Subchapter F. CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION

 (a)  An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period:

   (1)  Dentists—30 hours.

   (2)  Dental hygienists—20 hours.

   (3)  Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours.

 (b)  The required hours shall be taken in the subject areas listed in §  33.402 (relating to continuing education subject areas) from a program sponsor listed in §  33.403 (relating to program sponsors).

 (c)  At least 50% of the required credit hours shall be taken in lecture or clinical presentations.

 (d)  A maximum of 50% of the required credit hours, listed in §  33.402, may be taken through individual study, serving as an instructor or author of a book, article or continuing education program.

   (1)  Instructors will be awarded two additional credit hours as preparation time for each credit hour of instruction, and for actual instruction, up to 50% of the required hours. Additional credit hours for instructors are subject to the limitations of subsection (e).

   (2)  Authors will be awarded 50% of the required hours for articles published in a peer-reviewed professional journal.

 (e)  Credit will not be awarded for repeating a program in the same renewal period unless the subject matter has substantially changed during that period.

 (f)  A licensee or certificate holder suspended for disciplinary reasons is not exempt from the continuing education requirements in subsection (a).

 (g)  Exceptions are as follows:

   (1)  An applicant is exempt from the continuing education requirement in subsection (a) for only the biennial period during which the applicant passed the licensure or certification examination.

   (2)  An applicant who cannot meet the continuing education requirement due to illness, emergency or hardship may apply to the Board in writing for a waiver. The request shall explain why compliance is impossible. Waiver requests will be evaluated by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

 (a)  The required credit hours shall be completed in subjects which contribute directly to the maintenance of clinical competence of a dentist, dental hygienist or expanded function dental assistant. Examples of acceptable subjects include:

   (1)  Diagnosis and treatment of oral pathosis.

   (2)  Clinical and technological subjects.

   (3)  Emergency procedures excluding hours required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

   (4)  Infection control.

   (5)  Abuse and neglect.

   (6)  Medical and scientific subjects.

   (7)  Laws and regulations pertaining to dentists, dental hygienists and expanded function dental assistants.

 (b)  Credit hours will not be awarded in nonclinical subjects, including:

   (1)  Billing.

   (2)  Office management.

   (3)  Practice building.

   (4)  Insurance reimbursement.

   (5)  Communication skills.

 (a)  The Board has approved the following as program sponsors:

   (1)  An accredited dental, dental hygiene or expanded function dental assisting school or program.

   (2)  The medical or osteopathic medical school or college accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the State Board of Medicine, State Board of Osteopathic Medicine or State Board of Nursing.

   (3)  The American Dental Association Continuing Education Review Program, the American Dental Association’s speciality associations, the American Dental Hygienists Association and the American Dental Assistants Association.

   (4)  The National Dental Association and its speciality societies and the National Dental Hygienists Association.

   (5)  The American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Nursing Association.

   (6)  The Pennsylvania Academy of Dental Hygiene Studies.

   (7)  The Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program.

   (8)  The Veterans’ Administration.

   (9)  The United States military services.

   (10)  The National Institutes of Health.

   (11)  The United States Public Health Services.

 (b)  Program sponsors shall:

   (1)  Disclose in advance to prospective participants the objectives, prerequisites, experience level, content, required advanced preparation, teaching method and number of continuing education credits involved in the program.

   (2)  Conduct programs in subjects which contribute directly to the maintenance of clinical competence of a dentist, dental hygienist or expanded function dental assistant.

   (3)  Provide program materials which are accurate and consistent with currently accepted standards relating to the program’s subject matter.

   (4)  Provide sufficient and adequate physical facilities for the number and type of participants and the teaching methods to be utilized.

   (5)  Evaluate the program, through questionnaires of the participants and instructors, to determine its effectiveness.

   (6)  Retain accurate attendance records and written outlines for a 4-year period.

   (7)  Provide participants with a continuing education certificate after assuring satisfactory completion and attendance of the program.

 (c)  The Board may, following notice and hearing under 2 Pa.C.S. § §  501—508 (relating to practice and procedure of Commonwealth agencies), withdraw the approval of a program sponsor for cause and amend subsection (a) accordingly.

 (d)  A party desiring to be an approved program sponsor shall file a written petition with the Board outlining the party’s qualifications and experience. Upon Board approval, subsection (a) will be amended accordingly.

 (a)  The applicant shall provide the requested information concerning the required hours on an application for biennial renewal.

 (b)  The applicant shall provide a copy of the documentation supporting the completion of the required credit hours when requested to do so by the Board.

 (c)  Acceptable documentation consists of any one of the following:

   (1)  A continuing education certificate or sponsor-generated printouts.

   (2)  A certified transcript of courses taken for credit in an accredited university or college. For noncredit courses taken, a statement of hours of attendance, signed by the instructor.

   (3)  Evidence of publication for published articles, books or continuing education programs.

   (4)  Evidence obtained from the program sponsor of having been an instructor, including an agenda.

 (d)  The responsibility for documenting the continuing education requirements rests with the applicant. The documentation shall be maintained for 4 years after the completion of the program.

 (e)  Falsification of information required under subsection (a) constitutes a violation of §  33.212(1) (relating to misleading, deceptive, untrue or fraudulent representations) and section 4.1 of the act (63 P. S. §  123.1(a)(2)).

 (f)  Failure to comply with subsection (b) may result in disciplinary or corrective action.