The minimum requirement for each renewal period (2 years) is 50 hours of continuing education, including:
Basic Life Support. Licensees renewing for the first time are exempt from this requirement. (Title 16 California Code of Regulations, Sections 1016 and 1017
· 2 hours of California Infection Control
· 2 hours of California Dental Practice Act
Note: Eighty percent (40 hours) must be completed for Category I (Core courses, primarily clinic). The balance can be completed for Category II (Other coursework designed to improve patient services). No more than 25 Continuing Education hours can be completed through home study or on line coursework.
TITLE 16. PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL REGULATIONS
DIVISION 10. DENTAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL LICENSEES
ARTICLE 4. CONTINUING EDUCATION
Section 1015. Purposes.The board has determined that the public health and safety will be served by requiring all holders of licenses granted by the board under the Code to continue their education after receiving such licenses.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 1614 and 1645, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 1645, Business and Professions Code.
Section 1016. Providers and Courses.
(a) Course of Study Defined. "Course of study" means an orderly learning experience in the area of dental and medical health, preventive dental services, diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical procedures, basic health sciences, dental practice administration, or the Dental Practice Act and other laws specifically related to dental practice which is designed to directly enhance the licensee's knowledge, skill or competence in the provision of service to patients or the community.
(1)Category I (80% Courses): Courses in this category shall include courses in the actual delivery of dental services to the patient or the community. Such courses shall also include:
(A)Mandatory courses required by the Board for license renewal, such as Infection Control, California Dental Practice Act and a course in Basic Life Support as approved by American Red Cross or American Heart Association. At a minimum, course content for Infection Control shall include all content of Section 1005. At a minimum, course content for the Dental Practice Act [Division 2, Chapter 4 of the Code (beginning with s 1600)] shall instruct on acts in violation of the Dental Practice Act and attending regulations, and other statutory mandates relating to the dental practice. This includes utilization and scope of practice for auxiliaries; scope of practice for dentists; laws governing the prescribing of drugs; citations, fines, revocation, and suspension, and license renewal.
(B) Courses in preventive services, diagnosis (including physical evaluation, radiography, dental photography) and comprehensive treatment planning.
(C) Courses dealing primarily with nutrition counseling of the patient.
(D) Courses in corrective and restorative oral health treatment.
(E) Courses in dentistry's role in individual and community health emergencies and disasters.
(F) Courses that pertain to the legal requirement governing the licensee in the areas of auxiliary employment and delegation of responsibilities; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); actual delivery of care; and workplace, environmental and general safety.
(G) Courses addressing office instrument sterilization systems.
(2)Category II (20 5 Courses) : Courses in this category shall include other courses directly related to the practice of dentistry. Such courses shall include:
(A) Courses addressing the evaluation, improvement and/or methods of correction for recall and scheduling systems.
(B) Courses in organization and management of the dental practice including office design, and ergonomics, and the improvement of office operations for the patient's benefit and/or to improve the continuity of care provided to the patient.
(C) Courses addressing the implementation and/or mechanism of alternative delivery systems.
(D) Courses addressing patient record keeping.
(E) Courses in skills such as communication, behavioral sciences, patient management and motivation when oriented specifically to the needs of the dental practice and will improve the health of the patient.
(F) Courses in other subjects of direct concern to dentistry such as dentolegal matters, including but not limited to risk management, liability, and malpractice, employment law and employment practices.
(G) Courses in methods of health care delivery and sociopolitical problems directly involving dentistry.
(3) Courses considered to be outside the scope of the continuing education program include, but are not limited to, those in the following areas:
(A) money management, the licensee's personal finances or personal business matters;
(B) basic educational or cultural subjects not related to the practice of dentistry;
(C) general physical fitness or the licensee's personal health;
(D) presentations by political or public figures or other persons that do not deal primarily with dental practice;
(E) basic skills such as memory training and speed reading;
(F) courses addressing the computerized dental office when the topic involves record management or new technology designed primarily for the licensee's understanding and benefit;
(G) courses designed to make the licensee a better business person or designed to improve licensee or staff motivation;
(H) courses pertaining to the improvement of office operations, licensee and staff convenience, or profit motive;
(I) courses which address increased office production; financial planning; employee benefits; marketing or motivational topics to increase productivity or profitability;
(J) courses in which the primary beneficiary is the licensee.
