SECTION .0200 – CONTINUING EDUCATION

21 ncac 16i .0201           CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED

(a)  As a condition of license renewal, each dental hygienist shall complete six clock hours of continuing education each calendar year. The hours may be acquired through self-study courses. To count toward the mandatory continuing education requirement, self-study courses shall be related to clinical patient care and offered by a Board-approved sponsor listed in Rule .0202 of this Section. The dental hygienist shall pass a test administered by the self-study course sponsor and obtain a certificate of completion from the sponsor.

(b)  An unexpired certification in CPR is required in addition to the mandatory continuing education hours.

(c)  Upon receipt of a written request from the dental hygienist, the Board will grant exemptions from the requirements set out in this Rule and in Rule .0206 of this Section as follows:

(1)           A dental hygienist who practices not more than 250 clock hours in a calendar year shall be classified as a semi-retired dental hygienist, and shall:

(A)          be exempt from the requirement set out in Paragraph (a) of this Rule to complete six clock hours of continuing education each calendar year; and

(B)          maintain an unexpired CPR certification.

(2)           A retired dental hygienist who does not practice any dental hygiene shall be exempt from all continuing education and CPR certification requirements.

(d)  If a dental hygienist who has been exempted from continuing education requirements wishes to resume practicing for more hours than permitted by his or her classification under Paragraph (c) of this Rule, the Board shall require an unexpired CPR certification and continuing education courses for the calendar year in which he or she increases practice hours in accordance with this Rule and Rule .0206 of this Section when reclassifying the dental hygienist. A dental hygienist who has been classified as retired and wishes to resume practice shall satisfy the reinstatement requirements of 21 NCAC 16C .0601.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-225.1; 90-229;

Eff. May 1, 1994;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2015; November 1, 2008; April 1, 2001; August 1, 1998;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018;

Recodified from 21 NCAC 16I .0102 Eff. January 1, 2020;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2023.