Questions on Continuing Education Requirements

1. Q: How many contact hours of continuing education are needed for this licensing period?

A: A minimum of twenty (20) hours of approved continuing education (CE) which includes one (1) hour in Blood-borne diseases and two (2) hours in Prevention of Medical Errors must be obtained by Florida licensed electrologists during the biennium between June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2014. Ten (10) hours can be taken by home study, and at least 10 hours must be from live or classroom courses. All of the CE for Health Care Professionals courses are home study.

2. Q: Are Continuing Education Providers approved by the Electrolysis Council?

A: No, the Council does not approve specific CE providers. It accepts courses and offerings of the Electrolysis Society of Florida, the Electrolysis Association of Florida, the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal, and the American Electrology Association. However, the HIV/AIDS and Medical Errors courses can be taken from any CE provider that is approved by any Board of the Department of Health. Further, laser hair removal courses are approved continuing education courses and they count for CE credit. They are the only courses that are specifically reviewed and approved by the Electrolysis Council. Our courses are registered with CE Broker and have been accepted by the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal, Inc. for CE credit.

3. Q: How many hours of HIV/AIDS are required by the Electrolysis Council?

A: READ CAREFULLY, RULE CHANGE: A minimum and a maximum of two (2) hours on blood borne diseases, which included one hour on HIV/AIDS, used to be required for all licensees. As of April 26, 2009, the rule was changed and each electrologist is now required to complete only a one (1) hour course on blood-borne diseases. Currently, one hour of HIV/AIDS must be taken only by new licensees prior to first renewal. Current law: Electrologists who are renewing their license (except for the first time) are NOT required to take an HIV/AIDS course. However, HIV/AIDS can be taken as an elective course. See Electrolysis Council Rule 64B-52.003, F.A.C. Electrologists can NOT get credit for the HIV/AIDS course taken for a cosmetology license. The cosmetology license is regulated by the Department of Business, and the electrology license by the Department of Health. Under the law, the Electrolysis Council only accepts any HIV/AIDS course that is approved by any other Board or Council of the Department of Health.

4. Q: What is the requirement concerning a course in "Medical Errors?"

A: The Florida Legislature requires that all health care licensees of the Florida Department of Health take a two hour course in the prevention of medical errors every biennium. The course must also be taken prior to initial licensure. The Electrolysis Council accepts any medical errors course that is approved by any other Board or Council of the Department of Health. Our course has been approved by the Board of Occupational Therapy, so electrologists can take our course and the Electrolysis Council will accept it for CE credit.

5. Q: Does CE for Health Care Professionals offer elective continuing education courses?

A: Yes, CE for Health Care Professionals (CEHCPRO) offers electrologists several elective home study courses: "Florida Laws and Rules for Electrologists", "Domestic Violence Basics for Health Care Professionals", "Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Harassment", "HIV/AIDS Basics for Electrologists", "Professional Ethics for Electrologists" and "Health Information Technology (HIT) for Health Care Professionals" to help meet the CE requirements. .

6. Q: When will I receive my license renewal notice from the State?

A: The Department of Health mails postcard notices approximately 90-120 days before the end of the biennium. The notices will be mailed to the last address you have given the Council. You can change your address by writing or e-mailing the Council. Once you change your address with the Council, the state of Florida will change your address on the "License Verification" page that includes the name, address of record, license number, and the status of license for all health care licensees, including electrologists. Here is a link to the Electrolysis Council website.

7. Q: What courses must APPLICANTS for Electrology license take?

A: Applicants for initial licensure must take a two hour Prevention of Medical Errors course before licensure. Our course can be taken. Once the course is completed, print out a copy of the Certificate and file it with the Council with your other application materials or if applying online, then send the information found on the Certificate to the Council.

