455.2178  Continuing education providers.--If the monitoring of compliance with continuing education requirements is privatized pursuant to s. 455.2177:

(1)(a)  The department shall notify each approved continuing education provider of the name and address of all vendors that monitor compliance of licensees under s. 455.2177. If the department contracts with more than one vendor under s. 455.2177, the notice shall specify the professions to be monitored by each vendor.

(b)  Each continuing education provider shall provide to the appropriate vendor such information regarding the continuing education status of licensees as the department determines is necessary for the vendor to carry out its duties under s. 455.2177(2), in a form determined by the department. The information must be submitted to the vendor electronically no later than 5 business days after a licensee's completion of a course. Upon the request of a licensee, the provider must also furnish to a vendor information regarding courses completed by the licensee.

(2)  Each continuing education provider shall retain all records relating to a licensee's completion of continuing education courses for at least 4 years after completion of a course.

(3)  A continuing education provider may not be approved, and the approval may not be renewed, unless the provider agrees in writing to provide such cooperation with vendors under s. 455.2177 as the department deems necessary or appropriate.

(4)  The department may immediately revoke approval of any continuing education provider that fails to comply with its duties under this section.

(5)  For the purpose of determining which persons or entities must meet the reporting, recordkeeping, and access provisions of this section, the board of any profession subject to this section, or the department if there is no board, shall, by rule, adopt a definition of the term "continuing education provider" applicable to the profession's continuing education requirements. The intent of the rule shall be to ensure that all records and information necessary to carry out the requirements of this section and s. 455.2177 are maintained and transmitted accordingly and to minimize disputes as to what person or entity is responsible for maintaining and reporting such records and information.

(6)  The department has the authority to adopt rules to implement this section.