TITLE V
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
CHAPTER 25
CONTINUING EDUCATION
[Prior to 5/18/88, Dental Examiners, Board of[320]]
650—25.1(153) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules on continuing education, definitions shall apply:
“Advisory committee.” An advisory committee on continuing education shall be formed to review and advise the board with respect to applications for approval of sponsors or activities and requests for postapproval of activities. Its members shall be appointed by the board and consist of a member of the board, two licensed dentists with expertise in the area of professional continuing education, two licensed dental hygienists with expertise in the area of professional continuing education, and two registered dental assistants with expertise in the area of professional continuing education. The advisory committee on continuing education may tentatively approve or deny applications or requests submitted to it pending final approval or disapproval of the board at its next meeting.
“Approved program or activity” means a continuing education program activity meeting the standards set forth in these rules which has received advanced approval by the board pursuant to these rules.
“Approved sponsor” means a person or an organization sponsoring continuing education activities which has been approved by the board as a sponsor pursuant to these rules. During the time an organization, educational institution, or person is an approved sponsor, all continuing education activities of such person or organization may be deemed automatically approved provided they meet the continuing education guidelines of the board.
“Board” means the board of dental examiners.
“Continuing dental education” consists of education activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques and to update knowledge on advances in dental and medical sciences. The objective is to improve the knowledge, skills, and ability of the individual to deliver the highest quality of service to the public and professions.
Continuing dental education should favorably enrich past dental education experiences. Programs should make it possible for practitioners to attune dental practice to new knowledge as it becomes available. All continuing dental education should strengthen the skills of critical inquiry, balanced judgment and professional technique.
“Hour” of continuing education means one unit of credit which shall be granted for each hour of contact instruction and shall be designated as a “clock hour.” This credit shall apply to either academic or clinical instruction.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in the state of Iowa.
“Registrant” means any person registered to practice as a dental assistant in the state of Iowa.
650—25.2(153) Continuing education requirements.
	25.2(1) Each person licensed to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in this state shall complete during the biennium renewal period a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education approved by the board. However, for the dental hygiene renewal period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending August 30, 2007, a dental hygienist shall complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education approved by the board.
	25.2(2) The continuing education compliance period shall be the 24-month period commencing September 1 and ending on August 31 of the renewal cycle. However, for the dental hygiene renewal period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending August 30, 2007, the continuing education compliance period for dental hygienists shall be the 14-month period commencing July 1, 2006, and ending August 30, 2007. For the dental assistant renewal period beginning July 1, 2005, and ending August 30, 2007, the continuing education compliance period for dental assistants shall be the previous 26-month period. For the dental license renewal period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending August 30, 2008, the continuing education compliance period for dentists shall be the previous 26-month period.
	25.2(3) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity, either previously approved by the board or which otherwise meets the requirement herein and is approved by the board pursuant to subrule 25.3(5).
	25.2(4) It is the responsibility of each licensee or registrant to finance the costs of continuing education.
	25.2(5) Every licensee or registrant shall maintain a record of all courses attended by keeping the certificates of attendance for four years after the end of the year of attendance. The board reserves the right to require any licensee or registrant to submit the certificates of attendance for the continuing education courses attended.
	25.2(6) Licensees and registrants are responsible for obtaining proof of attendance forms when attending courses. Clock hours must be verified by the sponsor with the issuance of proof of attendance forms to the licensee or registrant.
	25.2(7) Each licensee or registrant shall file a signed continuing education reporting form reflecting the required minimum number of continuing education credit hours in compliance with this chapter and 650—Chapter 20. Such report shall be filed with the board at the time of application for renewal of a dental or dental hygiene license or renewal of dental assistant registration.
	25.2(8) No carryover of credits from one biennial period to the next will be allowed.
