(1) A minimum of four hours of specialized continuing education relevant to impairment evaluation shall be taken every four years, or within one year of a new edition to the American Medical Association's guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment.

(a) These hours shall be in addition to the continuing education requirement required for a renewed chiropractic license.

(b) A random audit of impairment evaluator certificate holders shall be conducted every four years to verify compliance of the continuing education requirement.

(c) A three month extension will be provided for all licensees who fail to meet the continuing education requirements as a result of an audit. Failure to meet this extension may result in disciplinary action.

(d) Any impairment evaluator seeking a hardship waiver from their continuing education requirements shall apply to the board, in writing, as soon as possible after the hardship is identified and prior to the end of the period for completing the continuing education. Specific details of the hardship must be included. The board must make a finding that a hardship exists. The waiver may be absolute or conditional.

(2) Persistent deviation from generally accepted standards for impairment evaluation is grounds for revocation of the impairment evaluator certificate.

(3) An impairment evaluator must comply with ARM 24.29.1415. These rules can be obtained by contacting the Department of Labor and Industry Workers' Compensation Regulation Bureau.

(4) Impairment evaluator licenses shall be renewed annually.