21 NCAC 26 .0309             EXEMPTIONS AND EXTENSION OF TIME

(a)  A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for any of the following reasons:

(1)           New licensees by way of examination or comity for the current registration year;

(2)           A licensee serving on temporary active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding 90 consecutive days in a year or as provided by G.S. 93B-15(b), whichever is greater;

(3)           A licensee experiencing physical disability or illness if supporting documentation is approved by the Board. Such documentation shall be in the form of a sworn statement by the licensee, a statement from a physician, or medical records which show that the disability or illness, prevented the licensee's participation in a course that the licensee had enrolled, or prevented the licensee's participation in the continuing education program for at least 90 consecutive days in a year; or

(4)           A licensee with emeritus status from the Board.

(b)  In order to return to active practice, licensees who have received an exemption shall complete continuing education requirements for each exempted year, not to exceed two years.

(c)  During a national or State declared state of emergency that restricts or prohibits a licensee from obtaining by active participation in Board approved continuing education, the Board may extend the compliance period if requested by the licensee up to 90 days beyond the effective period of the state of emergency. Any license renewed in reliance on this exemption shall be issued conditionally and shall automatically expire on the 90th day if compliance is not documented in the licensee's secure online profile by that date.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 89A-3.1(6); 89A-5; 93B-15;

Eff. March 1, 2015;

Emergency Amendment Eff. May 6, 2020;

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 28, 2020;

Temporary Amendment Expired Eff. June 12, 2021;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2022.