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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 09.24.02.04" title_num="09" subtitle_num="24" chapter_num="02" heading="Qualifying Continuing Education Programs and Methods.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The overriding consideration in determining whether a specific program or method qualifies is that it shall be a program or method of learning which contributes directly to the professional competence of an individual after this individual has been licensed to practice certified public accountancy.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Group Continuing Education Programs.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A group continuing education program will qualify only if it meets §A of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Types of group continuing education programs would include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Professional development programs of recognized national and state accounting organizations and their chapters;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Technical sessions at meetings of recognized national and state accounting organizations and their chapters;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Non-credit courses at universities and colleges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>In-firm education programs; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Programs offered by other recognized professional or industrial organizations.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual who reports participation in a qualifying group continuing education program to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, the following documentation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A certificate of completion; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A certificate of attendance.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>University and College Courses.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>University and college courses taken for academic credit at an institution of higher education that meets the requirements of Business Occupations and Professions Article, §2-303(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, will qualify only if §A of this regulation is met.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Credit towards the continuing education requirement will be calculated as follows:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>15 hours for each semester hour credit; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>10 hours for each quarter hour credit.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual who reports completion of a university or college course to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, an official transcript that includes the course.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Other Programs.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A program other than a group program will qualify only if the program meets the requirements of §A of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual who reports participation in a program other than a group continuing education program to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, the following documentation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A certificate of completion; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A certificate of attendance.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Electronic Self-Study. In order to qualify, an electronic self-study program of 10-minute duration must include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At least one stated learning objective; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Require the participant to correctly answer at least two final assessment questions at the end of the program.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Peer Reviews.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A peer review shall qualify if conducted in accordance with Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 2, Subtitle 4A, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 09.24.06.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Calculation of Credit for Peer Reviews.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Only an individual in a firm that receives a “passing” peer review report with no deficiencies may receive credit.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The peer reviewer shall allocate the credit hours among the engagement personnel in attendance at the exit conference for the peer review.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The peer reviewer shall allocate a maximum of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>12 hours for an engagement review; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>16 hours for a system review.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Peer review credit hours may not exceed 16 credit hours per individual for any license period.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An individual who reports participation in a peer review to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, a written certification signed and dated by the peer reviewer indicating the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The name of the individual receiving credit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The name of the reviewed firm;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The permit number of the reviewed firm;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The type of peer review performed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The number of credit hours awarded to the individual.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Continuing Education Publications.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual may receive continuing education credit for authoring or contributing to a continuing education publication that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Meets §A of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Has been reviewed prior to publication by a qualified independent party.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Credit Hours.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Board shall determine the number of credit hours to be awarded to an individual for authoring or contributing to a continuing education publication based on the time spent by the individual:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Performing research associated with the continuing education publication; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Writing the continuing education publication.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual may be awarded a maximum of 10 credit hours for each continuing education publication.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Continuing education publication credit hours may not exceed 40 credit hours per individual for any license period.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Documentation. An individual who reports authoring or contributing to a continuing education publication to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, the following documentation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For printed media, the individual shall provide a copy of the published work.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For digital media, the individual shall provide a copy of the published work.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For online media, the individual shall provide:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The complete uniform resource locator of the published work;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The title of the published work; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The date of the published work.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>For all types of media, the individual shall, on a form provided by the Board:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Certify the hours spent by the individual researching and writing the continuing education publication; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Identify the independent party who reviewed the continuing education publication.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Services as a Teacher, Lecturer, or Discussion Leader.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual may receive continuing education credit for services as a teacher, lecturer, or discussion leader that meet §A of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Credit Hours.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An individual who provides services as a teacher, lecturer, or discussion leader will be awarded credit hours for a presentation of a course or program in the following amounts:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>For a university or college course offered at an institution of higher education that meets the requirements of Business Occupations and Professions Article, §2-303(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, the individual shall receive 15 hours of continuing education for each semester hour credit of the course and 10 hours of continuing education for each quarter hour credit of the course; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>For any other course or program, the individual shall receive three times the credit hours of the course or program.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Credit hours for services as a teacher, lecturer, or discussion leader may not exceed 45 credit hours per individual for any license period.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An individual may only be awarded credit hours for the first time presentation of a course or program within a 2-year license term.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Documentation. An individual who reports services as a teacher, lecturer, or discussion leader to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this chapter shall provide, upon the Board’s request, the following documentation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The professional credentials of the individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The name of the course or program;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The group or institution offering the course or program;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>An outline or syllabus of the subject matter presented;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The date of the presentation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The location of the presentation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The duration of the presentation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>