8. Q: What are the CE requirements for persons NEWLY LICENSED Electrologists during the current biennium?

A: READ CAREFULLY, RULE CHANGE: If you are licensed during the first year of the biennium (June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013) you must take all 20 hours of CE including 2 hours of Medical Errors, the one  hour course in Blood-borne diseases, AND also (pursuant to the new rule change) "an approved course on HIV/AIDS education." This can be a minimum of one hour. If you are licensed in the second half of the biennium (June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014), then you are exempt from the CE requirements, but must take two hours in Medical Errors, one  hour course in Blood-borne diseases, and at least a one hour course on HIV/AIDS. Yes, a Medical Errors course must be taken again, after licensure, even though it was required before licensure.

9. Q: If I take more than the 20 hours during one biennium, do the extra hours carry over the next biennium?

A: No, the courses are "cancelled out" at the end of the biennium, and you must start over during the new biennium. Make sure you keep your certificates of course completion for at least 4 years (this is a Council rule) and in case you are audited, it is easy to prove when you took the courses.

10. Q. How do I find LIVE courses?

A. Live courses are offered by the Electrolysis Society of Florida, Inc. (ESF), website: http://www.hairremovalflorida.com and the Electrolysis Association of Florida, Inc. (EAF), contact Goldie  Silber at e-mail: gandslock@yahoo.com,  and Laserblazers, Inc., website: http://www.laserblazers.com  Also, check the free "Course Search" list on CE Broker, www.cebroker.com. 

Questions on Signing Up for Courses

11. Q. How do I order courses for the FIRST TIME?

A: On the Order Page, there are three sections: Course Selection, Current Members, and New Member Profile. The FIRST TIME you order, check the courses you want to take, and go to the New Member Profile section and enter the required information.  Create and remember your Login name and Password; they are case and space sensitive. You'll need these later to login to the Member Login section to access the courses, tests and course completion certificates. The next time you order use the "Current Member" section on the Order Page.

12. Q: Why do I have to put in my Florida license number, and how do I do it?

A: CE Broker keeps a record of the courses you take by your state of Florida license number. To correctly enter your Florida license number, do not use the two or three letter prefix for your profession or the zeroes that appear before your license number. If you are NOT licensed in Florida, put in "applicant" or "student." Do NOT use any other terms or your license number from another state or certifying organization. Once you have submitted your information and it is correct, press the "Submit Info" button and you'll be sent to a secure site to enter your credit or bank card information.

13. Q. How do I order more courses AFTER the first time?

A. On the Order page, check the courses you want to add. Then enter your Login name and Password in the Current Member section and finalize the order. Your new courses will be added to your Account so you can view a continuing record of the CE courses you have taken. If you are unsure if you have ordered earlier or have forgotten your login name and password, send us an e-mail with your name and profession and we will help you.

14. Q. How does the secure site work, and what sort of security is being used for my credit card information?

A: The secure pages where your credit or bank card information (Visa or MasterCard only) is entered are hosted by PayPal, one of the leading security companies on the net. PayPal has added a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to protect these pages. An SSL is an industry standard protocol for encrypting data to prevent eavesdropping or message forging. We have never had any security problems with our website. Note: Once you submit your credit/bank card information, the approval is almost instantaneous. Do NOT push the button more than once or you may be charged again. Once the transaction is completed, the transaction approval page appears. If you receive an Error message, your card was not accepted.  Try another one. Return to our website by pushing the Login button at the bottom of that page.  You will also receive an e-mail Receipt for your records.

15. Q. What do I do after I've paid? / How do I get to my courses?

A. Once your card is approved you can go immediately to the Member Login page by using the button at the bottom of the transaction approval page. Enter the Login name and Password exactly as you entered them during the course purchase.  Your Personal Account will open. On the Account page there will be a list of courses ordered and your contact information. Open the links for "Review Course Materials" and then "Take the Test" as often as needed to complete the courses.

16. Q. How do I change my Account contact information?
A. Login to your Personal Account via the Member Login link. Use the "Update Contact Info" button on the bottom of the page. Once you have made changes, enter your password to confirm the changes. However, for security reasons, to change your Florida license number from Applicant or other status, or your name, please send us an e-mail and we will do it.

