(a) Rules and regulations.--Each licensure board shall promulgate and enforce regulations consistent with the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L. 1109, No. 261),¹ known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, or the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L. 457, No. 112),² known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, as appropriate, in establishing requirements of continuing medical education for individuals licensed to practice medicine and surgery without restriction as a condition for renewal of their licenses. Such regulations shall include any fees necessary for the licensure board to carry out its responsibilities under this section.

(b) Required completion.--Beginning with the licensure period commencing January 1, 2003, and following written notice to licensees by the licensure board, individuals licensed to practice medicine and surgery without restriction shall be required to enroll and complete 100 hours of mandatory continuing education during each two-year licensure period. As part of the 100-hour requirement, the licensure board shall establish a minimum number of hours that must be completed in improving patient safety and risk management subject areas.

(c) Review.--The licensure board shall review and approve continuing medical education providers or accrediting bodies who shall be certified to offer continuing medical education credit hours.

(d) Exemption.--Licensees shall be exempt from the provisions of this section as follows:

(e) Waiver.--The licensure board may waive all or a portion of the continuing education requirement for biennial renewal to a licensee who shows to the satisfaction of the licensure board that he or she was unable to complete the requirements due to serious illness, military service or other demonstrated hardship. A waiver request shall be made in writing, with appropriate documentation, and shall include a description of circumstances sufficient to show why compliance is impossible. A waiver request shall be evaluated by the licensure board on a case-by-case basis. The licensure board shall send written notification of its approval or denial of a waiver request.

(f) Reinstatement.--A licensee seeking to reinstate an inactive or lapsed license shall show proof of compliance with the continuing education requirement for the preceding biennium.

(g) Board approval.--An individual shall retain official documentation of attendance for two years after renewal and shall certify completed courses on a form provided by the licensure board for that purpose to be filed with the biennial renewal form. Official documentation proving attendance shall be produced upon licensure board demand pursuant to random audits of reported credit hours. Electronic submission of documentation is permissible to prove compliance with this subsection. Noncompliance with the requirements of this section may result in disciplinary proceedings.

(h) Regulations.--The licensure board shall promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section within six months of the effective date of this section.