(b) Application and Renewal.
1. (1) A "registered provider" is one who offers courses of study for credit toward satisfying the continuing education requirements of the board. Application for registration as a provider shall be made on a form prescribed by the board and shall be accompanied by the fee required by section 1021 and documentation that the provider meets the requirements set forth below.
2. (2) Every provider's registration expires two years from the date of its issuance. A provider may renew its registration by filing an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the board, accompanied by the fee required by section 1021 and a list of all courses offered during the last renewal period pursuant to its registration, the name and qualifications of each instructor, and a summary of the content of each course of study.
(c) Standards for Registration. Those providers requesting registration shall meet the following criteria:
1. (1) Each course of study shall be conducted on the same educational standards of scholarship and teaching as that required of a true university discipline and shall be supported by those facilities and educational resources necessary to comply with this requirement. Every instructor shall have education or experience within the last five years in the subject being taught. Each course of study shall clearly state educational objectives that can realistically be accomplished within the framework of the course. Teaching methods for each course of study shall be described (e.g., lecture, seminar, audiovisual, clinical, simulation, etc.). Each participant shall be given the opportunity to provide a written evaluation of the quality of the course.
2. (2) The topic of instruction shall conform to subsection (a) above.
3. (3) An opportunity to enroll in such courses of study is available to all dental licensees.
4. (4) Reference by providers to courses offered for credit toward satisfying the board's continuing education requirements shall be limited to the announcement: "This provider is authorized to confer ____________ units of California continuing education credit."
(d) Enforcement and Availability of Records. The board will not give prior approval to individual courses unless a course is required as a mandatory license renewal course. The minimum course content of all mandatory continuing education courses for all registered providers is set out in subsection (a)(1)(A). Providers shall be expected to adhere to these minimum course requirements or risk registered provider status. Beginning January 1, 2006, all registered providers shall submit their course outlines for Infection Control and California Dental Practice Act to the board staff for review and approval. All new applicants for provider status shall submit course outlines for mandatory education courses at the time of application and prior to instruction of mandatory education courses.
In addition, the board will randomly audit other courses submitted for credit in addition to any course for which a complaint is received. If an audit is made, course organizers will be asked to submit to the board:
(1) Faculty curriculum vitae;
(2) Course content;
(3) Educational objectives;
(4) Teaching methods;
(5) Evidence of evaluation;
(6) Attendance records.
(e) Withdrawal of Registration.
(1) The board retains the right and authority to audit or monitor courses given by any provider. The board may withdraw or place restrictions on a provider's registration if the provider has disseminated any false or misleading information in connection with the continuing education program, fails to comply with regulations, misrepresents the course offered, makes any false statement on its application or otherwise violates any provision of the Dental Practice Act or the regulations adopted thereunder.
(2) Any provider whose registration is withdrawn or restricted shall be given a hearing before the board prior to the effective date of such action. The provider shall be given at least ten days notice of the grounds for the proposed action and the time and place of such hearing.
(f) Units of Credit for Attendance. One unit of credit shall be granted for every hour of contact instruction. This credit shall apply to either academic or clinical instruction. Eight units shall be the maximum continuing education credits granted in one day.
(g) Provider Responsibility.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the provider to furnish a written certification to the licensee certifying that the licensee has met the attendance requirements of the course. Such certification shall not be issued until completion of the course and shall contain the provider's name, course registration number, dates attended and units earned filled in by the provider. Additionally, space shall be provided for the licensee's printed name, signature and license number.
(2) When two or more registered providers co-sponsor a course, only one provider number shall be used for that course and that provider must assume full responsibility for compliance with the requirements of this article.
