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Bill

HB 4293

Relating to authorizing the Board of Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to continuing education for physicians and podiatric physicians.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Smith

Gives the Board of Medicine authority to create and enforce a comprehensive rule-based CE system for physicians and podiatric physicians.

To House Judiciary
#legislature--rulemaking
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Bill Summary · HB 4293

Bill Summary: HB 4293 (Session 2026, West Virginia)

Purpose and Intent

  • Authorizes the Board of Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule governing continuing education (CE) requirements for physicians and podiatric physicians.
  • The bill focuses on establishing or modifying the rules that dictate ongoing professional education for licensed medical practitioners under the Board of Medicine’s authority.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Grants authority to the West Virginia Board of Medicine to adopt rules (legislative rules) specifying CE prerequisites, standards, and procedures for physicians and podiatric physicians.
  • The rulemaking would address details such as:
    • Types of acceptable continuing education activities (e.g., accredited courses, seminars, conferences, online modules).
    • Minimum number of CE hours required within defined timeframes (e.g., annual, biennial, or other recertification cycles).
    • Acceptable providers and accreditation bodies (ensuring CE is from recognized and approved sources).
    • Documentation and recordkeeping requirements for licensees to demonstrate compliance.
    • Methods for reporting CE completion to the Board and the process for audits or verification.
    • Possible exemptions, waivers, or special considerations (e.g., for illness, active duty, or other justifiable circumstances).
    • Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance (e.g., license discipline, certification holds, or fines), including due process.
  • The bill does not appear to create new CE requirements itself in statute but rather enables the Board to establish a comprehensive rule framework governing CE.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Licensed physicians (medical doctors) and licensed podiatric physicians practicing in West Virginia.
  • The Board of Medicine, as the regulatory body, which would develop and enforce the CE rules.
  • Potentially, licensees seeking licensure or license renewal, as CE compliance is typically tied to renewal.
  • CE providers and organizations that offer accredited medical education would be subject to alignment with the Board’s rules to ensure CE credits are recognized.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill indicates initiation and progression through the legislative process:
    • Filed for introduction on January 14, 2026.
    • Early committee referrals: Government Organization, then Judiciary.
    • On January 30, 2026, the bill was reported “Do pass” but returned to Judiciary (i.e., advanced by a committee with a recommended passage, pending further consideration in the Judiciary Committee).
  • Co-sponsor: Doug Smith.
  • The rulemaking content would ultimately follow statutory authorization, with the Board of Medicine drafting and adopting the legislative rule in compliance with West Virginia’s rulemaking process, including potential review by the Legislature’s regulatory review or interim committees as applicable.

Notable Considerations

  • As a rulemaking authorization, the bill emphasizes the Board’s capacity to tailor CE requirements to professional standards and public health priorities, rather than prescribing numeric CE requirements in statute itself.
  • Details such as exact CE hour requirements, acceptable activities, and enforcement procedures would be defined in the Board’s legislative rule rather than in the bill’s text, subject to the usual legislative and regulatory processes.
  • The bill’s impact hinges on how the Board drafts the rule, including alignment with existing CE norms for physicians and podiatric physicians in West Virginia and consistency with national accreditation standards.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize potential impacts for a particular stakeholder group (e.g., licensees vs. CE providers) or compare it to existing CE rules in West Virginia.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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