Delaware Administrative Code
Title 24 - Regulated Professions and Occupations
Department of State
Division of Professional Regulation
1100 - Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene
Section 1100-6.0 - Continuing Professional Education (CPE) and Renewal
Universal Citation: 24 DE Admin Code 1100-6.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024
6.1 Renewal. Each license shall be renewed biennially. The failure of the Board to notify a licensee of his/her license expiration date and subsequent renewal does not, in any way, relieve the licensee of the requirement to renew his/her license pursuant to the Board's regulations and 24 Del.C. Ch. 11.
6.1.1
License renewal is accomplished online at the Division of Professional
Regulation's website. Licensees must submit an online application along with
payment of the renewal fee prescribed by the Division of Professional
Regulation and an attestation of completion of the continuing education
requirements.
6.1.1.1 Attestation must be
completed electronically at the time of renewal. Licensees selected for random
audit will be required to supplement the attestation with attendance
verification pursuant to Section 6.8.
6.2 Any licensee who fails to renew his/her license by the renewal date may reactivate his/her license during the one year period immediately following the license expiration date provided the licensee pays a late fee in addition to the prescribed renewal fee, and provides proof that he/she completed the required continuing education.
6.3 Continuing Education. All persons licensed to practice dentistry in the State of Delaware shall be required to acquire fifty (50) hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit every two (2) years. Two (2) of the 50 credit hours shall be obtained in courses covering infection control. In addition to the CPE, licensees must provide evidence that they have successfully completed a current course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) every two (2) years. The CPR course must encompass hands on clinical participation. On-line courses will not be accepted to satisfy the CPR requirement. Examples of acceptable courses include, but are not limited to, courses offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association and courses offered or approved by any of the organizations listed in 6.4.1 through 6.4.4 of these regulations. All dentists, upon initial licensure in Delaware and prior to registration renewal, shall be given a written notice of these CPE requirements.
6.4 CPE credits may be granted upon proof of successful completion of scientific CPE programs or courses, including live webinars, sponsored or approved by:
6.4.1
American Dental Association (ADA), its constituents and components including
CERP (Continuing Education Recognition Program)
6.4.2 American Dental Hygienists' Association
(ADHA), its constituents and components
6.4.3 American Dental Assisting Association
(ADAA), its constituents and components
6.4.4 Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) its
constituents and components including PACE (Program Approval for Continuing
Education)
6.4.5 Recognized
national, regional, state and local dental and dental hygiene specialty
organizations
6.4.6 Recognized
dental and dental hygiene study clubs
6.4.7 Accredited dental and dental hygiene
CPE programs offered by dental and dental hygiene schools.
6.4.8 Approved hospital programs.
6.4.9 Such other organizations and
associations as may be approved by the Board.
6.5 A maximum of 30 hours of the total CPE requirement may be satisfied by self-study.
6.5.1 Not more than ten hours of the fifty
hour biennial CPE requirement may be satisfied by self-study without testing
from sources approved by the Board which shall include but not be limited to:
6.5.1.1 Reading dental textbooks
6.5.1.2 Reading dental tape
journals
6.5.1.3 Viewing and
listening to dental audio-visual materials.
6.5.2 In addition to the maximum of ten (10)
hours of the CPE requirement which may be satisfied by self-study without
testing and certification, a maximum of twenty (20) hours of the total CPE
requirements may be fulfilled by self-study with test and certificate of
completion from bona fide dental educational sources including but not limited
to:
6.5.2.1 Dental journals
6.5.2.2 Dental textbooks
6.5.2.3 Dental video and audio tape
presentations
6.5.2.4 Dental
mail-in courses
6.5.2.5 Dental
courses presented on the Internet, which are not live
6.6 Special Provisions
6.6.1 A dentist, employed as a faculty member
in a recognized school of dentistry, dental hygiene, dental assisting or any
dentally-related field will be allowed not more than ten (10) hours credit for
teaching per year.
6.6.2 A dentist
presenting a CPE course shall be allowed the hours involved in preparation and
presentation on a one-time-per-course basis for a maximum of ten (10) hours for
the two-year period.
6.6.3 Table
Clinics will be allowed, one (1) hour of credit per hour of presentation for a
maximum of two (2) hours.
