Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A. In
order to renew an active license, a dental hygienist shall complete a minimum
of 15 hours of approved continuing education. Continuing education hours in
excess of the number required for renewal may be transferred or credited to the
next renewal year for a total of not more than 15 hours.
1. A dental hygienist shall be required to
maintain evidence of successful completion of a current hands-on course in
basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation for health care providers.
2. A dental hygienist who monitors patients
under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation shall complete
four hours every two years of approved continuing education directly related to
monitoring of such anesthesia or sedation as part of the hours required for
licensure renewal.
3. Up to two
hours of the 15 hours required for annual renewal may be satisfied through
delivery of dental hygiene services, without compensation, to low-income
individuals receiving health services through a local health department or a
free clinic organized in whole or primarily for the delivery of those services.
One hour of continuing education may be credited for three hours of providing
such volunteer services, as documented by the health department or free
clinic.
B. An approved
continuing education program shall be relevant to the treatment and care of
patients and shall be:
1. Clinical courses in
dental or dental hygiene practice; or
2. Nonclinical subjects that relate to the
skills necessary to provide dental hygiene services and are supportive of
clinical services (i.e., patient management, legal and ethical
responsibilities, risk management, and recordkeeping). Courses not acceptable
for the purpose of this subsection include estate planning, financial planning,
investments, and personal health.
C. Continuing education credit may be earned
for verifiable attendance at or participation in any course, to include audio
and video presentations, that meets the requirements in subdivision B 1 of this
section and is given by one of the following sponsors:
1. The American Dental Association and the
National Dental Association and their constituent and component/branch
associations;
2. The American
Dental Hygienists' Association and the National Dental Hygienists Association
and their constituent and component/branch associations;
3. The American Dental Assisting Association
and its constituent and component/branch associations;
4. The American Dental Association specialty
organizations and their constituent and component/branch
associations;
5. A provider
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for
Category 1 credits;
6. The Academy
of General Dentistry and its constituent and component/branch
associations;
7. Community colleges
with an accredited dental hygiene program if offered under the auspices of the
dental hygienist program;
8. A
college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency approved by
the U.S. Department of Education or a hospital or health care institution
accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations;
9. The American
Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the American Safety and Health
Institute, and the American Cancer Society;
10. A medical school accredited by the
American Medical Association's Liaison Committee for Medical Education or a
dental school or dental specialty residency program accredited by the
Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
Association;
11. State or federal
government agencies (i.e., military dental division, Veteran's Administration,
etc.);
12. The Commonwealth Dental
Hygienists' Society;
13. The MCV
Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation;
14. The Dental Assisting National Board and
its affiliate, the Dental Auxiliary Learning and Education
Foundation;
15. The American
Academy of Dental Hygiene, its constituent and component/branch associations;
or
16. A regional testing agency
(i.e., Central Regional Dental Testing Service, Northeast Regional Board of
Dental Examiners, Southern Regional Testing Agency, Council of Interstate
Testing Agencies, or Western Regional Examining Board) when serving as an
examiner.
D. Verification
of compliance.
1. All licensees are required
to verify compliance with continuing education requirements at the time of
annual license renewal.
2.
Following the renewal period, the board may conduct an audit of licensees to
verify compliance.
3. Licensees
selected for audit shall provide original documents certifying that they have
fulfilled their continuing education requirements by the deadline date as
specified by the board.
4.
Licensees are required to maintain original documents verifying the date and
the subject of the program or activity, the sponsor, and the amount of time
earned. Documentation shall be maintained for a period of four years following
renewal.
5. Failure to comply with
continuing education requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary
action by the board.
E.
Exemptions.
1. A licensee is exempt from
completing continuing education requirements and considered in compliance on
the first renewal date following the licensee's initial licensure.
2. The board may grant an exemption for all
or part of the continuing education requirements due to circumstances beyond
the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military
service, or officially declared disasters. A written request with supporting
documents must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the deadline for
renewal.
F. The board may
grant an extension for up to one year for completion of continuing education
upon written request with an explanation to the board prior to the renewal
date.
G. Continuing education hours
required by board order shall not be used to satisfy the continuing education
requirement for license renewal or reinstatement.
H. In order to practice under remote
supervision in accordance with subsection F of §
54.1-2722
of the Code of Virginia, a dental hygienist shall complete a continuing
education course of no less than two hours in duration that is offered by an
accredited dental education program or a sponsor listed in subsection C of this
section and that includes the following course content:
1. Intent and definitions of remote
supervision;
2. Review of dental
hygiene scope of practice and delegation of services;
3. Administration of controlled
substances;
4. Patient records,
documentation, and risk management;
5. Remote supervision laws for dental
hygienists and dentists;
6. Written
practice protocols; and
7. Settings
allowed for remote supervision.
Statutory Authority: §§
54.1-2400 and 54.1-2709.5
of the Code of Virginia.