	25.2(9) Mandatory training for child abuse and dependent adult abuse reporting.
	a. 	Licensees or registrants who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of two hours of training in child abuse identification and reporting in the previous five years or conditions for exemptions as identified in paragraph “f” of this subrule.
	b. 	Licensees or registrants who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of two hours of training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting in the previous five years or conditions for exemptions as identified in paragraph “f” of this subrule.
	c. 	Licensees or registrants who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat both children and adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of at least two hours of training on the identification and reporting of abuse in children and dependent adults in the previous five years or conditions for exemptions as identified in paragraph “f” of this subrule. Training may be completed through separate courses or in one combined course that includes curricula for identifying and reporting child abuse and dependent adult abuse. Up to three hours of continuing education may be awarded for taking a combined course.
	d. 	The licensee or registrant shall maintain written documentation for five years after completion of the mandatory training, including program date(s), content, duration, and proof of participation. The board may audit this information at any time within the five-year period.
	e. 	Training programs in child and dependent adult abuse identification and reporting that are approved by the board are those that use a curriculum approved by the abuse education review panel of the department of public health or a training program offered by the department of human services, the department of education, an area education agency, a school district, the Iowa law enforcement academy, an Iowa college or university, or a similar state agency.
	f. 	Exemptions. Licensees and registrants shall be exempt from the requirement for mandatory training for identifying and reporting child and dependent adult abuse if the board determines that it is in the public interest or that at the time of the renewal the licensee or registrant is issued an extension or exemption pursuant to 650—25.7(153).
	25.2(10) Licensees, faculty permit holders, and registrants shall furnish evidence of valid certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which shall be credited toward the continuing education requirement for renewal of the license, faculty permit or registration. Such evidence shall be filed at the time of renewal of the license, faculty permit or registration. Credit hours awarded shall not exceed three continuing education credit hours per biennium. Valid certification means certification by an organization on an annual basis or, if that certifying organization requires certification on a less frequent basis, evidence that the licensee or registrant has been properly certified for each year covered by the renewal period. In addition, the course must include a clinical component.
650—25.3(153) Approval of programs and activities. A continuing education activity shall be qualified for approval if the board determines that:
	25.3(1) It constitutes an organized program of learning (including a workshop or symposium) which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee or registrant; and
	25.3(2) It pertains to common subjects or other subject matters which relate integrally to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting which are intended to refresh and review, or update knowledge of new or existing concepts and techniques; and
	25.3(3) It is conducted by individuals who have special education, training and experience to be considered experts concerning the subject matter of the program. The program must include a manual or written outline that substantively pertains to the subject matter of the program.
	25.3(4) Activity types acceptable for continuing dental education credit may include:
	a. 	Attendance at a multiply convention-type meeting. A multiday, convention-type meeting is held at a national, state, or regional level and involves a variety of concurrent educational experiences directly related to the practice of dentistry. Effective July 1, 2000, attendees shall receive three hours of credit with the maximum allowed six hours of credit per biennium. Prior to July 1, 2000, attendees received five hours of credit with the maximum allowed ten hours of credit per biennium. Four hours of credit shall be allowed for presentation of an original table clinic at a convention-type meeting as verified by the sponsor when the subject matter conforms with 25.3(7). Attendees at the table clinic session of a dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting convention shall receive two hours of credit as verified by the sponsor.
	b. 	Postgraduate study relating to health sciences shall receive 15 credits per semester.
	c. 	Successful completion of Part II of the National Board Examination for dentists, or the National Board Examination for dental hygienists, if taken five or more years after graduation, or a recognized specialty examination will result in 15 hours of credit.
	d. 	Self-study activities shall result in a maximum of 12 hours of credit per biennium. Activity may include television viewing, video programs, correspondence work or research or computer CD-ROM programs that are interactive and require branching, navigation, participation and decision making on the part of the viewer.
	e. 	Original presentation of continuing dental education courses shall result in credit double that which the participant receives. Credit will not be granted for repeating presentations within the biennium. Credit is not given for teaching that represents part of the licensee’s or registrant’s normal academic duties as a full-time or part-time faculty member or consultant.
	f. 	Publications of scientific articles in professional journals related to dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting shall result in a maximum of 5 hours per article, maximum of 20 hours per biennium.
	g. 	Credit may be given for other continuing education activities upon request and approval by the Iowa board of dental examiners.
