Information About Continuing Education
Continuing education units (CEUs) are awarded by education and training providers to professionals in a myriad disciplines to signify successful completion of programs and courses that help professionals both retain relevant and acquire new knowledge and skills directly related to their practice. The number of units (sometimes also known as credits) earned are determined by the number of completed course contact hours. To learn more visit the International Accreditors of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) website.
To ensure the quality and validity of earned CEUs, professionals should research the provider’s accreditation and/or affiliation with professional organizations that set industry standards. Accreditation is a voluntary process of self-regulation and peer review adopted by educational institutions and continuing education providers to evaluate each other in accord with the expressed mission and professional standards. To be recognized as accredited, and thus affiliated with professional associations, an educational institution and/or continuing education provider must prove that certain qualitative characteristics are inherent in their course offerings. An accredited institution typically provides assurance of participating in a quality education experience that has legitimate professional recognition in the area of speciality. Accreditation is an affirmation that an educational institution provides a quality education that the general public has the right to expect and that the educational community recognizes. Accreditation may also allow participants access Federal and/or State of Maryland financial assistance programs, if applicable.
A Licensee’s Continuing Education Requirement
Acupuncturists are required to earn at least 30 continuing education units (CEUs) bi-annually and report this education to the Board. 20 of the CEUs must focus on East Asian medicine. The remaining 10 CEUs can be in Western medicine. Another option for complying with CEUs is in service to the practice through research, teaching and volunteerism. The Board’s C.O.M.A.R has a list of approved institutions that provide recognized CEUs however this list is not exhaustive as provider information can change over time. Ultimately, the Practitioner is responsible for requesting the continuing education provider and instructor’s accreditation status.
However the practitioner complies with the CEU requirement, he/she must retain proof of compliance for four years post that renewal cycle. All means of compliance must be documented. This documentation includes forms such as:
- Certificates - dated, signed, with course name, number of CEUs earned and professional affiliation seals as applicable.
- Notices of Completion - on letterhead, dated, signed, with course name, number of CEUs earned and professional affiliation seals as applicable.
- NCCAOM approved PDA report
- Screenshot confirming course completion accompanied by documentation that includes date, course information, proof of payment. number of CEUs earned and professional affiliation seals as applicable.
- Official transcript for doctoral studies from accredited educational institution, accompanied by course information
COMAR Regulation -
https://health.maryland.gov/bacc/Documents/continuing_ed_813.pdfImplicit Bias
Senate Bill 5/House Bill 28Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Implicit Bias Training Requirement
Excerpt - April 1, 2022
This bill requires applicants for the renewal of a license or certificate issued by a health occupations board to attest to the completion of an approved implicit bias training program the first time they renew their license or certificate after April 1, 2022.
What is Implicit Bias?
Senate Bill 5 / House Bill 28 passed in
2021 defines implicit bias as:
A bias in judgment that results from subtle cognitive processes, including the following prejudices and stereotypes that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without control:
- prejudicial negative feelings or beliefs about a group that an individual holds without being aware of the feelings or beliefs
- unconscious attributions of particular qualities to a member of a special social group that are influenced by experience and based on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, including race and gender.
Approved Implicit Bias Courses
Click here to see a list of approved implicit bias courses.
For more information regarding Implicit Bias, please visit the Maryland Department of Health Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities webpage.
