Chapter 360-4 CLINICAL PERFUSIONIST LICENSURE

Each applicant for licensure as a clinical perfusionist shall meet the requirements listed below:

(a)	Must be at least 21 years of age;

(b)	Submit a completed application required by the Board;

(c)	Submit an application fee as published in the Board's fee schedule;

(d)

Submit a fully completed certificate of education that is mailed directly from a perfusion education program, approved by the Board that has educational standards at least as stringent as those programs approved by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) prior to 1994 or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or its successor, which establishes that the applicant has successfully completed the perfusion education program;

(e)	Evidence, in a form approved by the Board, of successful completion of the complete examination(s) given by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) or its successor or a substantially equivalent examination approved by the Board.

(f)

An affidavit that the applicant is a United States citizen, a legal permanent resident of the United States, or that he/she is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. If the applicant is not a U.S. citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will determine his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE") program for the purpose of verifying citizenship and immigration status information of non-citizens. If the applicant is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must provide the alien number issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal immigration agency.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 360-4-.02(1), those applicants who have applied for licensure pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-34-173(b)shall be required to provide verification that the person was operating cardiopulmonary bypass systems during cardiac surgical cases in a licensed health care facility as the person's primary function for at least six of the eight years immediately preceding the date of application.

(a)	Primary function of the applicant means that the applicant has completed a minimum of 240 cases in six of the eight years immediately preceding the date of application.

(b)	Completion of said cases shall be documented by an affidavit(s) signed by either a cardiovascular surgeon(s) or a perfusionist(s) certified American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion who acted in a supervisory capacity during said cases.

The Board may waive the examination and educational requirements for any applicant who, at the time of application:

(a)	Is appropriately licensed or certified in another state, territory or possession whose requirements for the license or certificate are substantially equal to the requirements for licensure in this State; or

(b)	Holds a current certification as a certified clinical perfusionist issued by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) or its successor.

(c)

In support of the applicant's petition, the Board must receive:

1.	Directly from the appropriate of the state, territory or possession, verification by oath of certification, registration, licensure or other to engage in the practice of perfusion; or

2.	Evidence in a form satisfactory to the Board of the applicant's current certification as a certified clinical perfusionist issued by the ABCP or its successor.

(4)	Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent the Board from denying or conditionally granting an application for licensure.

Rule 360-4-.03 Provisional Licenses

A provisional license may be issued to a person who:

(a)	Submits a fully completed certificate of education that is mailed directly from a perfusion education program required for licensure under O.C.G.A. § 43-34-173 and Rule 360-4-.02.

(b)	Files with the Board a fully completed application that is signed by any and all licensed clinical perfusionists who are to supervise the applicant upon the applicant's receipt of a provisional clinical perfusionist license;

(c)	Submits payment of the application fee;

A provisional licensed clinical perfusionist shall be under the supervision and direction of a licensed clinical perfusionist at all times during which the provisional licensed clinical perfusionist performs perfusion. The licensed clinical perfusionist responsible for providing such supervision and direction shall be responsible to providing a level of supervision and direction that will ensure that the holder of the provisional license performs or provides all such perfusion services in accordance with generally accepted standards of proper professional practice. Specifically the licensed clinical perfusionist providing supervision and direction for the holder of a provisional license:

(a)	Shall be responsible for evaluating and documenting the professional competence, skill and experience of the holder of the provisional license;

(b)	Shall be responsible for determining the nature and level of supervision required for the holder of the provisional licensee's level of competence, skill and experience;

(c)	Shall not be required to provide direct, on-site supervision at all times, but shall be immediately and readily available for consultation and assistance whenever the provisional licensee is performing or providing perfusion services;

(d)

Shall meet with the provisional licensee to whom he or she is providing supervision and direction at least weekly to review the provisional licensee's clinical and administrative practices. A written record of such supervision meetings shall be kept by the supervising licensed clinical perfusionist, and shall be made available to any duly authorized representative of the Board upon request.

Any change in supervision must be submitted to the Board in writing. The signature of the supervising licensed clinical perfusionist must be included in the written notice. In the event of termination of supervision, the supervising licensed perfusionist must submit written notification of termination of supervision to the Board within 14 days of when supervision has ceased. A provisional licensed clinical perfusionist shall not engage in the practice of perfusion without having a Board approved supervising licensed clinical perfusionist.

(4)	A provisional license shall be valid for two years from the date it is issued and may not be renewed.

(5)

If a provisional licensee fails to meet the requirements for licensure on or before the expiration date of his or her provisional license, the provisional license to practice perfusion shall be automatically revoked and surrendered to the Board. A person who holds an expired provisional license shall not engage in the practice of perfusion or represent himself or herself as a provisional licensed clinical perfusionist or licensed clinical perfusionist until such time as the Board has approved his or her application for licensure as a licensed clinical perfusionist.

