Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0460 - Dentistry
Chapter 0460-01 - General Rules
Section 0460-01-.05 - CONTINUING EDUCATION AND CPR
Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 0460-01-.05
Current through April 3, 2024
(1) Continuing Education - Hours Required
(a) Beginning
January 1, 2003, each licensed dentist must successfully complete forty (40)
hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Board during the two
(2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st
of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure renewal year.
At least two (2) hours of the forty (40) hour requirement shall pertain to
chemical dependency education. Dentists who hold limited or comprehensive
conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permits must also obtain
a minimum of four (4) hours of continuing education in the subject of
anesthesia and/or sedation as required by Rule
0460-02-.07(8)(c)
as part of the required forty (40) hours of continuing education for dental
licensure.
1. Example - To renew a license
that expires in 2008, a dentist will attest on the renewal application that
he/she completed forty (40) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2005
to December 31, 2006.
2. Example -
To renew a license that expires in 2009, a dentist will attest on the renewal
application that he/she completed forty (40) hours of continuing education from
January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
3. Example - To renew a license that expires
in 2010, a dentist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed
forty (40) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31,
2008.
(b) Beginning
January 3, 2003, each licensed dental hygienist must successfully complete
thirty (30) hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Board
during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through
December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure
renewal year. At least two (2) hours of the thirty (30) hour requirement shall
pertain to chemical dependency education.
1.
Example - To renew a license that expires in 2008, a dental hygienist will
attest on the renewal application that he/she completed thirty (30) hours of
continuing education from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006.
2. Example - To renew a license that expires
in 2009, a dental hygienist will attest on the renewal application that he/she
completed thirty (30) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to
December 31, 2008.
3. Example - To
renew a license that expires in 2010, a dental hygienist will attest on the
renewal application that he/she completed thirty (30) hours of continuing
education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
(c) Beginning January 3, 2003, each
registered dental assistant must successfully complete twenty-four (24) hours
of continuing education in courses approved by the Board during the two (2)
calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of
the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the registration renewal year.
At least two (2) hours of the twenty-four (24) hour requirement shall pertain
to chemical dependency education.
1. Example
- To renew a registration that expires in 2008, a dental assistant will attest
on the renewal application that he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours of
continuing education from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006.
2. Example - To renew a registration that
expires in 2009, a dental assistant will attest on the renewal application that
he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education from January 1,
2007 to December 31, 2008.
3.
Example - To renew a registration that expires in 2010, a dental assistant will
attest on the renewal application that he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours
of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.
(d) New licensees and new
registrants are exempt from the provisions of subparagraphs (1)(a), (1)(b), and
(1)(c) during their initial two (2) calendar year (January 1-December 31)
cycle, starting with an odd-numbered year if it is the year of initial
licensure or registration, or starting with the odd-numbered year if it
precedes an even-numbered initial licensure or registration year.
1. Example - An individual whose new license
or registration was granted in 2008 is exempt from the continuing education
requirements for the period beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31,
2008.
2. Example - An individual
whose new license or registration was granted in 2009 is exempt from the
continuing education requirements for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and
ending December 31, 2010.
3.
Example - An individual whose new license or registration was granted in 2010
is exempt from the continuing education requirements for the period beginning
January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2010.
(e) The Board approves courses for only the
number of hours contained in the course. The approved hours of any individual
course will not be counted more than once in a continuing education cycle
toward the required hourly total regardless of the number of times the course
is attended or completed by any individual licensee.
(f) Each practitioner is responsible to
attend only courses approved by the Board under Rule 0460-01-.05(3)(d) if
credit for continuing education is desired unless prior approval under Rules
0460-01-.05(3)(b) and (e) has been obtained.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of
subparagraph (3)(d), all continuing education courses intended to meet the
requirements of Rules
0460-02-.07(6)(a)
1.(ii),
0460-02-.07(6)(a)
2.(ii), and
0460-02-.07(8)(b)
shall have prior approval by an Anesthesia Consultant as provided in Rule
0460-02-.07(11).
(2) Continuing Education - Proof of Compliance
(a) The due date for successful
completion of the required continuing education hours is December 31st of the
two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December
31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure or
registration renewal year.
