Title of Regulation: 18VAC65-20. Regulations of the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (amending 18VAC65-20-152).

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2816.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: September 29, 2010.

Agency Contact: Lisa Russell Hahn, Executive Director, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, telephone (804) 367-4424, FAX (804) 527-4637, or email lisa.hahn@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The regulation is amended to conform to § 54.1-2816.1 of the Code of Virginia, which specifies that continuing education providers must maintain certificates issued to licensees for a period of two years following each course offered. 18VAC65-20-152 requires continuing education providers to retain documentation for three years; therefore, the regulation is amended to require document retention for two years.

18VAC65-20-152. Continuing education providers.

A. Unless disqualified by action of the board, courses offered by the following providers are approved for continuing education credit:

1. Local, state or federal government agencies;

2. Regionally accredited colleges and universities; or

3. Board-recognized national, regional, state and local associations or organizations as follows:

a. National Funeral Directors Association and state chapters;

b. National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and state chapters;

c. Association of Independent Funeral Homes of Virginia;

d. Cremation Association of North America;

e. American Board of Funeral Service Education;

f. International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards;

g. Virginia Morticians Association; and

h. Other similar associations or organizations as approved by action of the board.

B. Course providers not listed in subsection A of this section may apply for approval by the board as continuing education providers.

1. To be considered for board approval, a continuing education provider shall submit 60 days prior to offering a continuing education course:

a. Documentation of an instructional plan and course objectives for continuing education courses that meet the criteria set forth in 18VAC65-20-151 B;

b. A syllabus of the course or courses to be offered with the credentials of the course instructors, a description of each session, including number of continuing education hours; and

c. The continuing education provider fee set forth under 18VAC65-20-70.

2. Board approval of continuing education providers under this subsection shall expire on July 1 of each year and may be renewed upon resubmission of documentation on courses and instructors and the provider fee as required by the board.

3. Continued approval of a continuing education provider may be granted without submission of the provider fee if the provider submits a statement that courses and instructors offered for the coming year will not change from the previous year. If there will be additions or alterations to the continuing education offerings of a provider, resubmission of documentation and a provider fee is required.

C. Continuing education providers approved under subsection A or B of this section shall:

1. Maintain and provide to the board upon request documentation of the course titles and objectives and of licensee attendance and completion of courses for a period of three two years;

2. Monitor attendance at classroom or similar educational experiences for compliance with law and regulations; and

3. Provide a certificate of completion for licensees who successfully complete a course.