immediately preceding the effective date of this section.
(b) Interim employment.--A health care facility may employ
or contract an individual to practice surgical technology during
the six-month period immediately following successful completion
of a surgical technology program under subsection (a)(1), but
may not continue to be employed or contracted with beyond that
period without documentation that the individual has obtained
certification as required under subsection (a)(1).
Section 4. Continuing education.
(a) General rule.--An individual who qualifies to practice
surgical technology in a health care facility under section 3(a)
(1) must comply with the continuing education requirements
specified by the credentialing organization as necessary to keep
the certification current and shall provide proof of compliance
with those continuing education requirements to an employer,
upon the employer's request.
(b) Verification.--A surgical technologist employed or
contracted by a health care facility, who is not certified
according to section 3(a)(1), shall complete 30 hours of
relevant continuing education every two years in order to remain
eligible to practice surgical technology and shall prove, to the
satisfaction of the employer, compliance with this requirement.
Section 5. Health care facilities in rural areas.
A health care facility located in an area designated as rural
by the department shall make every effort to employ a surgical
technologist who is certified according to section 3(a)(1), but
may employ a surgical technologist who does not qualify under
section 3 if the health care facility:
(1) conducts exhaustive and verifiable recruitment
efforts;
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