PA CE Regulations

Are You Prepared for PA Relicensure in 2009?

Teresa F. Ravert, Executive Director

The biennial renewal of dental licenses in Pennsylvania will occur in March 2009. Are you prepared to document your compliance with the mandatory CPR certification and continuing education regulations?

Here's What You Need:

• Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants who are certified must supply evidence of current CPR certification in adult, infant and child CPR, and your certification card must indicate, "adult, infant and child CPR" or "Health Care Provider."
• Dentists will need to document proof of attendance of 30 hours of continuing education (between April 1, 2007, and March, 31, 2009). Dental hygienists must document 20 hours of CE, and expanded functions dental auxiliaries (EFDAs) require 10 hours.
• Beginning April 1, 2005, and for all subsequent renewal periods, non-permitholder licensees who maintain offices in which general anesthesia, deep sedation or conscious sedation is administered, shall have completed 5 hours of Board-approved courses related to anesthesia. These 5 hours shall be credited toward the nonpermitholder licensee’s continuing education requirement under §33.401(a)(1) (relating to credit hour requirements).
• Doctors who hold the following permits should check the State Board’s Rules and Regulations for CE requirements: Unrestricted, Restricted Permit 1, Restricted Permit 2.

Continuing education subject topics that are accepted by the State Board include those areas that contribute directly to the maintenance of clinical competence, such as: diagnosis and treatment of oral pathosis; clinical and technological subjects; emergency procedures other than CPR certifications (CPR hours do not count toward the required 30 hours of CE); infection control; neglect and abuse; medical and scientific subjects; laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and expanded functions dental auxiliaries. Credit is not acceptable for courses about billing, office management, practice building, insurance reimbursement, or communication skills.

The State Board has issued a list of approved sponsors for continuing education programs. Courses presented by the Philadelphia County Dental Society that meet the above criteria are accepted by the Board. The Society is a participating member of the Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program and ADA CERP.

Now is the time to review your records for the current licensure period in order to be certain that you will be in compliance by March 31. Be certain to examine your CPR certification card; if it expires prior to March 31, 2009, then you will need to become recertified prior to applying for your license renewal.

Keep in mind that the Philadelphia County Dental Society provides yearly transcripts for those who attend any of its sponsored programs. Transcripts for programs presented in 2007 were mailed in December of 2007.

The State Board will conduct random audits of license holders, so, at the Board’s request, you must be prepared to provide documentation of attendance at CE programs that you list on your renewal form. If you have not completed the requirements or if you intentionally misrepresent your CE attendance, you may be subject to disciplinary action by the Board.

For complete information about continuing education regulations and licensure renewal, including CE requirements for anesthesia license holders, visit the State Board’s Web site at www.dos.state.pa.us On the left-hand column, click on Professional Licensure; when that page comes up, click on Health Related Boards. From that page, you will be able to navigate to any information you need regarding licensure requirements and renewal.