For the purpose of this chapter, these definitions shall apply:
"Advisory committee " means a committee on continuing education formed to review and advise the board with respect to applications for approval of sponsors or activities. The committee's members shall be appointed by the board and consist of at least one 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 recommend approval or denial of applications or requests submitted to it pending final approval or disapproval of the board at its next meeting.
"Board" means the dental board.
"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 of continuing dental education 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.
"Dental public health" is the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts. It is that form of dental practice in which the community serves as the patient rather than the individual. It is concerned with the dental health education of the public, with applied dental research, with the administration of group dental care programs, and with the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis.
"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 who has been issued a certificate 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.
"Self-study activities" means the study of something by oneself, without direct supervision or attendance in a class. "Self-study activities" may include Internet-based coursework, television viewing, video programs, correspondence work or research, or computer programs that are interactive and require branching, navigation, participation and decision making on the part of the viewer. Internet-based webinars which include the involvement of an instructor and participants in real time and which allow for communication with the instructor through messaging, telephone or other means shall not be construed to be self-study activities.
"Sponsor " means a person, educational institution, or organization sponsoring continuing education activities which has been approved by the board as a sponsor pursuant to these rules. During the time a person, educational institution, or organization is an approved sponsor, all continuing education activities of such person or organization may be deemed automatically approved provided the continuing education activities meet the continuing education guidelines of the board.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 650-25.1