1. A. A dentist or dental hygienist who has completed the continuing education requirements shall attest to the completion on a form supplied by the Board as part of the application for license renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation.
2. B. The Board may request verification of compliance with this chapter through inspection of continuing education records maintained by licensees in accordance with Regulation .03A of this chapter.
3. C. Except as provided in this regulation, the Board shall audit a percentage of dentists and dental hygienists, selected by the Board for each renewal cycle.
4. D. A licensee who receives notice of a continuing education audit shall verify compliance with this chapter by the date specified in the notice and submit to the Board a report of the continuing education hours required for renewal on a form approved by the Board along with the appropriate documentation.

5. E. Documentation. A dentist or dental hygienist shall provide to the Board:

   1. (1) A certificate of completion for approved courses or programs;
   2. (2) Current CPR certification as specified under Regulation .04 of this chapter;
   3. (3) If applicable, proof of Board-approved pro bono dental or dental hygiene services provided; and
   4. (4) If a certificate of completion is not available, satisfactory proof of time spent preparing and presenting table clinics, lectures, articles for publications in dental or medical journals, or attending study clubs, or other meetings involved with performing clinical dentistry.
6. F. A dentist or a dental hygienist may request an extension of time to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

7. G. A request for an extension of time under §F of this regulation shall:

   1. (1) Be made in writing;
   2. (2) Detail and document the reasons the licensee was not able to complete the continuing education requirements within the allotted time; and
   3. (3) Provide a period of time requested by the licensee to complete the required continuing education.
8. H. The grant of an extension and the period of the extension is within the sole discretion of the Board.
9. I. A dentist or dental hygienist who requests and is granted an extension of time by the Board shall be audited at the next renewal cycle.
10. J. A dentist or dental hygienist granted an extension of time shall attest to completion of continuing education requirements by the end of the extension period.
11. K. Failure to submit the required attestation or failure to meet continuing education requirements by the end of the extension period may subject the licensee to disciplinary action.
12. L. The Board’s staff shall conduct a preliminary review and evaluation of the documentation submitted to the Board and report their findings to the Board.

13. M. After the Board’s review of the submitted documentation, the Board may find one or both of the following:

    1. (1) That the dentist or dental hygienist has not met the Board’s continuing education requirements; or
    2. (2) That the dentist or dental hygienist has submitted courses or programs that have not been Board-approved.
14. N. The Board may require a dentist or a dental hygienist who has not met the Board’s continuing education requirements or who has submitted courses or programs that have not been Board-approved to take additional continuing education courses or programs in order to meet the Board’s continuing education requirements.

15. O. Penalties for Violation.

    1. (1) A false, misleading, or deceptive statement on a renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation form may constitute unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary action against the licensee as set forth in Health Occupations Article, §4-315, Annotated Code of Maryland.
    2. (2) Failure to complete continuing education requirements within the time period specified under Regulation .05 of this chapter or any applicable extension constitutes unprofessional conduct and may result in disciplinary action against the licensee as set forth in Health Occupations Article, §4-315, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §4-205, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.09 adopted as an emergency provision effective November 25, 1992 (19:25 Md. R. 2199); adopted permanently effective May 26, 1993 (20:6 Md. R. 581)

Regulation .04 amended effective July 12, 1998 (25:14 Md. R. 1132)

Regulation .09B amended effective June 25, 2001 (28:12 Md. R. 1110)

Chapter revised effective January 5, 2004 (30:26 Md. R. 1915)

Regulation .10 recodified to be Regulation .11 and new Regulation .10 adopted effective June 21, 2004 (31:12 Md. R. 913)

Chapter revised effective July 17, 2006 (33:14 Md. R. 1164)

Regulation .04 amended effective January 26, 2009 (36:2 Md. R. 101)

Regulation .06A amended effective January 26, 2009 (36:2 Md. R. 101)

Regulation .07 amended effective January 26, 2009 (36:2 Md. R. 101)

Chapter revised effective April 18, 2011 (38:8 Md. R. 506)

Regulation .02B amended effective March 18, 2013 (40:5 Md. R. 411); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .04 amended effective October 13, 2014 (41:20 Md. R. 1112); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .04D-1 adopted effective March 18, 2013 (40:5 Md. R. 411)

Regulation .05 amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218

Regulation .06 amended effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .06A amended effective October 13, 2014 (41:20 Md. R. 1112)

Regulation .08 amended March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .08C amended effective October 13, 2014 (41:20 Md. R. 1112)

Regulation .09 adopted effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulations .09—.11 recodified to Regulations .11—.13 and Regulation .13 to be Regulation .15 effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .10 adopted effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .12 repealed effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .14 repealed and new Regulation .14 adopted effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 218)