20-2904. Continuing education; contractor requirements; automatic approval

A. Pursuant to title 41, chapter 23, the director shall enter into a contract with a person for the approval of approved providers and courses and administration of the continuing education program. The director shall include in any request for proposals the minimum performance standards established by the continuing education review committee.

B. The contractor shall:

1. After a complete review and investigation based on the minimum standards established by the continuing education review committee:

(a) Accept or reject provider organizations as approved providers.

(b) Except as provided in subsection C of this section, review course content for approval or disapproval as an approved continuing education course.

2. Charge an applicant an application fee for acceptance as an approved provider and a fee for approval of a continuing education course.

C. A continuing education course is automatically approved if either:

1. Thirty days after the contractor receives an application, the contractor does not disapprove the course described in the application or does not request supplemental information from the applicant.

2. The course is approved by the insurance regulatory authority in at least five other states and the approved provider provides the contractor with a certificate or letter from the regulatory authority in the five other states that confirms the approval of the course.

D. The contractor's decision pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 1, subdivision (b) of this section is an appealable agency action as defined in section 41-1092 and the approved provider is entitled to a hearing pursuant to title 41, chapter 6, article 10 and, except as provided in section 41-1092.08, subsection H, is entitled to judicial review pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6.

E. Except as provided in section 20-2903, the acceptance of an approved provider is valid for five years. At the end of the five years, the approved provider may submit an application for renewal to the contractor and the contractor shall charge the approved provider the fee prescribed in subsection B of this section. The approval of a continuing education course is valid for two years or until the course content or outline changes. At the end of the two years or when the course content or outline changes, the approved provider may submit an application for renewal to the contractor and the contractor shall charge the approved provider the fee prescribed in subsection B of this section.