(b) Each
dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must, on their
biennial renewal application, attest to attendance and successful completion of
the required continuing education hours and that such hours were obtained
during the calendar years of report.
(c) Each dentist, dental hygienist, and
registered dental assistant must retain independent documentation of attendance
and completion of all continuing education courses. This documentation must be
retained for a period of three (3) years from the end of the calendar year in
which the course is completed. This documentation must be produced for
inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its
verification process.
(d) Further,
it is the responsibility of the practitioner to obtain documentation in the
form of a certificate indicating the name of the practitioner attending such
course, title of the course taken, date of the course, number of hours obtained
for attending the course, and verification of the approved organization
sponsoring the course.
(e) Any
practitioner who, on their biennial renewal application, attests to attendance
and successful completion of the required continuing education which in any way
is not true will be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A.
63-5-124(a)(1), (2), (3), (7) and (18).
(3) Continuing Education Course Approval - Courses to be offered for credit toward the continuing education requirement must, unless otherwise provided, receive prior approval from the Board.
(a) Course approval procedure for course
providers - Unless otherwise provided, all courses shall be offered within
Tennessee.
1. To obtain prior approval the
course provider must have delivered to the Board's Administrative Office at
least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that
precedes the course, documentation which includes all of the following items
which must be resubmitted if changes are made after receipt of approval from
the Board:
(i) Course description or
outline.
(ii) Names of all
lecturers.
(iii) Brief resume of
all lecturers.
(iv) Number of hours
of educational credit requested.
(v) Date of course.
(vi) Copies of materials to be utilized in
the course.
(vii) How verification
of attendance is to be documented.
2. Under no circumstances shall continuing
education courses be approved if the materials required by subparts (3)(a)1.(i)
through (3)(a)1.(vii) are not received at least thirty (30) days prior to a
regularly scheduled meeting of the Board at which approval is sought that
precedes the course.
3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (3)(a), any clinic, workshop,
seminar or lecture at national, regional, state and local meetings of dentists,
dental hygienists, and dental assistants will be recognized for continuing
education credit by the Board if
(i) The
course provider has complied with the provisions of parts (3)(a)1. and
(3)(a)2.; or
(ii) The course
provider is exempt from needing prior approval as provided in subparagraph
(3)(d).
4.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (3)(a), out-of-state continuing
education providers may seek course approval if they are a dental, dental
hygiene, or dental assisting regulatory agency or association from a state that
borders Tennessee; and
(i) The course provider
has complied with the provisions of parts (3)(a)1. and (3)(a)2.; or
(ii) The course provider is exempt from
needing prior approval as provided in subparagraph (3)(d).
(b) Course approval procedure for
individual licensees and registrants.
1. Any
licensee or registrant may seek approval to receive credit for successfully
completing continuing education courses by complying with the provisions of
subparagraph (3)(a).
2. To retain
course approval, the licensee or registrant must submit a course evaluation
form, supplied by the Board, to the Board's Administrative Office within thirty
(30) days after successfully completing the course.
(c) Continuing Education courses may be
presented in any of the following formats:
1.
Lecture.
2. Audio or audiovisual -
with successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate
material retention if correspondence course.
3. Correspondence - with successful
completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material
retention.
4. Any combination of
the above.
(d) The
following courses and/or activities need not receive prior approval and shall
constitute Board-approved continuing education:
1. Courses sponsored or approved by any of
the following organizations:
(i) American
Dental Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.
(ii) Academy of General Dentistry or a State
Affiliate.
(iii) American Dental
Hygienists' Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.
(iv) Any National, Regional or State Academy
or Association of any of the recognized specialty branches of dentistry listed
in T.C.A. 63-5-112.
(v) National
Dental Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.
(vi) National Dental Hygiene
Association.
(vii) Capital City
Dental Society.
(viii) American
Dental Assistants' Association or its Constituent or Component
Societies.
(ix) Tennessee Dental
Hygienists Academy of Advanced Study.
(x) Tennessee Department of Health and its
affiliated Metropolitan Health Departments, those being the
Chattanooga/Hamilton County Health Department, the Davidson County Health
Department, the Jackson-Madison County Health Department, the Knox County
Health Department, the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, and the
Sullivan County Health Department.