(h) Out of State Course. A licensee who attends a course or program which meets all requirements for continuing education courses but which was given outside California by an unregistered provider may request continuing education credit by submitting information on course content and duration to the board and furnishing evidence from the provider of the course that the licensee was in attendance. In the case of a scientific meeting or convention, such evidence shall indicate that the licensee attended the specific lecture for which credit is requested. When the necessary requirements have been fulfilled, the board may issue a written certification which the licensee may then use for documentation of continuing education credits.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 1614 and 1645, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 1645, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
1. Amendment filed 4-4-88; operative 4-4-88 (Register 88, No. 17).
2. Change without regulatory effect filed 9-2-88; operative 9-2-88 (Register 88, No. 37). The regulatory forms referred to in subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (h), which were approved for filing with the Secretary of State on 4-4-88, are located in Register 88, No. 38-Z of the California Regulatory Notice Register.
3. Amendment of subsection (h) filed 8-2-91; operative 9-2-91 (Register 91, No. 48).
4. Amendment of subsection (a), new subsections (a)(1)-(a)(2)(E), redesignation of former second paragraph and subsections (a)(1)-(6) as subsections (a)(3)-(a)(3)(F), amendment of newly designated subsection (a)(3)(F), and new subsections (a)(3)(G)-(K) filed 2-29-96; operative 3-30-96 (Register 96, No.9).
5. Amendment filed 10-6-2005; operative 11-5-2005 (Register 2005, No. 40).
1017. Units Required for Renewal of License.
(a) Effective January 1, 2006 as a condition of renewal, licensees are required to complete continuing education units for license renewal in each of the following subjects:
(1) infection control and
(2) California Dental Practice Act and attending regulations. Dentists and Dental Auxiliaries will be required to complete a minimum of 80% of their required units for license renewal in Category I subjects including two units of continuing education in infection control and two units in the California Dental Practice Act, and no more than 20% of their required units in Category II subjects. The mandatory units will count toward the total units required to renew a license, however, failure to complete the mandatory courses will result in non-renewal of a license. Any continuing education units accumulated before January 1, 2006, that meet the requirements in effect on the date the units were accumulated will be accepted by the board for license renewals taking place on or after January 1, 2006.
(b) Every licensee shall accumulate the continuing education units equal to the number of units indicated below during the biennial license renewal period and shall assure the board that he/she will accumulate such units during the succeeding two year renewal period; except that those new licensees who have been issued a license to practice for a period less than 2 years shall commence accumulating continuing education credits with the next biennial renewal period occurring after the issuance of a license to practice. As part of the continuing education requirements, each licensee shall complete, at least once every two years, a course in basic life support approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Each licensee who holds a general anesthesia permit shall take and complete, at least once every two years, either (1) an advanced cardiac life support course which is approved by the American Heart Association and which includes an examination on the materials presented in the course or (2) any other advanced cardiac life support course which is identical in all respects, except for the omission of materials that relate solely to hospital emergencies or neonatology, to the course entitled "Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care" published by the American Heart Association in August 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference. Each licensee who holds a conscious sedation permit shall take and complete at least once every two years at least 15 total units of courses related to the administration of conscious sedation and to medical emergencies. Refusal to execute the required assurance shall result in non-renewal of the license.
(1) Dentists: 50 units.
(2) Registered dental hygienists: 25 units.
(3) Registered dental assistants: 25 units.
(4) Registered dental hygienists in extended functions: 25 units.
(5) Registered dental assistants in extended functions: 25 units.
(6) Registered dental hygienists in alternative practice 35 units.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, tape recorded courses, home study materials, video courses, and computer courses are considered correspondence courses, and if from registered providers, will be accepted for credit up to, but not exceeding, half of the total required credits. Interactive instruction courses such as live lecture, live telephone conferencing, live video conferencing, or live classroom study from registered providers, will be accepted for full credit.
(d) The license of any person who fails to accumulate the continuing education units set forth in (a) and (b), or to assure the board that he/she will accumulate such units, shall not be renewed until such time as the licensee complies with those requirements.