6.6.4
Twelve (12) hours of credit shall be allowed for a scientific article published
in a component or state society journal. 25 hours of credit shall be allowed
for a scientific article published in a national journal or for a published
scientific textbook or a chapter therein.
6.6.5 Any public health dentally-related
presentation will be allowed one (1) hour of credit per hour of participation
for a maximum of two (2) hours for the two year period.
6.6.6 Practice management or personal
self-improvement courses shall be limited to a total of ten (10) hours for the
two (2) year period.
6.6.7 A
dentist providing volunteer pro bono dental services acceptable to the Board
will be allowed one hour of credit for each hour of patient service up to a
maximum of 10 hours.
6.6.7.1 Volunteer pro
bono care is care provided in conjunction with a non-profit entity or event
without receiving compensation.
6.6.8 The Board reserves the right to approve
any and all activities deemed appropriate for CPE credit. The Board also
reserves the right and is the final word to disapprove any activities submitted
for credit which it deems inappropriate.
6.6.9 All dentists licensed to practice in
Delaware shall be given written notice of these CPE requirements when receiving
their initial license.
6.6.10 For
existing holders of an Unrestricted Permit for anesthesia, at least twelve (12)
hours of the required CPE credits must be taken on an Anesthesia topic by the
end of the six (6) year re-evaluation period (i.e. by the end of the third
biennial licensure renewal period).
6.6.11 For existing holders of a Restricted I
Permit, at least six (6) hours of the required CPE credits must be taken on an
Anesthesia topic by the end of the six (6) year re-evaluation period (i.e. by
the end of the third biennial license renewal period).
6.7 Exceptions
6.7.1 An exception will be granted to any
dentist who can demonstrate to the Board an acceptable cause as to why he/she
should be relieved of this obligation. Exemptions will be granted only in
unusual or extraordinary circumstances. Licensees must petition the Board for
exemptions. Should the Board deny the request, the licensee must complete the
requirements. Examples of circumstances for which the Board might grant
exemptions include prolonged illness, extended absence from the country, or the
like.
6.7.2 An individual initially
licensed by the Board within the last 2 years shall meet the following schedule
of reporting CPE credits for license renewal:
6.7.2.1 If, as of May 31st of the year for
license renewal, the licensee has been licensed for less than 1 year, zero
hours of CPE is required for license renewal; for licensees who are 1 or more
but less than 2 years from their initial licensure, one-half of the required
CPE must be presented; for individuals 2 years or more from their initial
licensure, the full CPE requirement must be presented for renewal.
6.8 Audit of Continuing Education Contact Hours
6.8.1 Audit. Each
biennium, the Division of Professional Regulation shall randomly select from
the list of renewed licensees a percentage of licensees, determined by the
Board, to be audited. The Board may also audit based on complaints or charges
against an individual license, relative to compliance with continuing education
requirements or based on a finding of past non-compliance during prior
audits.
6.8.2 Documentation. When a
licensee is selected for audit, the licensee shall be required to submit
documentation showing detailed accounting of the various CPEs claimed by the
licensee. Licensees selected for random audit are required to supplement the
attestation with supporting materials which may include a syllabus, agenda,
itinerary or brochure published by the sponsor of the activity and a document
showing proof of attendance (i.e., certificate, a signed letter from the
sponsor attesting to attendance, report of passing test score). The Board shall
attempt to verify the CPEs shown on the documentation provided by the licensee.
Upon completion of the review, the Board will decide whether the licensee's
CPEs meet the requirements of these regulations.
6.8.2.1 Any continuing education not meeting
all provisions of these regulations shall be rejected in part or in whole by
the Board
6.8.2.2 Any incomplete or
inaccurate documentation of continuing education may be rejected in part or in
whole by the Board.
6.8.2.3 Any
continuing education that is rejected must be replaced by acceptable continuing
education within a reasonable period of time established by the Board. This
continuing education will not be counted towards the next renewal
period.
6.8.3 Board
Review and Hearing Process. The Board shall review all documentation requested
of any licensee shown on the audit list. If the Board determines the licensee
has met the requirements, the licensee's license shall remain in effect. If the
Board initially determines the licensee has not met the requirements, the
licensee shall be notified and a hearing may be held pursuant to the
Administrative Procedures Act. This hearing will be conducted to determine if
there are any extenuating circumstances justifying the apparent noncompliance
with these regulations. Unjustified noncompliance with these regulations shall
be considered unprofessional conduct and grounds for discipline pursuant to 24
Del.C. §
1128(6).