	25.3(5) Prior approval of activities. An organization or person, other than an approved sponsor, that desires prior approval for a course, program or other continuing education activity or that desires to establish approval of the activity prior to attendance shall apply for approval to the board at least 90 days in advance of the commencement of the activity on a form provided by the board. The board shall approve or deny the application. The application shall state the dates, subjects offered, total hours of instruction, names and qualifications of speakers and other pertinent information. An application fee of $10, which shall be considered a repayment receipt as defined in Iowa Code section 8.2, is required.
	25.3(6) Postapproval of activities. A licensee or registrant seeking credit for attendance and participation in an educational activity which was not conducted by an approved sponsor or otherwise approved may submit to the board, within 60 days after completion of such activity, its dates, subjects, instructors, and their qualifications, the number of credit hours and proof of attendance. Within 90 days after receipt of such application the board shall advise the licensee or registrant in writing by ordinary mail whether the activity is approved and the number of hours allowed. All requests may be reviewed by the advisory committee on continuing education prior to final approval or denial by the board. A licensee or registrant not complying with the requirements of this paragraph may be denied credit for such activity. An application fee of $10, which shall be considered a repayment receipt as defined in Iowa Code section 8.2, is required.
	25.3(7) Subject matter acceptable for continuing dental education credit:
	a. 	In order for specific course subject material to be acceptable for credit, the stated course objectives, overall curriculum design or course outlines shall clearly establish conformance with the following criteria:
	(1)	The subject matter is of value to dentistry and directly applicable to oral health care.
	(2)	The information presented enables the dental professional to enhance the dental health of the public.
	(3)	The dental professional is able to apply the knowledge gained within the professional capacity of the individual.
	(4)	The dental science courses include, but are not limited to, those within the eight recognized dental specialty areas and topics such as geriatric dentistry, hospital dentistry, oral diagnosis, oral rehabilitation and preventative dentistry.
	b. 	Acceptable subject matter includes courses in patient treatment record keeping, risk management, sexual boundaries, communication, and OSHA regulations, and courses related to clinical practice. A course on Iowa jurisprudence that has been prior-approved by the board is also acceptable subject matter.
	c. 	Unacceptable subject matter includes personal development, business aspects of practice, personnel management, government regulations, insurance, collective bargaining, and community service presentations. While desirable, those subjects are not applicable to dental skills, knowledge, and competence. Therefore, such courses will receive no credit toward renewal. The board may deny credit for any course.
	25.3(8) Inquiries relating to acceptability of continuing dental education activities, approval of sponsors, or exemptions should be directed to Advisory Committee on Continuing Dental Education, Iowa Board of Dental Examiners, 400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite D, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4687.
[ARC 8369B, IAB 12/16/09, effective 1/20/10]
650—25.4(153) Approval of sponsors.
	25.4(1) An organization or person not previously approved by the board, which desires approval as a sponsor of courses, programs, or other continuing education activities, shall apply for approval to the board stating its education history for the preceding two years, including approximate dates, subjects offered, total hours of instruction presented, and names and qualifications of instructors. All applications shall be reviewed by the advisory committee on continuing education prior to final approval or denial by the board.
	25.4(2) Prospective sponsors must apply to the board of dental examiners using a “Sponsor Approval Form” in order to obtain approved sponsor status. An application fee of $100 is required, which shall be considered a repayment receipt as defined in Iowa Code section 8.2. Board-approved sponsors must pay the biennial renewal fee of $100, which shall be considered a repayment receipt as defined in Iowa Code section 8.2, and file a sponsor recertification record report biennially.
	25.4(3) The person or organization sponsoring continuing education activities shall make a written record of the Iowa licensees or registrants in attendance, maintain the written record for a minimum of five years, and submit the record upon the request of the board. The sponsor of the continuing education activity shall also provide proof of attendance and the number of credit hours awarded to the licensee or registrant who participates in the continuing education activity.
	25.4(4) Sponsors must be formally organized and adhere to board rules for planning and providing continuing dental education activities. Programs sponsored by individuals or institutions for commercial or proprietary purposes, especially programs in which the speaker advertises or urges the use of any particular dental product or appliance, may be recognized for credit on a prior approval basis only. When courses are promoted as approved continuing education courses which do not meet the requirements as defined by the board, the sponsor will be required to refund the registration fee to the participants. Approved sponsors may offer noncredit courses provided the participants have been informed that no credit will be given. Failure to meet this requirement may result in loss of approved sponsor status.