(xi) Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
(TEMA).
(xii) Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
(xiii)
Tennessee Dental Wellness Foundation.
2. Educational courses sponsored by an
accredited school of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting. If such
course is taken for or assigned quarter or semester credit hours, three (3)
semester hours or equivalent quarter hours shall be equivalent to fifteen (15)
continuing education hours. No credits will be counted for courses
failed.
3. Five (5) hours of
continuing education credit shall be granted for attendance at a state,
regional or national dental meeting. A maximum of ten (10) continuing education
credits may be earned in this category during the continuing education cycle
that precedes the licensure or registration renewal year. These hours are in
addition to any continuing education courses attended at any of those
meetings.
4. Participation at
examinations
(i) Four (4) hours of continuing
education credit shall be awarded each time a licensee participates as an
examiner for S.R.T.A.
(ii) One (1)
hour of continuing education credit shall be awarded each time a licensee
participates as an examiner for the coronal polishing examination.
5. Hour-for-hour of continuing
education credit will be granted for courses in Advanced (ACLS) or Pediatric
(PALS) Cardiac Life Support that are taught in accordance with the "Guidelines"
of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross or sponsored by the
American Heart Association or the American Red Cross during the continuing
education cycle that precedes the licensure or registration renewal
year.
6. Twenty (20) hours of
continuing education credit will be awarded for authorship of publications
relevant to the practice of dentistry (e.g., a book, a chapter of a book, or an
article or paper published in a professional peer reviewed journal).
7. Four (4) hours of continuing education
credit shall be awarded, during each continuing education cycle that precedes
the licensure or registration renewal year, to presenters for each hour of an
initial presentation of a formal continuing education course that is a didactic
and/or a participatory presentation to review or update knowledge of new or
existing concepts and techniques. Hour-for-hour credit will be granted for
repeat presentations. This category is limited to a maximum of twenty (20)
hours continuing education credit during each continuing education cycle that
precedes the licensure or registration renewal year.
(e) Individual Board members and the Board
consultant are vested with the authority to approve continuing education
courses submitted in compliance with this rule. All such approvals must be
presented to the Board for ratification..
(4) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
(a) Each dentist, dental hygienist, and
dental assistant must attest, check a box, and/or enter signature when applying
for biennial renewal of licensure or registration, which indicates current
training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which is defined as successful
completion of a BLS for Healthcare Providers, or CPR/AED for Professional
Rescuers, or an equivalent course, which provides training for healthcare
professionals in CPR and the use of an AED. The course must be conducted in
person and include a skills examination on a manikin with a certified
instructor.
(b) The hours necessary
to obtain or maintain CPR may be counted as continuing education
hours.
(c) Each dentist, dental
hygienist and registered dental assistant must retain independent documentation
of CPR training for a period of three (3) years from the end of the calendar
year in which the training is received. Such proof must be produced for
inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its
verification process.
(d) The
following organizations are approved by the Board for CPR training:
1. The American Red Cross
2. The American Heart Association
3. Programs offered in hospital
settings
4. Any organization which
receives approval of specially designed CPR courses from the Board after its
review.
(5) Waiver of Continuing Education And/Or CPR Training
(a) The Board may grant a waiver of the need
to attend and complete the required hours of continuing education and/or the
required CPR training if it can be shown to the Board that the failure to
comply was not attributable to or was beyond the physical capabilities of the
person seeking the waiver.
(b)
Waivers will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by
submitting the following items to the Board Administrative Office:
1. A written request for a waiver which
specifies what requirement is sought to be waived and a written and signed
explanation of the reasons for the request.
2. Any documentation which supports the
reason for the waiver requested or which is subsequently requested by the
Board.
(c) A waiver
approved by the Board is effective for only the two (2) calendar years (January
1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent
even-numbered year) that precede the licensure renewal year for which the
waiver is sought unless otherwise specified in writing by the Board.
(d) A dentist may not perform dental
procedures if CPR training is waived unless another dentist, a dental hygienist
or dental assistant currently trained in CPR is present within the confines of
the dental office.
(e) The Board
Consultant is authorized to grant or deny requests for waivers subject to
subsequent Board ratification.