Rule 360-4-.04 Change of Name or Address

A licensee shall notify the Board in writing within 30 days after the licensee's name is legally changed. At the time of notification, the licensee shall submit a certified copy of the official document evidencing the name change. If the name change occurred during naturalization, the application must also include the naturalization number, the name and address of the court, the date of naturalization, and the name change. After receipt of the required notification and documentation, the Board will issue a duplicate license in the new name.

(2)	A licensee shall notify the Board in writing within 30 days after a change in the licensee's address of record. Failure to so notify the Board of an address change is a violation of O.C.G.A. § 43-34-174 and grounds for disciplinary action.

(3)	A licensee who utilizes a post office box as the address of record shall also provide a street address where the Board may contact the licensee.

Rule 360-4-.05 Duplicate Licenses

(1)	Duplicate licenses may be issued upon approval by the Board if the original certificate is lost, stolen, or destroyed, or if the certificate holder has had a legal change of name.

(2)	To request a duplicate certificate, the certificate holder must submit a notarized application stating the reason the duplicate certificate is requested. If the application is based on a name change, the certificate holder must provide the documentation required by Rule 360-4-.04.

(3)	All applications must include the duplicate license fee. The duplicate license fee shall be designated in the fee schedule.

Rule 360-4-.06 Renewal

All active licenses must be renewed on a biennial basis. Clinical Perfusionist licenses will expire on the last day of the month in which the licensee's birthday renewal falls. In order to renew the license, the licensee must have completed the Board-approved continuing education requirements provided in Rule 360-4-.07.

Approximately 60 days prior to the expiration date, the Board may as a courtesy, mail a notice for license renewal to the last address on file in the Board's records to every person holding a current license. Failure to receive such notification shall not relieve the licensee of the obligation to renew and pay the required fee prior to the expiration date of the license. Deposit of the renewal fee by the Board does not indicate acceptance of the renewal application or that any renewal requirements have been fulfilled.

(3)	Failure to meet the requirements for renewal is a basis for nonrenewal.

(4)

A license that is not renewed by the expiration date may be late renewed for a period of three (3) months following the expiration date. In order to late renew, the licensee must submit an application, pay the late renewal fee established by the Board and show completion of the required continuing professional education.

(5)	Licenses that are not renewed within three (3) months of expiration shall be revoked for failure to renew. In order to obtain a license after revocation for failure to renew, an applicant must reapply for licensure in accordance with rule 360-4-.02.

(6)	A person who holds an expired license shall not engage in the practice of perfusion or represent himself or herself as a licensed clinical perfusionist until such time as the Board has renewed, reinstated or relicensed such person.

(7)

All applicants must provide an affidavit and a secure and verifiable document in accordance with O.C.G.A. 50-36-1(f). If the applicant has previously provided a secure and verifiable document and affidavit of United States citizenship, no additional documentation of citizenship is required for renewal. If the applicant for renewal is not a United States citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will determine his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE") program for purpose of verifying citizenship and immigration status information of non-U.S. citizens. If the applicant for renewal is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must provide the alien number issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency.

Rule 360-4-.07 Continuing Education Requirements

Each license must be renewed biennially by the last day of the month in which the license's birthday falls and the licensee must complete at least thirty (30) hours per biennium of continuing education in courses, programs or activities approved for continuing education credit by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion.

(a)

The Board accepts the following as meeting its requirement for Board approval:

A minimum of ten (10) CEU's must be earned in Category I. The remaining CEU's can be earned in Category II or Category III

Category I Accredited Perfusion Meetings and Other Perfusion Related Activity.

Perfusion meetings are those programs and seminars in which a minimum of 75% of the contact hours consists of perfusion related material. Only those meetings approved by the ABCP will qualify for Category I CEUs. Examples include:

* International, national, regional, and state perfusion meetings may be used to satisfy the requirement.

* Publication of perfusion related book chapter or paper in a professional journal, maximum of 5 CEU hours per item, maximum of 7 hours in a two year period.

* Presentation at an international, national, regional or state perfusion meeting maximum of 5 CEU hours per item, maximum of 7 hours in a two year period.

* Participation in the ABCP Knowledge Base Survey one CEU in a two year period.

* Completion of ABCP approved Self Directed Continuing Education (SDCE) material. Self-Directed Continuing Education (SDCE) is education provided to individuals who are not physically 'onsite.' Rather than attending meetings or courses in person, participants may communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed 17 or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time. This activity may be either online or in written format. Participant must take the required post-test and achieve a minimum score of 80% to receive credit.

Category II - Non-Accredited Perfusion Meetings and Other Medical Meetings

Category II includes international, national, regional, state and local meetings that have not been approved for CEU credit by the ABCP. Examples include:

* International, national, regional, and state, perfusion meetings that have not been accredited by the ABCP.

* Local perfusion meetings (do not require ABCP accreditation).

* Any perfusion meeting NOT EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE to the general CCP community, including manufacturer-specific and company- sponsored educational activities.

* International, national, regional, or local medically-related meetings.

* Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

* Hospital Inservices

Category III - Individual Education and Other Self-Study Activities Not Approved for Category I Credit

Credit in Category III is acquired on an hour for hour basis of the time spent in these non-accredited or non-supervised activities. Examples include:

* Reading or viewing medical journals, audiovisual, or other educational material.

* Participation in electronic forums.

* Participation in a journal club.

* Participation in degree-oriented, professionally related course work.

* Presentation of perfusion topic at a nonperfusion meeting.

* Clinical or didactic instructor in an accredited school of perfusion.

* Participation in an ABCP survey or examination development meeting.

* Participation in a site visitor's workshop or as a site visitor for perfusion program accreditation.

* Membership in a professional perfusion organization at the international, national, or state level.

Each licensee will be required to answer questions on the renewal form that establish compliance with the continuing education requirement. Licensees will not be required to send documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements for renewal, unless requested by the Board pursuant to Rule 360-4-.07(4). False statements regarding satisfaction of continuing education on the renewal form or any other document connected with the practice of perfusion may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the Board.

Each licensee who must meet the requirements of this chapter must maintain a record of attendance and supporting documents for Board approved continuing education for a period of 5 years from the date of attendance. At a minimum, the following information must be kept:

(a)	name of provider;

(b)	name of program;

(c)	hours of continuing education units completed; and

(d)	date of completion; or

(e)	approval from American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) or its successor.

4)

The Board will audit a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal applications to monitor compliance with the continuing education requirements. Any licensee so audited shall be required to furnish documentation of compliance including name of provider, name of program, continuing education hours completed and date of completion. Any licensee so audited that has been found to be out of compliance with the Board's continuing education requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.

(5)

If the licensee has not complied with the continuing education requirement by the expiration of the license, his or her license shall not be renewed and the licensee shall not engage in the practice of perfusion. A licensee may late renew as provided in Rule 360-4-.06 by presenting satisfactory evidence to the Board of completion of the continuing education requirements and the late renewal fee. Licenses that are not renewed within three months of the expiration date shall be revoked for failure to renew. Unless the provisions of Rule 360-4-06(6) are applicable, an applicant must reapply for licensure in accordance with rule 360-4-.02 in order to obtain a license after revocation for failure to renew.

(6)	Continuing education hours that are used to satisfy a deficiency may not be used for purposes of renewal of the licensed clinical perfusionist's license for the next biennium.

(7)

Any licensed clinical perfusionist seeking renewal of his or her license who has not fully complied with the Board's continuing education requirements and who wishes for the Board to waive this requirement shall:

(a)	Submit a written request and documentation to the Board to demonstrate that a waiver should be granted due to hardship, disability or illness; and

(b)	Submit such written request to the Board prior to the expiration of the license and in a sufficient time period to receive a determination from the Board as to whether a waiver will be granted.

Rule 360-4-.08 Unlicensed Practice

No person shall engage or offer to engage in perfusion or use the title or represent or imply that the person has the title of "licensed clinical perfusionist" or "provisional licensed clinical perfusionist" or use the letters "L.C.P." or "P.L.C.P." and/or any facsimile of such titles in any manner to indicate or imply that the persons is a licensed clinical perfusionist, unless the person holds such an active license or is exempted under the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 43-34-178.

(2)	The Board may refuse the license of any applicant who has engaged in the unlicensed practice of perfusion or administer other discipline pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-34-179 upon the issuance of a license to an applicant who has engaged in the unlicensed practice of perfusion.

Rule 360-4-.09 Composition and Responsibilities of the Clinical Perfusionist Advisory Committee

The composition of the Clinical Perfusionist Advisory Committee ("Advisory Committee") shall be comprised as follows:

(a)	Board members of the Composite Medical Board.

(b)	At least four (4) appointees, who are licensed clinical perfusionists and representative of the clinical Perfusionist profession, and such other individuals as the Board, in its discretion, may determine.

(2)	. Shall serve a two year term and may be reappointed for an additional two year term by a majority vote of the Board, but may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Requirements for Perfusion Advisory Members:

1.

All appointees to the Advisory Committee with the exception of medical board members shall have on file with the Executive Director of the Board, or his/her designee, a resume and three (3) letters of recommendation, (one of which may be from a physician familiar with the appointee's practice of clinical perfusion).

2.

In order to preserve continuity on the Advisory Committee, two appointees shall serve a two-year term and two appointees shall serve a one-year term which will be considered a partial term. At the time of the appointment, each appointee will be notified in writing by the Executive Director of the Board as to the beginning and ending dates of their respective appointment terms. Each may reapply to the full Board to serve an additional term, but may not serve more than two consecutive two-year terms.

3.

In the event an Advisory Committee member is replaced during a term, the replacement member will serve the remaining time of that term as a partial term. An Advisory Committee member who serves a partial term will, after the completion of the partial term, be eligible to serve two consecutive two-year terms.

4.	Appointees shall serve without compensation from the State of Georgia for their time and expenses.