(e) A licensee who has not practiced in California for more than one year because the licensee is disabled need not comply with the continuing education requirements of this article during the renewal period within which such disability falls. Such licensee shall certify that he/she is eligible for waiver of the continuing education requirements. A licensee who ceases to be eligible for such waiver shall comply with the continuing education requirements for subsequent renewal periods.
(f) A licensee who applies for license renewal shall, on a form provided by the board, provide a summary of continuing education units earned during the license renewal period. The licensee shall retain for a period of four years the certifications issued to him/her at the time he/she attended the course and shall forward such certifications to the board only upon request by the board. A licensee who fails to retain a certification shall contact the provider and obtain a duplicate certification. Providers may issue duplicate certifications only to licensees whose names appear on the provider's roster of course attendees. The certification shall be clearly marked "duplicate" and shall contain the licensee's name, as well as the provider's name, course registration number, dates attended, and units earned. Any licensee who furnishes false or misleading information to the board regarding his continuing education units shall be subject to disciplinary action. The board will audit such licensee records as it deems necessary to assure that the continuing education requirements are met.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 1614 and 1645, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 1645, 1646.5 and 1647.5, Business and Professions Code.
HISTORY
1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 8-23-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 34).
2. 2. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 1-22-86; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 86, No. 4).
3. Amendment filed 4-4-88; operative 4-4-88 (Register 88, No. 17).
4. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 6-8-88; operative 7-8-88 (Register 88, No. 25).
5. Amendment filed 4-1-91; operative 5-1-91 (Register 91, No. 18).
6. New subsection (a), subsection relettering, and amendment of newly designated subsections (b) and (d) filed 7-8-96; operative 8-7-96 (Register 96, No. 28).
7. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 2-2-99; operative 3-4-99 (Register 99, No. 6).
8. Amendment of subsection (b)(1), new subsections (b)(4)-(6) and amendment of Note filed 7-21-99; operative 8-20-99 (Register 99, No. 30).
9. Amendment of subsections (a) and (e) and amendment ofNotefiled 4-8-2003; operative 5-8-2003 (Register 2003, No. 15).
10. Amendment filed 10-6-2005; operative 11-5-2005 (Register 2005, No. 40).
Section 1017.1. Processing Times.
The board shall inform an applicant for the renewal of a license in writing within 30 days whether the application is complete and accepted for filing or is deficient and what specific information is required. The board shall decide within 30 days after the filing of a completed application whether the applicant meets the requirements. The processing times for an application for the renewal of a license from the receipt of the initial application until a final decision on the application during the two years preceding this proposal were as follows:
Minimum:......... 7 days
Median:.......... 43 days
Maximum:......... 139 days
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code; and Section 15376, Government Code. Reference: Sections 15347 et seq., Government Code.
HISTORY
1. New section filed 4-4-88; operative 4-4-88 (Register 88, No. 17).
1017.2. Inactive Licenses.
(a) A licensee who desires an inactive license shall submit an application to the board on a form provided by the board.
(b) In order to restore an inactive license to active status, the licensee shall submit an application to the board on a form provided by the board, accompanied by evidence that the licensee has completed the required number of hours of approved continuing education in compliance with this article within the last two years preceding such application.
(c) The holder of an inactive license shall continue to pay to the board the required biennial renewal fee.
(d) The board shall inform an applicant who wishes to activate/inactivate his/her license in writing with 30 days whether the application is complete and accepted for filing or is deficient and what specific information is required. The board shall decide within 30 days after the filing of a completed application whether the applicant meets the requirements.
Note: Authority cited: Section 1614, Business and Professions Code; and Section 15376, Government Code. Reference: Sections 700-704, Business and Professions Code; and Sections 15347 et seq., Government Code.
HISTORY
1. New section filed 4-4-88; operative 4-4-88 (Register 88, No. 17).
2. Change without regulatory effect filed 9-2-88; operative 9-2-88 (Register 88, No. 37). The regulatory forms referred to in subsections (a) and (b), which were approved for filing with the Secretary of State on 4-4-88, are located in Register 88, No. 38-Z of the California Regulatory Notice Register.
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