Chapter 4715-12 | Dental Assistant Radiographer

Rule 4715-12-01 | Permissible practices of a dental x-ray machine operator; supervision required; certificate to be displayed.

• Effective: September 12, 2016
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) A dental x-ray machine operator may perform standard, diagnostic, radiologic procedures for the purpose of contributing to the provision of dental care to a dental patient.

(B) Except as provided in paragraph (C) of this rule, a dental x-ray machine operator may perform radiologic procedures only under the direct supervision of the supervising dentist.

(C) A dental x-ray machine operator may perform radiologic procedures for a patient when the supervising dentist is not physically present at the location where the radiologic procedures are performed if the supervising dentist examined the patient not more than one year prior to the date the dental x-ray machine operator performs the radiologic procedures and the supervising dentist has ordered the radiologic procedures.

(D) The original or copy of the certificate and/or renewal receipt card shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the office wherein the dental assistant radiographer is employed and be made immediately available upon the request of an agent of the board.

Last updated September 8, 2023 at 2:35 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4715.39, 4715.53
Amplifies: 4715.53, 4715.56
Five Year Review Date: 10/1/2026
Prior Effective Dates: 4/4/2002

Rule 4715-12-02 | Application for certificate; requirements; exceptions.

• Effective: November 25, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Each person who desires to perform the duties of a dental x-ray machine operator shall file with the secretary of the state dental board a written application for a dental x-ray machine operator's certificate. Each applicant for a dental x-ray machine operator's certificate shall pay an application fee of thirty-two dollars. Each applicant shall furnish satisfactory proof of the following on a form prescribed and provided by the state dental board:

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (B) of this rule, he or she has completed a board-approved dental radiography training program presented by either of the following:

(a) An accredited educational institution or program; or

(b) A permanent sponsor of continuing education as listed in paragraphs (A)(1) to (A)(9) of rule 4715-8-02 of the Administrative Code.

(B) A dental x-ray machine operator shall be exempt from the initial training requirements provided in paragraph (A) of this rule if either of the following apply:

(1) They hold a current certification as an assistant which included required examination in radiography as a component from the "Dental Assisting National Board" or the "Ohio Commission on Dental Assistant Certification"; or

(2) They hold a current license, certificate, or other credential issued by another state that the board determines uses standards for dental x-ray machine operators that are at least equal to those established by state dental board rules.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4715.03
Amplifies: 4715.53
Five Year Review Date: 5/24/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 11/1/2004, 10/9/2006, 5/5/2014

Rule 4715-12-03 | Certificate renewal.

• Effective: November 25, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Each person who is certified as a dental x-ray machine operator shall on or before the first day of January of each odd-numbered year, register with the state dental board. The registration shall be made on a form prescribed by the board, and shall include the certificate holder's name, address, certificate number, proof of having completed at least two hours of continuing education in radiation technology from a board-approved biennial or permanent sponsor during the two-year period immediately preceding renewal, and such other reasonable information as the board may consider necessary, and shall include payment of a biennial registration fee of thirty-two dollars. This certificate shall be in effect for the two-year period beginning on the first day of January of the odd-numbered year, and ending on the last day of December of the following even-numbered year, and shall automatically expire if not renewed.

(B) Any dental x-ray machine operator whose certificate has expired under this section must immediately cease taking x-rays until said certificate has been renewed.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4715.03
Amplifies: 4715.53, 4715.57
Five Year Review Date: 5/24/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 5/5/2014

Rule 4715-12-04 | Accreditation of education programs; application; fee; suspension; revocation.

• Effective: November 25, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Any permanent sponsor wishing to offer dental x-ray machine operator training must offer a curriculum of at least seven hours to include the following subjects:

(1) Radiation physics;

(2) Radiation biology;

(3) Radiation health, safety and protection;

(4) X-ray films and radiographic film quality;

(5) Radiographic techniques, processing and storage.

This curriculum may be presented as a correspondence course.

(B) Clinical experience making a variety of radiographs and radiographic surveys must be part of the course curriculum. The clinical experience must be completed within sixty days after completion of the seven subjects of the curriculum.

The clinical experience may be performed in the dental office in which the dental assistant is employed or is serving an externship. The employing/supervising dentist must certify to the sponsor of the dental x-ray machine operator training program that the clinical experience was completed.

(C) Permanent sponsors wishing to obtain accreditation of radiologic education programs must apply on a form prescribed and provided by the state dental board, and must submit a fee of sixty-seven dollars and fifty cents.

(D) All programs submitted will be reviewed by the board. The accreditation or approval shall be valid until surrendered by the program, or suspended or revoked by the board. A program's accreditation or approval may be suspended or revoked if the program does not comply with applicable requirements of the Revised Code or state dental board rules.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4715.03, 4715.57
Amplifies: 4715.53, 4715.57
Five Year Review Date: 5/24/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 3/3/1995, 5/5/2014

Rule 4715-12-05 | Continuing education requirements.

• Effective: November 25, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Every person certified to practice as a dental x-ray machine operator and required to register with the state dental board shall provide proof to the board at the time of applying for a renewal of registration that in the preceding two years the registrant has completed a minimum of two hours of continuing education in dental radiation technology. Certification shall be made upon the application for registration prescribed by the board pursuant to section 4715.53 of the Revised Code.

(B) Continuing education programs may be developed and offered to dental x-ray machine operators by any of the following agencies or organizations:

(1) National, state, district, or local dental associations affiliated with the American dental association or National dental association;

(2) National, state, district, or local dental hygienists' associations affiliated with the American dental hygienists' association;

(3) National, state, district, or local dental assistants associations affiliated with the American dental assistants association;

(4) Accredited dental colleges or schools;

(5) Accredited dental hygiene colleges or schools;

(6) Other organizations, schools, paraprofessional programs, or agencies approved by the state dental board.

(C) Continuing radiation technology programs include, but are not limited to, programs that address any of the following:

(1) Radiation physics;

(2) Radiation biology;

(3) Radiation health, safety and protection;

(4) X-ray films and radiographic film quality;

(5) Radiographic techniques, processing and storage.

(D) A dental x-ray machine operator shall retain in his or her records for a period of at least four years such receipts, vouchers, or certificates as may be necessary to document completion of continuing education programs. With cause, the board may request such documentation from dental x-ray machine operators, and the board may request such documentation from dental x-ray machine operators at random without cause.

(E) The board may excuse dental x-ray machine operators, as a group or as individuals, from all or any part of the requirements of this rule because of an unusual circumstance, emergency, or special hardship.

(F) Failure to comply with the requirements of this rule constitutes a failure to renew registration pursuant to section 4715.53 of the Revised Code.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4715.03, 4715.53, 4715.57
Amplifies: 4715.53, 4715.57
Five Year Review Date: 5/24/2025
Prior Effective Dates: 4/4/2002, 10/9/2006, 5/5/2014