Chapter 410-13 CONTINUING COMPETENCY

Rule 410-13-.01 Continuing Competency Requirements for Registered Nurses

(1) Applicants for licensure renewal must satisfy one of the following continuing competency requirements during the biennial renewal period:
(a) Completion of thirty (30) continuing education hours by a Board approved provider;
(b) Maintenance of certification or recertification by a national certifying body recognized by the Board;
(c) Completion of an accredited academic program of study in nursing or a related field as recognized by the Board;
(d) Verification of competency by a health care facility or entity licensed under O.C.G.A. §31-7 or by a physician's office that is part of a health system and at least 500 hours practiced as evidenced by employer certification on a form approved by the board; or
(e) Other activities as prescribed and approved by the board that show competency in the nursing field.
(2) Failure to meet the minimum continuing competency requirement for renewal of a license shall be grounds for denial of a renewal application.
(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) 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) Licensees must maintain documentation of completion of the continuing competency activities as required in 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.
(a) Licensees and applicants shall incur no costs from CE Broker, Incorporated for use of basic reporting and recording services.
(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.

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

(1) Applicants for licensure renewal must satisfy one of the following continuing competency requirements during the biennial renewal period:
(a) Completion of twenty (20) continuing education hours by a Board approved provider; or,
(b) Completion of an accredited academic program of study in registered professional nursing, as recognized by the board.
(2) Failure to meet the minimum continuing competency requirement for renewal of a license shall be grounds for denial of a renewal application.
(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) 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) Licensees must maintain documentation of completion of the continuing competency activities as required in 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.
(a) Licensees and applicants shall incur no costs from CE Broker, Incorporated for use of basic reporting and recording services.
(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.

Rule 410-13-.03 Recognition of National Certifying Bodies

(1) The Board shall create and maintain a list of national certifying bodies to satisfy the continuing competency requirements provided in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-9(b.1)(2):
(2) Work related certification (i.e. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Trauma Nursing Core Course, Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization) may not be used to satisfy the licensure renewal requirements provided in O.C.G.A. § 43-26-9(b.1)(2).
(3) A national certifying body may seek recognition by the Board by submitting the following:
(a) Evidence that the certification process includes an initial written or online examination;
(b) Evidence that the certification includes continuing competency requirements or reexamination as a condition of recertification or certification renewal;
(4) The Board may discontinue recognition of a certifying organization.