Continuing
education became mandatory January 1, 1995. Every year, dentists must complete 15 hours
and hygienists must complete 6 hours. The one-year period spans one calendar year
(January to December being a calendar year). New licensees
are not required to get CE the first year they are licensed, but
need to obtain the appropriate hours the following years
(therefore if you were initially licensed in 2006 you will not
need to take CE in 2006, but will be required to do so in 2007). In addition to the mandatory CE, both dentists and hygienists are
required to maintain current CPR. The number of CE hours completed each year is reported
on the license renewal form. No documentation of course work will be sent to the
Board’s office. Each person is responsible for maintaining his/her own documentation
of CE courses completed "for at least two years and shall be produced upon request of
the Board."
Do
correspondence courses through professional journals count toward the required CE hours?
The Board
has determined that dentists may obtain any or all of their required 15 hours and hygienists
may obtain any or all of their required 6 hours online or through correspondence courses which have
post-tests and issue certificates of completion.
Which
courses and sponsors are approved for CE hours?
1. Courses
must be directly related to patient care. Courses stressing practice management, for
example, could not count, while courses in sterilization and infection control,
pharmacology, dental materials and dental procedures are acceptable.
2. Approved sponsors for CE hours include: those providers who are
recognized by the American Dental Association’s Continuing
Education Recognition Program, courses sponsored the Academy of
General Dentistry, the American Dental or American Dental
Hygienists’ Association or components of such organizations, the
North Carolina Area Health Education Centers, educational
institutions with dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting
schools or departments, national, state, or local societies or
associations and local, state or federal governmental entities.
(Study clubs are considered "associations.")
What are the requirements for CPR?
In May, 2011, the Board has changed their rules to require a
hands-on or blended course; online courses will no longer be
accepted. The new rule
21 NCAC 16A .0101 (5) reads:
"CPR certification" means that the licensee has successfully
completed a CPR course that meets American Red Cross or American
Heart Association standards for certification and that provides
manikin testing on the subjects of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
The course must also cover the use of an automatic external
defibrillator, unconscious and conscious choking and rescue
breathing, provided that the foregoing requirements shall not be
interpreted in any way that violates the Americans with
Disabilities Act. The manikin testing must be provided by an
instructor who is physically present with the students.
CPR does not have to be repeated annually, if a 2 year
certification is achieved; however the certification must always
be current.
Do
retired dentists and hygienists have to take continuing education?
The rule
requiring continuing education of all licensees requires all licensed dentists and
hygienists to take CE courses. If you have a license, you must complete the required
number of hours. The only exception to this is for those dentists who have reached an
advanced age and are retired or semi-retired and are exempted from CE by the Board. Only
those individuals who request exemption and receive a Board letter indicating that they
are exempt from the CE requirement are legally exempt. The Board defines:
"retired
dentist" as one who never practices (waiver of CE & CPR);
"semi-retired, Class I" dentist as one who practices 250 hours a year or less
(waiver of all CE, but must maintain CPR);
"semi-retired, Class II" dentist as one who practices
1,000 hours a year or less (waiver of half required CE (7.5 hours)
and must maintain CPR)
If a
dentist or dental hygienist has a disabling condition are they still required to take
continuing education?
A dentist
or dental hygienist who has a disabling condition may request a variance in required
continuing education hours during a particular period. Written documentation of a
disabling condition that interferes with the licensee's ability to complete the required
hours shall be provided to the Board. The Board may grant or deny such requests on a case
by case basis. In considering the request, the Board may require additional documentation
substantiating any specified disability.
Is there
any provision for giving CE credit?
Yes, a
dentist or dental hygienist who is a full-time faculty member in a dental, dental hygiene
or dental assisting school may receive credit (Dentists: 10 hrs./yr.; Hygienists:
4hrs./yr.). Part-time faculty receives 1/2 the above. Also licensees who are affiliated
with a federal, state, or county government agency whose operation is directly related to
dentistry or dental auxiliaries (i.e., a county or state health department, a federal
dental clinic, etc.) may receive credit. Full-time affiliation would merit full credit;
part-time would merit 1/2 credit.