[ARC 9218B, IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]
650—25.5(153) Review of programs or sponsors. The board on its own motion or at the recommendation of the advisory committee on continuing education may monitor or review any continuing education program or sponsors already approved by the board. Upon evidence of significant variation in the program presented from the program approved, the board may disapprove all or any part of the approved hours granted to the program or may rescind the approval status of the sponsor.
650—25.6(153) Hearings. In the event of denial, in whole or in part, of any application for approval of a continuing education program or credit for continuing education activity, the applicant, licensee, or registrant shall have the right, within 20 days after the sending of the notification of the denial by ordinary mail, to request a hearing which shall be held within 60 days after receipt of the request for hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the board or a qualified hearing officer designated by the board. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the hearing officer shall submit a transcript of the hearing with the proposed decision of the hearing officer. The decision of the board or decision of the hearing officer after adoption by the board shall be final.
650—25.7(153) Extensions and exemptions.
	25.7(1) Illness or disability. The board may, in individual cases involving physical disability or illness, grant an exemption of the minimum education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the same or make the required reports. No exemption or extension of time shall be granted unless written application is made on forms provided by the board and signed by the licensee or registrant and a physician licensed by the board of medical examiners. Extensions or exemptions of the minimum educational requirements may be granted by the board for any period of time not to exceed one calendar year. In the event that the physical disability or illness upon which an exemption has been granted continues beyond the period granted, the licensee or registrant must reapply for an extension of the exemption. The board may, as a condition of the exemption, require the applicant to make up a certain portion or all of the minimum educational requirements.
	25.7(2) Other extensions or exemptions. Extensions or exemptions of continuing education requirements will be considered by the board on an individual basis. Licensees or registrants will be exempt from the continuing education requirements for:
	a. 	Periods that the person serves honorably on active duty in the military services;
	b. 	Periods that the person practices the person’s profession in another state or district having a continuing education requirement and the licensee or registrant meets all requirements of that state or district for practice therein;
	c. 	Periods that the person is a government employee working in the person’s licensed or registered specialty and assigned to duty outside the United States;
	d. 	Other periods of active practice and absence from the state approved by the board;
	e. 	The current biennium renewal period, or portion thereof, following original issuance of the license.
	f. 	For dental assistants registered pursuant to 650—20.6(153), the current biennium renewal period, or portion thereof, following original issuance of the registration.
650—25.8(153) Exemptions for inactive practitioners. A licensee or registrant who is not engaged in practice in the state of Iowa, residing in or out of the state of Iowa, may place the license or registration on inactive status by submitting a written renewal form and paying the required renewal fee. No continuing education hours are required to renew a license or registration on inactive status until reinstatement. A request to place a license or registration on inactive status shall also contain a statement that the applicant will not engage in the practice of the applicant’s profession in Iowa without first complying with all rules governing reinstatement of inactive practitioners.
[ARC 8369B, IAB 12/16/09, effective 1/20/10]
650—25.9(153) Reinstatement of inactive practitioners. Inactive practitioners shall, prior to engaging in the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting in the state of Iowa, satisfy the following requirements for reinstatement:
	25.9(1) Submit written application for reinstatement to the board upon forms provided by the board; and
	25.9(2) Furnish in the application evidence of one of the following:
	a. 	The full-time practice of the profession in another state of the United States or the District of Columbia and completion of continuing education for each year of inactive status substantially equivalent in the opinion of the board to that required under the rules; or
	b. 	Completion of a total number of hours of approved continuing education computed by multiplying 15 by the number of years the license has been on inactive status for a dentist or dental hygienist, up to a maximum of 75 hours for a dentist or dental hygienist, or by multiplying 10 by the number of years the registration has been on inactive status for a dental assistant, up to a maximum of 50 hours for a dental assistant; or
	c. 	Successful completion of CRDTS or other Iowa state license or registration examination conducted within one year immediately prior to the submission of such application for reinstatement; or
	d. 	The licensee or registrant may petition the board to determine the continuing education credit hours required for reinstatement of the Iowa license or registration.
	e. 	Evidence that the applicant possesses a current certificate in a nationally recognized course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The course must include a clinical component.
