California Dentist Ebook Continuing Education

Table 1: Continuing Education Hours Required Type of Licensee and/or Permit Holder CE Units Required*

Distribution of Total CE Units

Dentist

50 units All licensees must complete (a) two units of CE in infection control specific to California regulations, (b) two units of CE in the California Dental Practice Act and related regulations, and (c) a maximum of four units of a course in BLS. Up to 50% of a licensee’s total required units may be obtained through nonlive, noninteractive courses.** All licensees must retain certificates of CE course completion for a period of three renewal periods (6 years) and provide certifications to the Board only upon request for audit purposes.

RDA

25 units 25 units 25 units 25 units 25 units 25 units

Dental sedation assistant permit holder Orthodontic assistant permit holder

RDAEF

RDH

Registered dental hygienist in extended functions (RDHEF)

RDHAP

35 units Additionally Required as Part of Total CE Units

Dentist who holds a general anesthesia permit.

(a) An advanced cardiac life support course that is approved by the AHA; or (b) any other advanced cardiac life support course that is identical in all respects, except for the omission of materials that relate solely to hospital emergencies or neonatology to the “2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.” A minimum of 15 total units of CE related to the administration of conscious sedation and to medical emergencies.

Dentist who holds a conscious sedation permit. Dentist who holds an oral conscious sedation permit for minors. Dentist who holds an oral conscious sedation permit for adults.

A minimum of seven total units of CE related to the subject area.

* Per biennial or permit renewal period **On February 17, 2012, the Director waived the 50% maximum under certain circumstances, pursuant to the governor’s Executive Order N-39-20, which was issued in response to the COVID-19 emergency. The order was effective immediately but may be amended as circumstances require. Under this order, the 50% maximum does not apply if the nonlive instruction consists of courses that allow participants to interact concurrently with instructors or presenters who are observing the courses.

Mandatory courses All licensees must complete certain mandatory courses. These courses count toward the total number of units required to renew a license or permit. However, if a licensee fails to complete all the mandatory courses, he or she will not be allowed to renew a license or permit, regardless of the number of total units of CE obtained. Courses required by the Board for license renewal for all dentists and dental auxiliaries are: ● Two units of CE in a Board-approved course on infection control (including all content of Section 1005 and the application of the regulations in the dental environment). ● Two units of CE in a Board-approved course on the California Dental Practice Act. ● Certification in basic life support met by completion of a maximum of four units of a course approved by the AHA or ARC, or offered by a provider approved by the ADA or the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). (Cal. Code Regs., 2010a; Cal. Code Regs., 2010b) Courses in the actual delivery of dental services Courses in the actual delivery of dental services to the patient or the community, which the Board considers to be the main focus of CE, are referred to as core courses. These courses include a Courses that are primarily of benefit to the licensee may not exceed 20% of the licensee’s total units in any given license or permit renewal period. These courses deal with business administration, operations, and management, as outlined in Appendix C. wide range of topics as detailed in Appendix C. Courses primarily of benefit to the licensee

special permit are required to include a specified number of CE units related to their permit area as part of (not in addition to) their total CE units. For licensees holding more than one license or permit, fulfilling the license or permit that requires the largest number of CE units will satisfy all of the licensee’s renewal requirements (Cal. Code Regs., 2010b). Section 1016 defines a “course of study” to mean: An orderly learning experience in an area of study pertaining to dental and medical health, preventive dental services, diagnosis and treatment planning, clinical procedures, basic health sciences, dental practice management and administration, communication, ethics, patient management, or the Dental Practice Act and other laws specifically related to dental practice (Cal. Code Regs., 2010a). Although the earlier dichotomy of Category I and Category II courses has been eliminated, the CE regulations that became effective on April 8, 2010, continue to restrict or prohibit certain types of CE courses. Under the current regulations, courses are treated differently depending on their allocation into one of four groups: ● Mandatory courses. ● Courses in the actual delivery of dental services. ● Courses primarily for the benefit of the licensee. ● Courses of direct benefit to the licensee or outside the scope of practice. (Cal. Code Regs., 2010a)

EliteLearning.com/Dental

Page 9