(1) All nursing faculty members, including part-time faculty, shall:

(a) hold an unencumbered license as a registered nurse in Montana;

(b) have preparation for teaching in their respective area of responsibility; and

(c) except as provided in this rule, hold at least a master's degree with a major in nursing, or a doctorate in nursing, from a nationally accredited program.

(2) Faculty members hired without a graduate degree or who hold a master's or doctorate in a health-related field other than nursing may be considered by the board and, if approved, shall not exceed the number or percentage specified by this rule.

(3) Faculty members not holding any master's degree will have three years from the date of hire to obtain a master's degree as set forth by the faculty qualifications.

(4) For each faculty member who does not meet the education requirements of (1) , the program director shall immediately notify the board in writing of the hire of the nonmaster's prepared faculty member along with a plan to address compliance with the education requirements.

(5) Failure to comply with this rule constitutes noncompliance with board rules, and will subject the program to action deemed appropriate by the board, including loss of the program's approval.

(6) A maximum of 10 percent or two faculty members, whichever is greater based on FTE, may come under the exception at any point in time at a given school.

(7) When providing direct patient care, no more than ten students may be supervised at a time by a faculty member. The number of students must be determined by the educational and clinical resources and faculty sufficient to meet the goals of the program and the requirements of the board.