(A)(1) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, each person holding a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery issued by the state medical board shall complete biennially not less than fifty hours of continuing medical education that has been approved by the board.

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(2) Each person holding a license to practice shall be given sufficient choice of continuing education programs to ensure that the person has had a reasonable opportunity to participate in continuing education programs that are relevant to the person’s medical practice in terms of subject matter and level.

(B) In determining whether a course, program, or activity qualifies for credit as continuing medical education, the board shall approve all of the following:

(1) Continuing medical education completed by holders of licenses to practice medicine and surgery that is certified by the Ohio state medical association;

(2) Continuing medical education completed by holders of licenses to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery that is certified by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(3) Continuing medical education completed by holders of licenses to practice podiatric medicine and surgery that is certified by the Ohio podiatric medical association.

(C) The board shall approve one or more continuing medical education courses of study included within the programs certified by the Ohio state medical association and the Ohio osteopathic association under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section that assist doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathic medicine in both of the following:

(1) Recognizing the signs of domestic violence and its relationship to child abuse;

(2) Diagnosing and treating chronic pain, as defined in section 4731.052 of the Revised Code.

(D) The board shall adopt rules providing for pro rata reductions by month of the number of hours of continuing education that must be completed for license holders who have been disabled by illness or accident or have been absent from the country. The board shall adopt the rules in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code.

(E) The board may require a random sample of holders of licenses to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery to submit materials documenting completion of the required number of hours of continuing medical education. This division does not limit the board’s authority to conduct investigations pursuant to section 4731.22 of the Revised Code.

(F)(1) If, through a random sample conducted under division (E) of this section or through any other means, the board finds that an individual who certified completion of the number of hours and type of continuing medical education required to renew, reinstate, restore, or reactivate a license to practice did not complete the requisite continuing medical education, the board may do either of the following:

(a) Take disciplinary action against the individual under section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, impose a civil penalty, or both;

(b) Permit the individual to agree in writing to complete the continuing medical education and pay a civil penalty.

(2) The board’s finding in any disciplinary action taken under division (F)(1)(a) of this section shall be made pursuant to an adjudication under Chapter 119 of the Revised Code and by an affirmative vote of not fewer than six of its members.

(3) A civil penalty imposed under division (F)(1)(a) of this section or paid under division (F)(1)(b) of this section shall be in an amount specified by the board of not more than five thousand dollars. The board shall deposit civil penalties in accordance with section 4731.24 of the Revised Code.