Chapter 4715-8 Continuing Education

Categories of credit-To fulfill the minimum requirements set forth in sections 4715.141 and 4715.25 of the Revised Code, the licensee is free to select areas of study within the stated categories, not to exceed the maximum number of hours in each category.

(A) Category A: education and scientific courses-a minimum of twenty-five per cent of the requirement shall be obtained in this category. Educational and scientific courses given by permanent or board-approved biennial sponsors in a directly interactive presentation format.

(1) “Directly interactive presentation format” means a presentation format in which each participant is able to provide direct feedback and have interaction with the instructor through a question and answer format in real time.

(B) Category B: Substance abuse education-A minimum of five per cent of the requirement for dentists shall be obtained in a directly interactive presentation format in this category. Course curriculum must include causes, prevention, detection, and treatment alternatives. No more than seven hours of continuing education credit will be awarded in this category.

(C) Category C: Infection control education-A minimum of five percent of the requirement for dentists shall be obtained in this category. No more than seven hours of continuing education will be awarded in this category.

(D) Category D: Supervised self-instruction-A maximum of seventy-five per cent of the requirement may be obtained in this category. Supervised self-instruction must include a testing mechanism supplied by a permanent or board-approved biennial sponsor. The licensee must complete a test and demonstrate a level of comprehension before credit is awarded. Tests must be graded by the sponsor and results returned to the licensee. Supervised self-instruction includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Graded audio/video courses.

(2) Graded correspondence courses.

(3) Graded internet computer courses.

(E) Category E: Nonsupervised self-instruction-A maximum of five per cent of the requirement may be obtained in this category. Nonsupervised self-instruction includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Home study-Journals and publications.

(2) Correspondence programs.

(3) Educational television.

(4) Audio/video programs.

(F) Category F: Papers, publications and scientific presentations-A maximum of ten per cent of the requirement may be obtained in this category. Study clubs other than biennial sponsors, scientific exhibits, original scientific papers authored by the licensee and published in a scientific professional journal, and the original presentation of papers, essays or formal lectures to recognized groups of fellow professionals.

(G) Category G: Teaching and research appointments-A maximum of ten per cent of the requirement may be obtained in this category. Licensees involved in teaching or research activities at an accredited institution, at least one-half day per week per academic year, and holding at least a part-time faculty or research appointment.

(H) Category H: Table clinics-A maximum of five per cent of the requirement may be obtained in this category. The original presentation of or documented viewing of a table clinic at a professional meeting will provide a maximum of two hours of continuing education credit per clinic

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/24/2006 and 03/24/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4715.03, 4715.58

Rule Amplifies: 4715.14, 4715.141, 4715.24, 4715.25, 4715.58

Prior Effective Dates: 5-11-89; 4-5-01

The sponsor is the individual, organization or educational institution or other entity conducting the professional education course. Sponsors shall be as follows:

(A) Permanent sponsor – An organization, school or other dental-related organization as set forth in sections 4715.141(B)(1) and (B)(2) and 4715.25(A)(1) to (A)(4) of the Revised Code whose continuing education courses are approved by the state dental board. These sponsors are:

(1) “American Dental Association,” and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the “American Dental Association.”

(2) “National Dental Association,” and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the “National Dental Association.”

(3) “American Dental Hygienists Association,” and its recognized constituents, components and affiliated societies.

(4) “National Dental Hygienists’ Association” and constituent and component dental hygienists’ associations and societies affiliated with the “National Dental Hygienists’ Association.”

(5) National, state, district or local dental specialty organizations affiliated with the “American Dental Association.”

(6) “Academy of General Dentistry” and its constituent and component organizations.

(7) Colleges and universities with accredited schools of dentistry or dental hygiene and community colleges with approved dental hygiene programs, when the continuing professional education program is held under the auspices of the school of dentistry or dental hygiene, or the dental hygiene program.

(8) Colleges and universities accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States office of education. Hospitals accredited by the “Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).”

(9) Other organizations, schools or other dental-related organizations that by board action are listed as permanent sponsors.

(B) Biennial sponsor – individuals, trade corporations, institutions, study clubs, dental research clinics, and nondental-related entities or groups that have applied and been approved by the board as sponsors for the current biennium. Sponsor approval shall be based upon the criteria identified in rule 4715-8-03 of the Administrative Code. Approval as a biennial sponsor automatically expires at the end of the biennium, and approval must be obtained for each successive biennial licensing period.

(C) The board retains the right and authority, upon notification, to audit, monitor. Or request evidence demonstrating adherence to Chapter 4715 of the Revised Code, for courses given by any sponsor. The board may rescind biennial sponsor status if the sponsor has disseminated any false or misleasing information in connection with the continuing education program, or if the sponsor has failed to conform to sections 4715.141 and 4715.25 of the Revised Code, or rules 4715-8-01, 4715-8-02 and 4715-8-03 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Continuing education sponsors submitting an application must meet the following eligibility criteria;

(1) A CE sponsor must ensure that all courses that are to be considered for Ohio licensure renewal have a sound scientific basis, proven efficacy to ensure public safety and must comply with the guidelines set forth in sections 4715.141 and 4715.25 of the Revised Code and all rules of the board.

(2) Sponsorship approval extends only to the CE sponsor; approval does not necessarily extend to individual courses, programs, lecturer(s) and instructor(s).

(3) A CE sponsor must document that it is targeting its activities to a great extent to dentists/dental hygienists/dental assistant radiographers by providing dental oriented topics within the scope of the profession.