(6) Continuing Education for Reactivation of Retired License or Registration - The continuing education hours obtained as a prerequisite for reactivation of licensure or registration may not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained before the licensee's or registrant's next biennial renewal.
(a) Any dentist or dental hygienist who
applies for reactivation of a license must comply with the following:
1. If the license has been retired for less
than two (2) years, the licensee must submit along with the reactivation
request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board
form which indicates the attendance and completion of one half (½) the
number of hours of approved dental-related continuing education required by
subparagraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) of this rule, all of which must have been
earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for
reactivation.
2. If the license has
been retired for a period of two (2) years or more, but less than five (5)
years, the licensee must submit, along with the reactivation request and
application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which
indicates the attendance and completion of twenty four (24) hours of
Board-approved dental-related continuing education. The continuing education
must include at least one (1) course which focuses on and serves as a clinical
(in the mouth) refresher and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months
immediately preceding application for reactivation. In addition, and at the
sole discretion of the Board or its consultant, when information indicates a
cause for concern about continued competency, the licensee may be required to
contact one of the approved schools of dentistry/hygiene for an evaluation of
current competency before reinstatement will be considered.
3. All applicants who have been retired for a
period of five (5) years or more must submit, along with the reactivation
request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board
form which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty four (24) hours of
Board-approved dental-related continuing education. The continuing education
must include at least one (1) course which focuses on and serves as a clinical
(in the mouth) refresher and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months
immediately preceding application for reactivation. In addition, the licensees
shall be required to present themselves to one of the approved schools of
dentistry/hygiene for an evaluation of current competency before reinstatement
will be considered. Compliance with any educational recommendations of the
evaluating school is required before reinstatement will be
considered.
(b) Any
registered dental assistant who applies for reactivation of a registration must
comply with the following:
1. If the
registrant has been retired for less than two (2) years, the registrant must
submit along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a
box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and
completion of one-half (½) the number of hours of approved
dental-related continuing education required by subparagraph (1)(c) of this
rule, all of which must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately
preceding application for reactivation.
2. If the registrant has been retired for a
period of two (2) years or more, but less than five (5) years, the registrant
must submit, along with the reactivation request and application, proof or
check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance
and completion of twelve (12) hours of continuing education as provided in
subparagraph (1)(c) of this rule and must have been earned in the twelve (12)
months immediately preceding application for reactivation.
3. All applicants who have been retired for a
period of five (5) years or more must submit, along with the reactivation
request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board
form which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty-four (24) hours of
continuing education as provided in subparagraph (1)(c) of this rule and must
have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application
for reactivation.
(c)
The dentist, dental hygienist, or registered dental assistant who applies for
reactivation of a license must also submit proof or check a box and/or enter
signature on a Board form which indicates current training in CPR issued by a
Board-approved training organization. The hours required to obtain or maintain
CPR training shall not constitute continuing education hours.
(d) The Board, upon receipt of a written
request and explanation, may waive or condition any or all of the continuing
education or CPR requirements for reactivation of a retired license in
emergency situations.
(e) The Board
Consultant is authorized to grant or deny requests for waivers subject to
subsequent Board ratification.
(7) Violations
(a) Any dentist, dental hygienist, or dental
assistant who falsely attests to attendance and completion of the required
hours of continuing education and/or the CPR training requirement may be
subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. §
63-5-124(a)(1),
(3), (7) and (18).
(b) Any dentist, dental hygienist, or dental
assistant who fails to obtain the required continuing education hours and/or
CPR training may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. §
63-5-124(a)(1)
and (18).
(c) Education hours obtained as a result of
compliance with the terms of a settlement or Board Orders in any disciplinary
action shall not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to
be obtained during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered
year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede
the licensure or registration renewal year.
(8) Continuing education - In order to retain a limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permit, a dentist must:
(a)
Maintain current certification in ACLS (a pediatric dentist may substitute
PALS); or
(b) Certify attendance
every two (2) years at a Board-approved course comparable to ACLS or PALS and
devoted specifically to the prevention and management of emergencies associated
with conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-1-107, 63-5-105, 63-5-107, 63-5-107(c), 63-5-108, 63-5-112, 63-5-114, 63-5-115, 63-5-117, and 63-5-124.
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