	25.9(3) Applications must be filed with the board along with the following:
	a. 	Certification by the state board of dentistry or equivalent authority in which applicant has engaged in the practice of the applicant’s profession that the applicant has not been the subject of final or pending disciplinary action.
	b. 	Statement as to any claims, complaints, judgments or settlements made with respect to the applicant arising out of the alleged negligence or malpractice in rendering professional services as a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant.
[ARC 8369B, IAB 12/16/09, effective 1/20/10; ARC 9218B, IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]
650—25.10(153) Noncompliance with continuing dental education requirements. It is the licensee’s or registrant’s personal responsibility to comply with these rules. The license or registration of individuals not complying with the continuing dental education rules may be subject to disciplinary action by the board or nonrenewal of the license or registration.
650—25.11(153) Dental hygiene continuing education. The dental hygiene committee, in its discretion, shall make recommendations to the board for approval or denial of requests pertaining to dental hygiene education. The dental hygiene committee may utilize the continuing education advisory committee as needed. The board’s review of the dental hygiene committee recommendation is subject to 650—Chapter 1. The following items pertaining to dental hygiene shall be forwarded to the dental hygiene committee for review.
	1.	Dental hygiene continuing education requirements and requests for approval of programs, activities and sponsors.
	2.	Requests by dental hygienists for waivers, extensions and exemptions of the continuing education requirements.
	3.	Requests for exemptions from inactive dental hygiene practitioners.
	4.	Requests for reinstatement from inactive dental hygiene practitioners.
	5.	Appeals of denial of dental hygiene continuing education and conduct hearings as necessary.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 147.10, 153.15A, and 153.39 and chapter 272C.
[Filed 8/23/78, Notice 6/28/78—published 9/20/78, effective 10/25/78]
[Filed emergency 12/16/83—published 1/4/84, effective 12/16/83]
[Filed emergency 2/24/84 after Notice 1/4/84—published 3/14/84, effective 2/24/84]
[Filed 12/12/85, Notice 9/11/85—published 1/1/86, effective 2/5/86]
[Filed 4/28/88, Notice 3/23/88—published 5/18/88, effective 6/22/88]
[Filed 3/16/90, Notice 12/27/89—published 4/4/90, effective 5/9/90]
[Filed 4/3/91, Notice 2/20/91—published 5/1/91, effective 6/5/91]
[Filed 1/29/93, Notice 11/25/92—published 2/17/93, effective 3/24/93]
[Filed 5/1/97, Notice 2/26/97—published 5/21/97, effective 6/25/97]
[Filed 10/17/97, Notice 8/13/97—published 11/5/97, effective 12/10/97]
[Filed 1/22/99, Notice 11/18/98—published 2/10/99, effective 3/17/99]
[Filed 4/29/99, Notice 3/24/99—published 5/19/99, effective 6/23/99]
[Filed 11/12/99, Notice 8/11/99—published 12/1/99, effective 1/5/00]
[Filed emergency 1/21/00—published 2/9/00, effective 1/21/00]
[Filed 10/23/00, Notice 8/9/00—published 11/15/00, effective 1/1/01]
[Filed 1/18/02, Notice 11/14/01—published 2/6/02, effective 3/13/02]
[Filed 1/18/02, Notice 11/14/01—published 2/6/02, effective 10/1/02]
[Filed emergency 6/21/02—published 7/10/02, effective 7/1/02]
[Filed without Notice 10/24/02—published 11/13/02, effective 12/18/02]
[Filed 7/1/04, Notice 5/12/04—published 7/21/04, effective 8/25/04]
[Filed 9/9/05, Notice 7/20/05—published 9/28/05, effective 11/2/05]
[Filed 4/6/06, Notice 2/15/06—published 4/26/06, effective 7/1/06]
[Filed 2/5/07, Notice 9/27/06—published 2/28/07, effective 4/4/07]
[Filed 2/5/07, Notice 11/22/06—published 2/28/07, effective 4/4/07]
[Filed ARC 8369B (Notice ARC 8044B, IAB 8/12/09), IAB 12/16/09, effective 1/20/10]
[Filed ARC 9218B (Notice ARC 8846B, IAB 6/16/10), IAB 11/3/10, effective 12/8/10]