(E) All biennial sponsors of continuing education shall ensure that all publicity criteria abide by the following:

(1) Publication must be informative and not misleading. It must include at a minimum the following:

(a) The name of the sponsor, as well as any organization or agencies providing financial support, must be clearly stated;

(b) Course title;

(c) Descriptional of course content;

(d) The educational objectives;

(e) A description of teaching methods used;

(f) Costs and contact person;

(g) Course instructor(s) and their qualifications;

(h) Location, date and time;

(i) Specifics as to the sponsors board sponsorship status; and

(j) Number of credit hours each course provides towards fulfillment of CE obligation.

(2) Sponsors shall ensure that providers must avoid misleading statements regarding the nature of the activity or the benefits to be derived from participation.

(F) The requirements outlined in paragraphs (E)(1)(a) to (E)(1)(j) of this rule do not apply to board approved study clubs.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/24/2006 and 03/24/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4715.03

Rule Amplifies: 4715.141, 4715.16, 4715.25, 4715.58

Prior Effective Dates: 5-11-89; 4-5-01

In order to obtain approval as a biennial sponsor, a sponsor shall:

(A) Make application by completion of an application form provided by the board, including a fee of one hundred thirty-five dollars for the biennium, to be prorated at a rate of thirty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents per half year, based on the time the application is submitted.

(B) Submit evidence to the board demonstrating adherence to the following standards:

(1) Participant objectives shall state the expected outcomes for the participant and be used as a basis for determining content and learning experiences. Explicit written educational objectives identifying the expected learner outcomes must be developed for each activity. The program planner must be ultimately responsible for ensuring that appropriate objectives are developed for each activity. The educational objectives may however, be prepared by the instructor, course director or program planner.

(2) Curriculum offerings shall reflect appropriate didactic and clinical training for the subject matter. The teaching methods shall be appropriate to achieve the stated objective of the course and the time allotted is sufficient for the participants to meet the stated objectives. When a course includes clinical dental hygiene or dental assistant radiographer practice on patients, an Ohio licensed dentist shall provide supervision.

(3) Continuing education sponsors must ensure that providers/instructors chosen to teach courses are qualified by education and/or experience to provide instruction in the relevant subject matter.

(4) Facilities and equipment shall be specifically designed for instruction in each subject offered.

(5) Award partial credit for participants failing to complete the total number of hours for which a specific offering planned, if appropriate, in view of the subject matter and the instruction method of the course.

(C) Designate a person who assumes responsibility for each continuing education offering. The contact person shall:

(1) Completely file all information necessary for provider approval.

(2) Ensure that continuing education offerings that are to receive hours of credit acceptable towards Ohio licensure renewal comply with sections 4715.141 and 4715.25 of the Revised Code, and all rules of the board.

(3) Provide written certification that the course has been satisfactorily completed only to those attendees who have completed the course. The certification shall contain the sponsor’s name, title of course, instructor(s), date of course, location, and number of hours of credit acceptable towards Ohio licensure renewal and category of credit according to rule 4715-8-01(A) to (H) of the Administrative Code. Validation by the sponsor of a document furnished by the attendee shall satisfy this requirement.

(4) Notify the board of any significant changes relative to the maintenance of standards as set forth in this chapter.

(D) Maintain records of individual course offerings. Records shall include:

(1) Name of CE sponsor, instructor(s) and their qualifications;

(2) The date(s), location and number of continuing education hours of acceptable towards Ohio licensure renewal;

(3) The title of the offering and/or specific subjects;

(4) Category of credit hours acceptable towards Ohio licensure renewal as set forth in rule 4715-8-01(A) to (H) of the Administrative Code.

(5) Sponsors must maintain records of the individual participants at each educational offering, including their names and addresses, for a period of at least four years.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/24/2006 and 03/24/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4715.03

Rule Amplifies: 4715.141, 4715.16, 4715.25, 4715.58

Prior Effective Dates: 5-11-89; 4-27-98; 4-5-01; 4-4-02

(A) Each applicant for biennial license registration or license reinstatement shall certify that the applicant has completed the requisite hours of continuing dental education (hereinafter “CE”) since the start of the registration period. This certification shall be evidence of completion of the CE requirement as set forth in sections 4715.141, 4715.25, and 4715.58 of the Revised Code, provided that:

(1) The board may annually select applications for biennial license registration or license reinstatement for verification that all CE requirements have been met. Licensees whose applications are selected shall submit additional documentation of compliance with CE requirements as the board may require, within thirty days.

(2) Applicants shall keep detailed records of CE hours taken. Records of all CE undertaken shall be retained by the applicant for the period of at least four years after the completion of the CE activity, and shall be kept available for agents of the board for review. At a minimum, the following information must be retained:

(a) Description of the CE activity;

(b) The location of the CE activity;

(c) The dates of attendance

(d) The hours of each CE activity; and

(e) A certificate or letter of completion issued by the presenter of the CE activity, if available, or any other available documentation of the completion of the CE activity, acceptable to the board. Which shall include at a minimum the following:

(i) Name(s) of the sponsor and instructor(s);

(ii) Course title; and

(iii) Number of credit hours of continuing education acceptable towards Ohio licensure renewal.

(iv) It is the licensees responsibility to ensure that courses taken fulfill the requirements set forth in sections 4715.141, 4715.25 and 4715.58 of the Revised Code and sections 4715-8-01 to 4715-8-04 of the Administrative Code.

(C) Failure to maintain adequate records of CE activity rebuts the presumption established in paragraph (A) of this rule that the CE requirements have been completed.

(D) Nothing in this rule shall limit the board’s authority to investigate and take action pursuant Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/24/2006 and 03/24/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 4715.03

Rule Amplifies: 4715.141, 4715.25, 4715.58

Prior Effective Dates: 2-5-93; 3-3-95; 4-27-98; 4-5-01