6.8.4 Sanctions for Unjustified
Noncompliance. If the Board finds unjustified non-compliance, the Board will
impose discipline in accordance with 29 Del.C. §1129 which may include,
but is not limited to monetary penalties up to $1,000, suspension and/or
revocation of a practitioner's license.
6.9 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) - Dental Hygienists [24 Del.C. § 1106(a)(1) and (7)]
All persons licensed to practice dental hygiene in the State of Delaware shall be required to acquire twenty-four (24) hours of CPE credit every two (2) years. Two (2) of the 24 credit hours shall be obtained in courses covering infection control. In addition to the CPE, licensees must provide evidence that they have and successfully completed a current course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) every two (2) years. The CPR course must encompass hands on clinical participation. On-line courses will not be accepted to satisfy the CPR requirement. Examples of acceptable courses include, but are not limited to, courses offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. All Dental hygienists, upon initial licensure and prior to registration renewal, shall be given written notice of these CPE requirements.
6.9.1 Proof of
continuing education is satisfied with an attestation by the licensee that he
or she has satisfied the Requirements of subsection 6.9.
6.9.2 Attestation must be completed
electronically at the time of renewal.
6.9.3 Licensees selected for random audit
will be required to supplement the attestation with attendance verification
pursuant to subsection 6.12.
6.9.4
CPE credits may be granted upon proof of successful completion of programs
including, but not limited to, the following categories:
6.9.4.1 Scientific CPE programs or courses,
including live webinars, sponsored or approved by:
6.9.4.1.1 American Dental Hygienists
Association, its constituents and components
6.9.4.1.2 American Dental Association, its
constituents and components
6.9.4.1.3 American Dental Assisting
Association, its constituents, and components
6.9.4.1.4 American Academy of Dental
Hygiene
6.9.4.1.5 Recognized
national, regional, state, and local dental and dental hygiene specialty
societies
6.9.4.1.6 Recognized
dental and dental hygiene study clubs
6.9.4.1.7 Accredited dental and dental
hygiene schools
6.9.4.1.8 Approved
hospital programs
6.9.4.1.9 Such
other organizations and associations as may be approved by the Board
6.9.4.2 A maximum of five (5)
hours of the total twenty-four (24) hour requirement may be satisfied by
self-study without testing from sources approved by the Board which shall
include but not be limited to:
6.9.4.2.1
Reading of dental or dental hygiene journals
6.9.4.2.2 Reading dental or dental hygiene
textbooks
6.9.4.2.3 Viewing and
listening to dental or dental hygiene audio-visual materials
6.9.4.3 In addition to the maximum
of five (5) hours which may be satisfied by self-study without testing, a
maximum of ten (10) hours of the total twenty-four (24) hour requirement may be
fulfilled by self-study with test and certificate of completion from bona fide
dental hygiene educational sources including but not limited to:
6.9.4.3.1 Dental or dental hygiene
journals
6.9.4.3.2 Dental or dental
hygiene textbooks
6.9.4.3.3 Dental
or dental hygiene video and audio tape presentations
6.9.4.3.4 Dental or dental hygiene mail-in
courses
6.9.4.3.5 Dental or dental
hygiene courses presented on the Internet, which are not live
Where CPE credits are not specified, one (1) hour of CPE credit will be given for each hour of scientific session attended.
The final approval of acceptable dental hygiene CPE credits shall be made by the Board of Dental Examiners in consultation with the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee.
6.10 Special Provisions
6.10.1 A dental hygienist, employed as a
faculty member in a recognized school of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental
assisting, will be allowed not more than five (5) hours credit for teaching per
year.
6.10.2 A dental hygienist
presenting a CPE course shall be allowed the hours involved in preparation and
presentation on a one-time-per-course basis for a maximum of five (5) credits
for the two-year period.
6.10.3
Table clinics will be allowed one (1) hour of credit per hour of presentation
for a maximum of two (2) hours.
6.10.4 Twelve (12) hours of credit shall be
granted for a scientific article published in a component or state society
journal. Twelve (12) hours of credit shall be allowed for a scientific article
published in a national journal or for a published scientific textbook or a
chapter therein.
