§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements.
(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) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in 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 must explain why compliance is impossible. Waiver requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
(h) All licensees and certificate holders shall complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting as set forth in § 33.256 (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement). The Board will not renew a license or certificate unless the bureau has received an electronic report from an approved course provider documenting the attendance/participation by the licensee or certificateholder.
Authority The provisions of this § 33.401 amended under section 3(o) of the Dental Law (63 P.S. § 122(o)); and the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 33.401 amended July 31, 2020, effective August 1, 2020, 50 Pa.B. 3854. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (363517) to (363518).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 33.336a (relating to requirements for unrestricted permit and restricted permit I); and 49 Pa. Code § 33.341 (relating to duties of dentists who are not permitholders).
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