Section 338.11703. Acceptable continuing education for dentists; limitations.

The board shall consider any of the following as acceptable continuing education for dentists:

(a)   Successful completion of a course or courses offered for credit in a dental school or a hospital-based dental specialty program approved by the board pursuant to R 338.11301, a dental hygiene school approved by the board pursuant to R 338.11303, or a dental assisting school approved by the board pursuant to R 338.11307. Ten hours of continuing education shall be credited for each quarter credit earned and 15 hours shall be credited for each semester credit earned, without limitation.

(b)   Satisfactory participation for a minimum of 7 months in a postgraduate dental clinical training program in a hospital or institution that is approved by the board under R 338.11301. A maximum of 20 credit hours per calendar year may be earned for participation.

(c)    Attendance at a continuing education program offered by a dental school or a hospital-based dental specialty program approved by the board pursuant to R 338.11301, a dental hygiene school approved by the board pursuant to R 338.11303, or a dental assisting school approved by the board under R 338.11307. One hour of continuing education shall be credited for each hour of program attendance, without limitation.

(d)   Attendance at a continuing education program approved by the board under R 338.11705. One hour of continuing education shall be credited for each hour of program attendance, without limitation.

(e)   Development and presentation of a table clinical demonstration or a continuing education lecture offered in conjunction with the presentation of continuing education programs approved by the board. One hour of continuing education shall be credited for each hour devoted to the development and initial presentation of a table clinical demonstration or a continuing education lecture, with a maximum of 10 hours of continuing education credited for the development and presentation of the same table clinical demonstration or lecture.

(f)   The initial publication of an article or articles related to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting in the journal of an accredited school of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting or a state or state component association of dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, or dental assistants. Twelve hours of continuing education shall be credited.

(g)   The initial publication of an article or articles related to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting in a textbook or in the journal of a national association of dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, or dental assistants. Twenty-five hours of continuing education shall be credited.

(h)    Reading articles, viewing, or listening to media, other than online programs, devoted to dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting education. One hour of continuing education shall be credited for each hour devoted to such education, with a maximum of 10 hours credited under this category.

(i)      Participation in board-approved, continuing education activities offered online, through electronic media, or both. A maximum of 30 hours of continuing education may be earned.

(j)   Successful completion of an American board specialty examination. Ten hours of continuing education shall be credited in the year in which the applicant is advised he or she passed the examination.

(k)   Renewal of a license held in another state that requires continuing education for license renewal that is substantially equivalent to that required in these rules if the applicant resides and practices in another state. For a dentist, 60 hours of continuing education shall be credited for evidence of current licensure in another state.

(l)   Attendance at a continuing education program which has been granted approval by another state board of dentistry. One continuing education hour may be granted for each hour of program attendance.

(m)     Attendance at dental-related programs which shall be documented by the licensee as relevant to health care and advancement of the licensee's dental education. The board shall deny a request for approval if the continuing education request does not meet the criteria used by the board for approval of continuing education hours. Ten hours of continuing education shall be credited.

(n)    Attendance at programs related to topics approved for category 1 continuing education by the boards of medicine or osteopathic medicine. A maximum of 30 credit hours per renewal period for a dentist may be earned.

(o)   Dentists and retired volunteer dentists may receive continuing education credit for providing volunteer clinical dental services within this state as provided in this rule.

(i)    A dentist or retired volunteer dentist may provide volunteer clinical care at a board-approved program that complies with both of the following:

(A)  Is a public or non-profit entity, program, or event, or a school or nursing home.

(B)     Provides clinical dental services to the indigent or dentally underserved populations.

(ii)         A licensee shall not receive direct or indirect remuneration of any kind, including, but not limited to, remuneration for materials purchased or used.

(iii)     The program shall require a licensee to sign in and sign out daily upon commencement and termination of the provision of services.

(iv)       Continuing education credit shall be calculated at the ratio of 1 continuing education credit hour for each 120 minutes of patient services.

(v)   A dentist may earn a maximum of 20 volunteer credit hours per renewal period. A retired volunteer dentist may earn a maximum of 26 volunteer credit hours per renewal period.

(vi)       Board-approved sponsors that provide volunteer continuing education opportunities under this rule shall comply with all of the following:

(A)  Apply to the department to obtain approval as a sponsoring entity, pursuant to R 338.11705(7).

(B)  Retain patient records.

(C)    Retain documentation of all volunteer assignments and the hours of service provided.

(D)   Provide the records and a copy of the assignments and the hours of service provided to the board upon request.

(E)    Provide each licensee with verification of volunteer work performed by the licensee upon completion of the licensee’s service.

(vii)    The board may revoke the approval status of any entity that fails to comply with these rules.

(viii)    A licensee who is employed by an entity that provides dental services to the indigent or dentally underserved populations may not obtain credit for volunteer services

at the entity at which the licensee is employed, but may receive credit for qualified volunteer services at other approved entities.

(ix)    A dentist or retired volunteer dentist who provides volunteer clinical dental services shall maintain proof of these services for at least 4 years.

(x)    A licensee who fails to maintain accurate and complete records of services rendered may not receive continuing education credit for those services.

(xi)   A licensee under a board order or agreement that provides for the provision of volunteer services may not receive continuing education credit for the provision of the volunteer services.

(xii)    A dentist with a specialty license issued from this state shall limit volunteer clinical dental services to the specialty area in which the dentist is licensed.

(xiii)        Continuing education credit hours earned through volunteer clinical work shall not count toward the required 20 continuing education hours for dentists or 14 continuing education hours for retired volunteer dentists on clinical issues such as delivery of care, materials used in the delivery of care, and pharmacology, or the 1 continuing education hour required for pain management, as required by R 338.11701(2).

History: 1991 AACS; 2004 AACS; 2011 AACS; 2014 AACS.