In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Active nursing practice” as used in Health Occupations Article, §8-312, Annotated Code of Maryland, means: The practice of registered nursing or licensed practical nursing as defined in Health Occupations Article, §8-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; Related nursing activities approved by the Board, including but not limited to a generic nursing education program, degree completion programs, or graduate programs within the last 5 years; and Completion of a generic nursing education program, degree completion program, or a graduate program within the last 5 years. “Advanced practice registered nurse” has the meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, §8-101, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Biennial renewal” means renewal of a license every 2 years in the licensee’s birth month. “Board” means the Maryland Board of Nursing. “Central Repository” means the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. “Certified nursing assistant (CNA)” has the meaning stated in Health Occupations Article, §8-6A-01, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Continuing education” means planned, organized learning experiences designed to augment the knowledge, skill, and ability to enhance nursing practice and therefore improve health care delivered to the public. “Continuing education unit (CEU)” means 1 contact hour of 50—60 minutes. “Cosign” means a registered nurse verifies that: An activity was performed safely and accurately by the nursing graduate; and The documentation is complete and accurate. “Criminal history records check” means the performance of both a State criminal history check by the Central Repository, and a national criminal history check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “Criminal history records information” means information provided by the criminal history records check regarding an applicant's criminal arrests, charges, and convictions, and other dispositions of criminal charges. “Direct patient care” means healthcare activities that involve direct interaction between a healthcare professional and a patient. “Endorsement” means, for qualified applicants who have an unencumbered license from another state or country to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing, a waiver of the initial licensure requirement to take the national licensure examination in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §8-307, Annotated Code of Maryland. “English language competency examination” means an examination that tests an individual’s written and oral competency in the English language. Entry-level Registered Nursing Education Program. “Entry-level registered nursing education program” means a registered nursing education program that is the initial entry point for formal registered nursing education that, upon successful completion, qualifies an individual with no prior registered nursing education to obtain licensure as a registered nurse. “Entry-level registered nursing education program” does not include degree completion programs, including but not limited to: Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing to Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (AAS-BSN); Associate of Degree in Nursing to Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN-BSN); Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing to Masters of Science Degree in Nursing (AAS-MSN); Associate Degree in Nursing to Masters of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN-MSN); Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing to Masters of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN-MSN); Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Philosophy (BSN-PHD); Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Education (BSN-EDD); Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN-DNP); Masters of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Philosophy (MSN-PHD); Masters of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Education (MSN-EDD); Masters of Science Degree in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP); or Masters of Science Degree in Nursing to Post Masters Certificate/Post Graduate Certificate. “Former licensee” means an individual who once had an active license with the Board who is no longer active. “Multistate licensure privilege” means an authorization to practice registered nursing or licensed practical nursing in Maryland that is granted to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who has an active multistate license issued by another state in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact. “NCLEX” means the National Council Licensure Examination for initial licensure as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. “Nursing assistant” means an individual certified by the Board as a certified nursing assistant. “Preceptor” means a registered nurse who meets the qualifications of faculty as described in Regulation .16 of this chapter. “Preceptorship” means an individualized refresher course approved by the Board and offered by an institution employing nurses which complies with Regulation .16 of this chapter. “Student” means a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who is required to complete a refresher course in order to maintain or reestablish an active license. “Substantially equivalent” has the meaning stated in §§C and D of this regulation. “Volunteer” means a licensee who, at the time of licensure renewal, elects to receive a license which only allows the licensee to provide professional services without remuneration. “Written and oral competency in the English language” means the ability to demonstrate proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing the English language. “Substantially equivalent” means a registered nursing or licensed practical nursing education program that: Contains theoretical learning experiences and related clinical learning experiences that include direct patient care within various settings consistent with program objectives, outcomes, or competencies conducted either concurrently with or after the theoretical learning experience; and Meets the curriculum requirements for Maryland schools of nursing at the time of the applicant’s graduation, including, but not limited to: The appropriate level of the graduate's intended scope of practice; Didactic and clinical learning experiences that are diverse and consistent with program objectives, outcomes, or competencies; Didactic and clinical instruction in nursing care of families and clients throughout the life span in a variety of care settings requiring nursing measures appropriate for: The maintenance or restoration of mental and physical health; Preventive, rehabilitative, and curative aspects of health care; Biophysical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual components of health and illness; and Professional issues content; and Didactic and clinical instructional content that includes, but is not limited to, the areas of: Medical and surgical nursing; Maternal and child health; Psychiatric nursing; and Geriatric nursing. “Substantially equivalent” does not mean a registered nurse or licensed practical nursing education program in another state or country that does not have a supervised clinical learning experience requirement.