17. Q. What if I forget my Login Name and Password?

A. Go to the Member Login page and enter the name and the e-mail address you provided when you ordered.  Your Password will be e-mailed to you. If you have changed your e-mail address, then e-mail us your request to Support@cehcpro.com. Contact Page.

Questions on Course Taking Procedures

18. Q. How long do I have to take the courses and can I print out the course materials?

A. Our courses are self-paced. Take as long as you need to read the courses and tests. You can review the course materials in any format, online, offline, or print out. You can open and close the courses and tests as often as needed, from any computer.

19. Q. What are the testing procedures? How many times can I take the test?

A. Tests must be taken online and are not timed.  You can preview the tests. All tests are in a "true / false" format with any blank answers counting as wrong. A score of 70% or more is passing.  Take the test as many times as necessary to pass. Once you pass the Test, it disappears and a link to the Certificate of Course Completion appears.

20. Q. How do I make a copy of the Certificate of Course Completion for my records?

A. Open the link and use the Print button to print a copy of the certificate for your records. The Certificate and your Account can be opened at any time in the future from any computer.

Information about CE Broker

21. Q: What is CE Broker and how does it work?

A: "CE Broker" is a private company that tracks the continuing education courses taken by all health care practitioners licensed by the Florida Department of Health. Several years ago, the Florida Legislature received evidence that many health care licensees were not taking the required CE courses and in 2001 passed a law that required the Department to set up an "electronic CE tracking system." The Department contracted with CE Broker, which agreed to do the tracking without charging the Department.  CE Broker makes money by charging licensees $35 to subscribe to its services for two years. All Florida CE Course Providers, except for a few national associations, are required to register their courses with CE Broker. Once licensees take our courses, we must submit their courses, names, and license numbers to CE Broker. CE Broker then creates a "transcript" for each licensee showing the courses taken.  A licensee can also "self-submit" courses they have taken to CE Broker. For more information visit the CE Broker website: www.cebroker.com.

22. Q: Do health care licensees have to subscribe to CE Broker in order to have their license renewed?
A: No, subscription is not mandatory. However, Continuing Education Providers must report their attendance records to CE Broker, and CE Broker then has a transcript for ALL licensees. After license renewal, the Department of Health uses the CE Broker transcripts to begin the CE compliance audit of electrologists.

23. Q: Can I find out my CE records from CE Broker without being a subscriber?

A: No, not unless you subscribe; however, any records of CE Broker are "public records" under the state of Florida public records law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The Department of Health states that they will provide a "list of courses taken" at the normal charge of .15 a page. To obtain this list (without subscribing to CE Broker) contact the Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance. See the FAQs on "CE Tracking System CE Broker)" at www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/Publications/cebroker-FAQ.htm.

24. Q: Is CE for Health Care Professionals complying with the CE Broker rules?

A: Yes, once you successfully complete a course, we immediately, automatically and electronically (from our computer to their computer) send your records of course completion to CE Broker. We also keep all of our course completion records. Note:  We do not send information on Applicants, Students, Trainees, Temporary Licenses, and out of state licensees or certifying information to CE Broker. And if you do not order using your correct Florida license number, the CE Broker system kicks back your information OR it credits someone else if you use their number. Yes, this has happened several times!

25. Q: If audited by the Department of Health, what is the penalty for not taking the correct number or type of CE credits?

A: After the license renewal period ends, the Department of Health will audit a percentage of electrologists using the CE Broker system for CE compliance.  Our advice is to keep all your CE attendance records and certificates in one place for 4 years, as required by Council rule.  If audited, you will be sent a notice to provide proof of taking the CE courses. The penalty for first violation by electrologists is a Citation and a fine of $500 and you must take all of the missed courses. You can also be charged the Department's costs of investigating and bringing the case against you, usually a minimum of another $500.

26. Q. Who do I contact if I have additional questions or need HELP?

A. Contact the support personnel for CE for Health Care Professionals. The contact information is found on the "Contact Us" page. E-mail is the best method. We answer that day, sometimes within minutes. Include your name and profession.  We welcome comments, corrections, and questions and we will respond.  And THANK YOU for taking our courses.

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