Information on Continuing Competence
California Code of Regulations
Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations Section 1399.669 requires each Doctor of Podiatric Medicine to complete 50 hours of approved continuing education, including a minimum of 12 hours in subjects related to the lower extremity muscular skeletal system. All courses must be scientific in content, and relate directly to patient care.
Licensees must maintain records of continuing education course attendance for a minimum of 4 years, in the event of an audit.
What Courses Are Acceptable for Credit?
The following courses are approved for continuing medical education credit, providing they are scientific in content and relate directly to patient care:
- Programs approved by the California Podiatric Medical Association or the American Podiatric Medical Association and their affiliated organizations
- Programs approved for Category 1 credit of the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association, or their affiliated organizations, and programs approved by the American Osteopathic Association, Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California, or their affiliated organizations;
- Programs offered by approved colleges or schools of podiatric medicine, medicine, and osteopathic medicine;
- Completion of an approved residency or fellowship program (credited for fifty hours of continuing medical education).
Programs not included under items 1-4 above may be approved by the Podiatric Medical Board of California following an application and review process. Courses approved by application to the board must meet several criteria, including documentation that the course material is scientific in content and directly related to patient care. Courses in other subjects such as investments, tax planning, practice management, and risk management are not approved for credit.
Note: A maximum of one-third of continuing education hours may be satisfied by teaching courses offered by an approved continuing education provider.
Waivers
The board may temporarily waive these requirements. A waiver may be granted only for reasons of health, military service, or undue hardship. A waiver must be applied for on a form provided by the board, and must be approved prior to issuance of the license renewal.
A temporary waiver permits an additional two-year license period for completion of deficient requirements, which must be documented at the following license renewal. If these are not completed, a license renewal will not be granted.
Any licensee granted a temporary waiver may not be granted another temporary waiver at the next license renewal. (California Code of Regulations Section 1399.678(e))
Random Audit
The Podiatric Medical Board of California annually audits a random sample of DPMs for compliance. Licensees selected for audit must provide documentation of compliance. Licensees must maintain records of continuing education course attendance for a minimum of 4 years, in case of audit.
Revised February 2024
