21 NCAC 32B .1370          REENTRY TO ACTIVE PRACTICE

(a)  An applicant for licensure who has not actively practiced or who has not maintained continued competency for the two-year period immediately preceding the filing of an application for a license shall complete a reentry agreement as a condition of licensure.

(b)  The first component of a reentry agreement involves assessing the applicant's current strengths and weaknesses in the intended area(s) of practice.  The process may include testing and evaluation by colleagues, educators or others.

(c)  The second component of the reentry agreement is education. Education shall address the applicant's area(s) of needed improvement and consist of a reentry period of retraining and education upon terms based on the factors set forth in Paragraph (d) of this Rule.

(d)  Factors that may affect the length and scope of the reentry plan include:

(1)           The applicant's amount of time out of practice;

(2)           The applicant's prior intensity of practice;

(3)           The reason for the interruption in practice;

(4)           The applicant's activities during the interruption in practice, including the amount of practice-relevant continuing medical education;

(5)           The applicant's previous and intended area(s) of practice;

(6)           The skills required of the intended area(s) of practice;

(7)           The amount of change in the intended area(s) of practice during the time the applicant has been out of continuous practice;

(8)           The applicant's number of years of graduate medical education;

(9)           The number of years since the applicant completed graduate medical education; and

(10)         As applicable, the date of the most recent ABMS, AOA or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant certification or recertification.

(e)  If the Board approves an applicant's plan for reentry, the approved plan shall be incorporated by reference into a reentry agreement and executed by the applicant, the Board, and any applicable Board agents assisting with the reentry agreement.

(f)  After the reentry agreement has been executed, and the applicant has completed all other requirements for licensure, the applicant shall receive a License.  The licensee may not practice outside of the scope of the reentry agreement during the reentry period.

(g)  Unsatisfactory completion of the reentry agreement or practicing outside the scope of the reentry agreement shall result in the automatic inactivation of the licensee's license unless the licensee requests a hearing within 30 days of receiving notice from the Board.

(h)  Upon successful completion of the reentry agreement, the Board shall terminate the reentry agreement.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-8.1; 90-14(a)(11a);

Eff. March 1, 2011;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2016;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 1, 2016.