Where can I obtain Board-approved online continuing education courses?
An excellent source of online continuing education is through the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB). The Board is a member of this nationally-recognized organization, who derives its membership from other state regulatory boards, specialty boards, and dental educators.
What is the reporting period for continuing education, and how many hours of continuing education do I need?
The reporting period is two (2) years. At its 02/01/2013 meeting, the Board amended item number 1 of Board Regulation 41 to stipulate that the continuing education reporting period runs from January 1 through December 31 of each year, i.e., the reporting period was changed from a renewal based cycle to a calendar year based cycle. This change in the reporting period was made at the behest of many dental and dental hygiene licensees, inasmuch as these licensees felt a calendar year reporting period not only would allow greater flexibility for licensees, but also would be easier for licensees to remember, thus ensuring better compliance. This change in the continuing education reporting period becomes effective 01/01/2014. Dentists must obtain a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education for the two-year cycle, and dental hygienists must obtain a minimum of twenty (20) hours of continuing education for the two-year cycle. Refer to Board Regulation 41.
May computer-based, home-study, correspondence, or video courses be used to fulfill continuing education requirements?
Yes. Continuing education credit will be given for computer-based courses, video courses, audio courses, reading, and/or correspondence/home study courses on a limited basis. All such courses shall be sponsored/approved by any one or more of those organizations listed in Regulation 41, or licensed dentists and dental hygienists may obtain prior Board approval of any such courses on a course-by-course basis. Effective with the Board's 05/18/2012 amendment, dentists and dental hygienists are limited to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of this type of continuing education per two-year continuing education reporting period (prior to the 05/18/2012 amendment, only four [4] hours were allowed). At its 10/16/2015 meeting, the Board amended Section 6 of Board Regulation 41 to effect an exemption to the 25% maximum for webinars providing live interaction among the course presenter and participants. Furthermore, a post-study examination must be a part of any of the courses, including the aforementioned exempted webinars, and licensed dentists and dental hygienists shall ensure they successfully complete and retain a copy of such post-study examination and any other documentation stipulated by Board Regulation 41.
How many years should I keep my continuing education records?
Continuing education records must be maintained a minimum of three (3) years from the date of course attendance and should consist of certificates of course completion or correspondence from course sponsors verifying course attendance. Handwritten notes, registration receipts, check stubs, etc., are not acceptable as proof of attendance. Refer to Board Regulation 41.