SECTION 1. Section 16 of Chapter 112 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence of the first paragraph, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following new sentence:-

“Every such certificate shall expire on the last day of the year for which it was granted, and said certificate may be renewed for the subsequent year without examination upon the payment of a renewal fee; provided, however, that said podiatrist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board that, in the preceding year, the podiatrist completed at least twenty two hours of continuing education; and provided further, that the board may exempt from this requirement those licensees who submit satisfactory proof that they were unable to attend an approved educational conference or program due to illness or other good cause.”