Proof of having met the minimum requirement of continuing education as determined by the Department shall be required of all license and certificate renewals. Pursuant to rule, the continuing education requirement may upon petition be waived in whole or in part if the respiratory care practitioner can demonstrate that he or she had served in the Coast Guard or Armed Forces, had an extreme hardship as defined by rule, or obtained the license or certification by examination or endorsement within the preceding renewal period.
     The Department shall establish by rule a means for the verification of completion of the continuing education required by this Section. This verification may be accomplished through audits of records maintained by licensees; by requiring the filing of continuing education certificates with the Department; or by other means established by the Department.