. The Board at its discretion, upon good cause shown, may grant an extension of time up to or beyond December 31, and may impose a requirement that the licensee earn up to double the number of required credit hours still to be earned. For example, if on December 1 the licensee has earned only 40 of the 50 required credit hours, the licensee may be required to earn 20 credit hours to meet the continuing education requirement.

(6) To qualify for renewal, a licensee shall possess a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification that was attained through completion of a Board-approved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course that:

(a) Includes a hands-on practical component; and

(b) Is worth 3 credit hours.

(7) The Board may waive, modify, or waive and modify the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification required in §B(6) of this regulation if:

(a) The licensee submits a written request and documentation that sufficiently demonstrates an extraordinary hardship; and

(b) The Board receives the licensee’s request not later than October 1 of the license renewal year.

(8) A licensee applying for renewal may earn 1 credit hour for every 5 hours of pro bono podiatric services provided and pre-approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis with a maximum of 5 credit hours per renewal cycle;

C. Unless granted a waiver by the Board in accordance with §B(7) of this regulation, a licensee may not allow the required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification to lapse at any time while licensed by the Board.

D. Of the 50 credit hours required under §B(2) of this regulation:

(1) 25 credit hours:

(a) Shall be completed in person;

(b) Shall be directly related to the practice of podiatric medicine; and

(c) May include:

(i) The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification required in §B(6) of this regulation;

(ii) Attendance at programs offered at professional or scientific meetings of local, State, regional, national, or international professional or scientific organizations; or

(iii) Attendance at regularly scheduled Board meetings;

(2) No more than 25 credit hours shall be completed online or via other sources;

(3) All credit hours shall be pre-approved by the Board; and

(4) The Board may not accept a submission for continuing education credit of less than 0.5 hours.