6.10.5 A dental
hygienist giving public education instruction in a school will receive credit
up to one (1) hour per year.
6.10.6
Practice management or personal self-improvement courses shall be limited to
five (5) hours for the two (2) year period.
6.10.6.1 Practice management, personal
self-improvement and computer courses shall be limited to 2.5 hours a year for
a total of five(5) hours for the two year period.
6.10.7 A dental hygienist providing volunteer
pro bono dental hygiene services acceptable to the Board will be allowed one
hour of credit for each hour of patient service up to a maximum of five hours.
6.10.7.1 Volunteer pro bono care is care
provided in conjunction with a non-profit entity or event without receiving
compensation.
6.10.8 The
Board reserves the right to approve any and all activities deemed appropriate
for CPE credit. The Board also reserves the right and is the final word to
disapprove any activities submitted for credit which it deems
inappropriate.
6.10.9 All dental
hygienists licensed to practice in Delaware shall be given written notice of
these CPE requirements when receiving their initial license.
6.11 Exceptions
6.11.1 An exception will be granted to any
dental hygienist who can demonstrate to the Board an acceptable cause as to why
he/she should be relieved of this obligation. Exemptions will be granted only
in unusual or extraordinary circumstances. Licensees must petition the Board
for exemptions. Should the Board deny the request, the licensee must complete
the requirements. Examples of circumstances for which the Board might grant
exemptions include prolonged illness, extended absence from the country, or the
like.
6.11.2 An individual
initially licensed by the Board within the last 2 years shall meet the
following schedule of reporting CPE credits for license renewal:
6.11.2.1 If, as of May 31st of the year for
license renewal, the licensee has been licensed for less than 1 year, zero
hours of CPE is required for license renewal; for licensees who are 1 or more
but less than 2 years from their initial licensure, one-half of the required
CPE must be presented; for individuals 2 years or more from their initial
licensure, the full CPE requirement must be presented for renewal.
6.12 Audit of Continuing Education Contact Hours
6.12.1
Audit. Each biennium, the Division of Professional Regulation shall randomly
select from the list of renewed licensees a percentage of licensees, determined
by the Board, to be audited. The Board may also audit based on complaints or
charges against an individual license, relative to compliance with continuing
education requirements or based on a finding of past non-compliance during
prior audits.
6.12.2 Documentation.
When a licensee is selected for audit, the licensee shall be required to submit
documentation showing detailed accounting of the various CPEs claimed by the
licensee. Licensees selected for random audit are required to supplement the
attestation with supporting materials which may include a syllabus, agenda,
itinerary or brochure published by the sponsor of the activity and a document
showing proof of attendance (i.e., certificate, a signed letter from the
sponsor attesting to attendance, report of passing test score).The Board shall
attempt to verify the CPEs shown on the documentation provided by the licensee.
Upon completion of the review, the Board will decide whether the licensee's
CPEs meet the requirements of these regulations.
6.12.2.1 Any continuing education not meeting
all provisions of these regulations shall be rejected in part or in whole by
the Board
6.12.2.2 Any incomplete
or inaccurate documentation of continuing education may be rejected in part or
in whole by the Board.
6.12.2.3 Any
continuing education that is rejected must be replaced by acceptable continuing
education within a reasonable period of time established by the Board. This
continuing education will not be counted towards the next renewal
period.
6.12.3 Board
Review and Hearing Process. The Board shall review all documentation requested
of any licensee shown on the audit list. If the Board determines the licensee
has met the requirements, the licensee's license shall remain in effect. If the
Board initially determines the licensee has not met the requirements, the
licensee shall be notified and a hearing may be held pursuant to the
Administrative Procedures Act. This hearing will be conducted to determine if
there are any extenuating circumstances justifying the apparent noncompliance
with these regulations. Unjustified noncompliance with these regulations shall
be considered unprofessional conduct and grounds for discipline pursuant to 24
Del.C. §
1128(6).
6.12.4 Sanctions for Unjustified
Noncompliance. If the Board finds unjustified non-compliance, the Board will
impose discipline in accordance with 29 Del.C. §1129 which may include,
but is not limited to monetary penalties up to $1,000, suspension and/or
revocation of a practitioner's license.
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