038.00.08 Ark. Code R. 002
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024
Rule 038.00.08-002 - Article XIV: Continuing Education for Dentists and Dental HygienistsA. Purpose: The Rules in this chapter set forth the requirements and guidelines for minimum continuing education for dentists and dental hygienists.B. Definitions: For the purpose of these rules on continuing education, these definitions shall apply: Board refers to the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners (ASBDE).
Continuing Education Unit ICEU1 One [1) continuing education unit equals a minimum of fifty [50) minutes. A one-half (1/2) contact hours equals a minimum of twenty-five (25) minutes.
Course is a planned educational experience. License is any person licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the state of Arkansas.
Reporting Period is the length of time in each continuing education cycle; two calendar years.
C. Scope: Beginning January 1, 1994, each Arkansas licensee shall comply with these minimum continuing education requirements. To regain an active license, the licensee must have completed the required CE credits for one reporting period before regaining an active status license. Said CE credits must be earned within the immediate two-year period prior to regaining an active status license.
D. Minimum Continuing Education Requirements for Licensees: ASBDE shall require acceptable continuing education as a prerequisite for license renewal. Failure to comply with the minimum continuing education requirements may result in the inability to renew a license or revocation of a license. 1. Units required for dentists: The requirement for minimum continuing education for Arkansas licensed dentists will be fifty (50) credit units for every two (2) year reporting period. The first reporting period will begin January 1, 1994 and end December 31,1995. Each reporting period will start on an even numbered year.2. Units required for dental hygienists: The requirement for minimum continuing education for Arkansas licensed dental hygienists will be forty [40) units for every two (2) year reporting period. The first reporting period will begin January 1, 1994 and end December 31, 1995. Each reporting period will start on an even numbered year.3. Requirements for new Licensees: The requirement for minimum continuing education for new licensees (dentists and dental hygienists) will begin January 1 of the calendar year following their licensure and be pro-rated if not at the start of the new reporting period.E. Acceptable Continuing Education: Only those courses directly related to provision of services and patient care shall be considered for credit. Any course is acceptable which contributes to updating and maintaining the knowledge and skills of the dentist or dental hygienist in the treatment of the individual patient or the management of the dental practice or clinic. Home study courses which include a post-test and the issuance of a certificate of completion will be accepted. CE units will be determined by the course sponsor. At least 1 CE hours in each 2-year reporting period must be on the subject of infection control. Courses dealing with other subjects of professional concern are outside the scope of the continuing education requirements. Such courses or programs which will not qualify for approval are money management, investments, time spent with professional and/or financial consultants, and professional organizational business meetings. The Board does not pre-approve courses.
F. Procedure for Reporting Continuing Education Units: 1. Reporting: At the end of each two year reporting period, the licensee will provide a typed list on forms provided by the Board attesting to the actual number of CE hours earned in the two year reporting period and confirmed by the licensee's signature. All information requested on the forms must be properly completed for the hours to be accepted.2. Record Keeping: CE Records must be kept by the licensee in an orderly manner. All records relative to CE hours must be maintained by the licensee for at least 3 years from the end of the reporting period. The records or copies of the forms must be provided to the ASBDE upon request. Audits will be conducted at the end of each two year reporting period by ASBDE.3. Hours beyond requirements: Continuing education units acquired beyond the minimum requirement in each 2 year reporting period will not be carried forward to the succeeding reporting period.G. Advanced Study - (Graduate Study, Internships, Residencies): Dentists or dental hygienists engaged in a full-time dental or dental hygiene related program will fulfill their continuing education requirement for each reporting period in which they are actively participating in such programs by the nature of these activities, and will have no additional formal requirements for that period. However, the licensee enrolled in an advanced program must notify the Board.H. Publishing Papers - Presenting Clinics - Lecturing -Teaching:1. Licensees presenting CE courses will be granted six (6) hours of CEU for each hour of the original presentation, and an hour for hour credit for additional presentation of the same material.2. Licensees publishing papers will be granted six (6) hours of CEU for the first publication only.3. Full or part-time teaching in dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting programs that are accredited by CODA will receive CEU credit equal to the number of hours spent teaching didactic classroom courses. Extra hours will not be given for lecture preparation. (For example, teaching a 3 semester hour course for 12 weeks would result in 36 CEU credits.) The dates of the courses, the names of the courses, the name of the institution and the number of hours spent teaching the course or clinic directly to students must be reported on CE forms provided by the board each license renewal cycle.4. Clinical instruction supervision in dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting programs that are accredited by CODA will receive CEU credit at a rate of 1 CEU for every 8 hours of clinical supervision or instruction time. Documentation of clinical instruction and supervision hours will be required on each license renewal form.5. Licensed dentists and dental hygienists who instruct and supervise dental, dental hygiene or dental assisting students enrolled in CODA accredited programs in off-campus dental clinic facilities (clinical rotations) will receive 1 CEU hour for every 8 hours the students spend under their supervision. Documentation of instruction and supervision hours will be required on each license renewal form.I. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Each licensed dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must take a Healthcare Provider level of cardiopulmonary resuscitation course and submit a photocopy of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation card or certificate with the renewal form that confirms that he or she holds at least a current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation of Healthcare Provider level, effective January 1, 2003.
038.00.08 Ark. Code R. 002