New Jersey § 45:9-7

§ 45:9-7.

a. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection d. of this section, the State Board of Medical Examiners shall require each person licensed as a physician,

as a condition for biennial registration pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1971, c. 236

( C.45:9-6.1 ), or as a podiatrist, as a condition for biennial registration pursuant to R.S.45:5-9 , to complete a requisite number of credits of continuing medical education, all of which shall be in Category I or Category

II as defined in subsection i. of this section. b. The board shall: (1) Establish standards for continuing medical education, including the subject matter

and content of courses of study; (2) Accredit education programs offering credit toward continuing medical education

requirements or recognize national or State organizations that may accredit education

programs; (3) Allow satisfaction of continuing medical education requirements through equivalent

educational programs, such as participation in accredited graduate medical education

programs, examinations, papers, publications, scientific presentations, teaching and

research appointments and scientific exhibits, and establish procedures for the issuance

of credit upon satisfactory proof of attainment of these equivalent educational programs; (4) Create an advisory committee to be comprised of at least five members, including

representatives of the Medical Society of New Jersey, the Academy of Medicine of New

Jersey, the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons , the New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society and such other professional societies and associations as the board may identify,

to provide guidance to the board in discharging its responsibilities pursuant to this

section; and (5) Establish , through the promulgation of regulations, any specific courses or topics which, on

the recommendation of the advisory committee created pursuant to paragraph (4) of

this subsection and in the discretion of the board, are to be required , and designate which are the core requirements for continuing medical education,

including the number of required hours, subject matter and content of courses of study . c. Each hour of an educational course or program shall be equivalent to one credit

of continuing medical education. d. (1) The board may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing medical education

on an individual basis for reasons of hardship such as illness or disability, retirement

of license, or other good cause. A waiver shall apply only to the current biennial renewal period at the time of

board issuance. (2) The board may offset up to 10 percent of the requisite number of credits for continuing

medical education biennially by the number of hours of volunteer medical services

rendered by licensees, at the rate of one half of one credit of continuing medical

education for each hour of volunteer medical service rendered, provided that such

licensees shall be required to complete at least the core requirements established

pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection b. of this section. The board may reduce, in part, an application by a licensee to offset credits of

continuing medical education pursuant to this paragraph if the board finds, in its

discretion, that the applicant requires such continuing medical education in order

to maintain or restore professional competence, or may deny all such applications

if the board finds that continuing medical education above the core requirements is

necessary because of developments in science or technology. The board may also, in its discretion, and for good cause, notify a licensee that

the licensee is ineligible to offset credits of continuing medical education pursuant

to this paragraph for any other reason established by regulation by the board. e. The board shall not require completion of continuing medical education credits

for any registration period commencing within 12 months of the effective date of this

section. f. The board shall require completion of medical education credits on a pro-rated

basis for any registration period commencing more than 12 months but less than 24

months from the effective date of this section. g. The board shall require new licensees to successfully complete, within 24 months

of becoming licensed, an orientation course, in those topics identified by the board

through regulation, conducted by an organization recognized by the board. h. The board shall not require a new licensee to complete required continuing medical

education credits, other than the orientation course described in subsection g. of

this section, for any registration period commencing within 12 months of the licensee's

participation in and completion of an accredited graduate medical education program. i. As used in this section : “ Category I and Category II ” means those categories of medical education courses recognized by the American Medical

Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Podiatric Medical

Association, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or other comparable

organizations recognized by the board ; “ Core requirements ” means the continuing medical education determined by the board to be necessary to

maintain currency in professional knowledge and skills in order to deliver competent

care to patients; and “ Volunteer medical services ” means medical care provided without charge to low-income patients for health care

services for which the patient is not covered by any public or private third party

payer, in accordance with such standards, procedures, requirements and limitations

as are established by the board .