KRS § 314.073 Continuing competency requirements. (Effective until July 15, 2026)

314.073 Continuing competency requirements. (Effective until July 15, 2026) (1) As a prerequisite for license renewal, all individuals licensed under provisions of this chapter shall be required to document continuing competency during the immediate past licensure period as prescribed in regulations promulgated by the board. (2) The continuing competency requirement shall be documented and reported as set forth by the board in administrative regulations promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A. (3) The board shall approve providers of continuing education. The approval may include recognition of providers approved by national organizations and state boards of nursing with comparable standards. Standards for these approvals shall be set by the board in administrative regulations promulgated in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chapter 13A. (4) The board shall work cooperatively with professional nursing organizations, approved nursing schools, and other potential sources of continuing education programs to ensure that adequate continuing education offerings are available statewide. The board may enter into contractual agreements to implement the provisions of this section. (5) The board shall be responsible for notifying applicants for licensure and licensees applying for license renewal, of continuing competency requirements. (6) As a part of the continuing education requirements that the board adopts to ensure continuing competency of present and future licensees, the board shall ensure practitioners licensed under KRS Chapter 314 complete a one-time training course of at least one and one-half (1.5) hours covering the recognition and prevention of pediatric abusive head trauma, as defined in KRS 620.020. The one and one-half (1.5) hours required under this section shall be included in the current number of required continuing education hours. (7) As a part of the continuing education requirements that the board adopts to ensure continuing competency of present and future licensees and the evolving needs of the growing senior population, the board shall ensure practitioners licensed under KRS Chapter 314 complete a one (1) time course of one (1) hour of continuing education approved by the board. The course shall be completed one (1) time and count towards the current number of required continuing education hours, except that graduating student practitioners may submit Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia course curriculum taught in their programs of study towards the required one (1) hour for approval. The course topics shall include but not be limited to: (a) The warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; (b) The importance of early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate communication techniques for discussion of memory concerns with the patient and his or her caregiver; (c) Cognitive assessment and care planning billing codes; (d) The variety of tools used to assess a patient's cognition; and (e) Current treatments that may be available to the patient. (8) In order to offset administrative costs incurred in the implementation of the mandatory continuing competency requirements, the board may charge reasonable fees as established by regulation in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chapter 13A. (9) The continuing competency requirements shall include at least five (5) contact hours in pharmacology continuing education for any person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 218, sec. 4, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 113, sec. 16, effective June 24, 2015; and ch. 117, sec. 14, effective June 24, 2015. -- Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 35, sec. 4, effective June 8, 2011. -- Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 57, effective July 15, 2010; and ch. 171, sec. 14, effective July 15, 2010. -- Amended 2001 Ky. Acts ch. 61, sec. 10, effective June 21, 2001. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 391, sec. 13, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 342, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 128, sec. 8, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 443, sec. 9, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 408, sec. 7, effective July 15, 1982. -- Created 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 13, effective June 17, 1978.