4307 APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

4307.1 The Board, in its discretion, may approve continuing education programs and activities that contribute to the growth of an applicant in professional competence in the practice of dental hygiene and that meet the other requirements of this section.

4307.2 The Board may approve the following types of continuing education programs, if the program meets the requirements of § 4307.3:

1. (a) An undergraduate or graduate course given at an accredited college or university;
2. (b) A seminar or workshop;
3. (c) An educational program given at a conference; and
4. (d) In-service training.

4307.3 To qualify for approval by the Board, a continuing education program shall do the following:

1. (a) Be current in its subject matter;
2. (b) Be developed and taught by qualified individuals; and
3. (c) Meet one of the following requirements:
4. (1) Be administered or approved by a national, state, or local dentistry or dental hygiene organization recognized by the Board; health care organization; licensed health care facility; or a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation; or
5. (2) Be submitted by the program sponsors to the Board for review no less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the presentation and be approved by the Board.

4307.4 Continuing education credit will not be awarded for programs that do not relate to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to the practice of dental hygiene, including but not limited to:

(a) Courses pertaining to business communications and operations;

(b) Courses solely pertaining to medical/dental coding terminology;

(c) Courses pertaining to personal self-improvement, financial gain, or career options;

(d) Courses designed for lay persons;

(e) Providing instruction to persons who are not licensed, registered, certified, or students in the field of dental hygiene or dental assisting, or for conducting research, or publications, or any preparation for same;

(f) On-the-job training;

(g) Orientation programs or staff meetings, including orientation to new policies, non-therapeutic procedures, equipment, forms, responsibilities, services, etc.;

(h) Presentations made by students; or

(i) Participation in or attendance at, not as a presenter, case conferences, grand rounds, or informal presentations.

4307.5 The Board may issue and update a list of approved continuing education programs.

4307.6 An applicant shall have the burden of verifying whether a program is approved by the Board pursuant to this section prior to attending the program.

4307.7 The Board may approve the following continuing education activities by an applicant:

(a) Serving as an instructor or speaker at a conference, seminar, workshop, or inservice training;

(b) Publication of an article in a professional journal or publication of a book or a chapter in a book or publication of a book review in a professional journal or bulletin;

(c) Serving as a clinical instructor for students of dental hygiene; and

(d) Participation in research as a principal investigator or research assistant.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 38 DCR 787, 789 (January 27, 1989); as amended by Final Rulemaking Business, Occupations, and Professionals

published at 65 DCR 4838 (May 4, 2018).