27 NCAC 01D .1520. ACCREDITATION OF SPONSORS AND PROGRAMS

(a)  Accreditation of Sponsors.  An organization desiring accreditation as an accredited sponsor of courses, programs, or other continuing legal education activities may apply for accredited sponsor status to the board.  The board shall approve a sponsor as an accredited sponsor if it is satisfied that the sponsor's programs have met the standards set forth in Rule .1519 of this subchapter and regulations established by the board.

(b)  Program Approval for Accredited Sponsors.

(1)           Once an organization is approved as an accredited sponsor, the continuing legal education programs sponsored by that organization are presumptively approved for credit; however, no application must be made to the board for approval.  At least 50 days prior to the presentation of a program, an accredited sponsor shall file an application, on a form prescribed by the board, notifying the board of the dates and locations of presentations of the program and the sponsor's calculation of the CLE credit hours for the program.

(2)           The board may at any time revoke the accreditation of an accredited sponsor for failure to satisfy the requirements of Rule .1512 and Rule .1519 of this subchapter, and for failure to satisfy the Regulations Governing the Administration of the Continuing Legal Education Program set forth in Section .1600 of this subchapter.

(3)           The board shall evaluate a program presented by an accredited sponsor and, upon a determination that the program does not satisfy the requirements of Rule .1519, notify the accredited sponsor that the program is not approved for credit. Such notice shall be sent by the board to the accredited sponsor within 45 days after the receipt of the application.  If notice is not sent to the accredited sponsor within the 45-day period, the program shall be presumed to be approved.  The accredited sponsor may request reconsideration of an unfavorable accreditation decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the board within 15 days of receipt of the notice of disapproval.  The decision by the board on an appeal is final.

(c)  Unaccredited Sponsor Request for Program Approval.

(1)           Any organization not accredited as an accredited sponsor that desires approval of a course or program shall apply to the board.  The board shall adopt regulations to administer the accreditation of such programs consistent with the provisions of Rule .1519 of this subchapter.  Applicants denied approval of a program may request reconsideration of such a decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the board within 15 days of receipt of the notice of disapproval.  The decision by the board on an appeal is final.

(2)           The board may at any time decline to accredit CLE programs offered by a non-accredited sponsor for a specified period of time, as determined by the board, for failure to comply with the requirements of Rule .1512, Rule .1519 and Section .1600 of this subchapter.

(d)  Member Request for Program Approval.  An active member desiring approval of a course or program that has not otherwise been approved shall apply to the board.  The board that shall adopt regulations to administer approval requests consistent with the requirements Rule .1519 of this subchapter.  Applicants denied approval of a program may request reconsideration of such a decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the board within 15 days of the receipt of the notice of disapproval. The decision by the board on an appeal is final.

(e)  Records. The board may provide by regulation for the accredited sponsor, unaccredited sponsor, or active member for whom a continuing legal education program has been approved to maintain and provide such records as required by the board.

 

History Note:        Authority - Order of the North Carolina Supreme Court, October 7, 1987, 318 N.C. 711;

Readopted Eff. December 8, 1994;

Amended Eff. March 6, 2014; October 7, 2010; March 3, 2005; February 27, 2003.