Section 172-53-006 - CONTINUING EDUCATIONOn or before March 1 of each odd-numbered year, each licensed dental assistant must complete at least 30 hours of acceptable continuing education hours during the preceding 24-month period. Each licensee is responsible for maintaining certificates or records of continuing education.
006.01ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES. The following are acceptable continuing education topics and activities: (A) State and national meetings of the local, state, or American Dental Association; local, state, or American Dental Assistants Association; local, state, or American Dental Hygiene Association; or educational programs sponsored by the recognized specialty groups of the American Dental Association;(B) Nebraska Dental Assistant Association state, local, and study club meetings;(C) Formal education courses which relate directly to the practice of dentistry, dental assisting or expanded function dental assisting as applicable to the license or permit;(D) College or University-sponsored courses in continuing education in dental assisting;(E) Licensee acting as table clinician or lecturer to licensed dental assistants or licensee attending table clinics;(F) Home study with a testing mechanism. If there is no testing mechanism or certificate of completion, the licensee must submit an abstract or summary of the material covered to the Board of Dentistry. The abstract or summary must be written by only the licensee and will be reviewed. Interactive webinars which include the ability of the participant to interact with the presenter are not considered home study;(G) Direct clinical observation;(H) Initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification or cardiopulmonary resuscitation recertification;(I) Faculty overseeing student dental assistant or expanded function dental assisting clinics;(J) Dental public health continuing education;(K) Well-being or substance abuse continuing education;(L) Infection control continuing education;(M) Practice management continuing education;(N) Presentation or development of a continuing education program for dental assistants by a licensee;(O) Expanded functions for which a permit is held by the licensee; or(P) Participating in a volunteer activity such as Mission of Mercy or equivalent.006.02NO PRE-APPROVAL. The Board of Dentistry does not pre-approve continuing education programs or activities.006.03CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOP, ACTIVITY, OR PROGRAM CRITERIA. To be considered acceptable for continuing education, a workshop, activity, or program must meet the following criteria:(A) Be at least 50 minutes in duration;(B) Objectives must relate to the practice of dentistry, dental assisting, or expanded function dental assisting as applicable to the license;(C) Presenters of programs must be qualified by education, experience, or training;(D) Must be open to all dental assistants licensed by Nebraska who meet the prerequisites for the program; and(E) The provider must have a process for verifying attendance and issue a certificate of attendance. Each certificate must include the following:(ii) Name of the participant and license number;(iv) Date the program began and ended; and(v) Number of hours received by the licensee.006.04CRITERIA FOR A HOME STUDY PROGRAM. To be considered acceptable, a home study program must meet the following criteria:(A) Objectives must relate to the practice of dentistry, dental assisting, or expanded function dental assisting as applicable to the license;(B) Must have a post-test or other method of assessment which verifies that the licensee completed the program; and(C) Author(s) of home study programs must meet the following qualifications; (i) Have experience in the content and subject matter;(ii) Have expertise in teaching and instructional methods suitable to subject presented; and (iii) Have suitable academic qualifications, certification credentials, or experience for subject presented.006.05CREDIT HOUR CALCULATIONS. Subject to the credit number limitations and requirements set out in this regulation a licensed dental assistant may receive credit for acceptable continuing education activities. Credits earned in excess of 30 hours in a 24-month renewal period do not carry over into the following period.(A) A maximum of 10 hours each in the renewal period, may be obtained (i) Through home study; or(ii) Initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.(B) A maximum of 2 hours each in the renewal period, may be obtained (i) As a table clinician;(iii) For direct clinical observation.(C) A maximum of 4 hours each in the renewal period, may be obtained (i) For cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) re-certification; or(ii) For practice management continuing education.(D) A maximum of 5 hours each in the renewal period may be obtained(i) For faculty overseeing student dental assistant or expanded function dental assisting clinics;(ii) For dental public health continuing education;(iii) For well-being or substance abuse continuing education;(iv) For ethics and professionalism continuing education; or(v) For participating in a volunteer activity such as Mission of Mercy or equivalent.(E) Credit may be claimed only for actual time in attendance and only for the time which meets the criteria for a continuing education activity.(F) A licensee who is a presenter of a continuing education program may receive a maximum of 2 hours for the creation of a presentation, and a maximum of 2 hours for the initial presentation of the program during a renewal period. Credit will not be given to the licensee for subsequent presentations of the same program.(G) A minimum of 2 hours in the renewal period must be obtained in infection control continuing education.(H) A minimum of 2 hours in the renewal period must be obtained in each area for which a licensee holds an expanded function permit.172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 53, § 006
Effective Date: March 4, 1998 Amended effective 12/23/2020Amended effective 6/2/2024