Section 0460-01-.05 - CONTINUING EDUCATION AND CPR(1) Continuing Education - Hours Required(a) Beginning January 1, 2003, each licensed dentist must successfully complete forty (40) hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Board during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure renewal year. At least two (2) hours of the forty (40) hour requirement shall pertain to chemical dependency education. Dentists who hold limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permits must also obtain a minimum of four (4) hours of continuing education in the subject of anesthesia and/or sedation as required by Rule 0460-02-.07(8)(c) as part of the required forty (40) hours of continuing education for dental licensure. 1. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2008, a dentist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed forty (40) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006.2. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2009, a dentist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed forty (40) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.3. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2010, a dentist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed forty (40) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.(b) Beginning January 3, 2003, each licensed dental hygienist must successfully complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Board during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure renewal year. At least two (2) hours of the thirty (30) hour requirement shall pertain to chemical dependency education.1. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2008, a dental hygienist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed thirty (30) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006.2. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2009, a dental hygienist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed thirty (30) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.3. Example - To renew a license that expires in 2010, a dental hygienist will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed thirty (30) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.(c) Beginning January 3, 2003, each registered dental assistant must successfully complete twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education in courses approved by the Board during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the registration renewal year. At least two (2) hours of the twenty-four (24) hour requirement shall pertain to chemical dependency education. 1. Example - To renew a registration that expires in 2008, a dental assistant will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006.2. Example - To renew a registration that expires in 2009, a dental assistant will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.3. Example - To renew a registration that expires in 2010, a dental assistant will attest on the renewal application that he/she completed twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.(d) New licensees and new registrants are exempt from the provisions of subparagraphs (1)(a), (1)(b), and (1)(c) during their initial two (2) calendar year (January 1-December 31) cycle, starting with an odd-numbered year if it is the year of initial licensure or registration, or starting with the odd-numbered year if it precedes an even-numbered initial licensure or registration year. 1. Example - An individual whose new license or registration was granted in 2008 is exempt from the continuing education requirements for the period beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31, 2008.2. Example - An individual whose new license or registration was granted in 2009 is exempt from the continuing education requirements for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2010.3. Example - An individual whose new license or registration was granted in 2010 is exempt from the continuing education requirements for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2010.(e) The Board approves courses for only the number of hours contained in the course. The approved hours of any individual course will not be counted more than once in a continuing education cycle toward the required hourly total regardless of the number of times the course is attended or completed by any individual licensee.(f) Each practitioner is responsible to attend only courses approved by the Board under Rule 0460-01-.05(3)(d) if credit for continuing education is desired unless prior approval under Rules 0460-01-.05(3)(b) and (e) has been obtained.(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (3)(d), all continuing education courses intended to meet the requirements of Rules 0460-02-.07(6)(a) 1.(ii), 0460-02-.07(6)(a) 2.(ii), and 0460-02-.07(8)(b) shall have prior approval by an Anesthesia Consultant as provided in Rule 0460-02-.07(11).(2) Continuing Education - Proof of Compliance(a) The due date for successful completion of the required continuing education hours is December 31st of the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure or registration renewal year.(b) Each dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must, on their biennial renewal application, attest to attendance and successful completion of the required continuing education hours and that such hours were obtained during the calendar years of report.(c) Each dentist, dental hygienist, and registered dental assistant must retain independent documentation of attendance and completion of all continuing education courses. This documentation must be retained for a period of three (3) years from the end of the calendar year in which the course is completed. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its verification process.(d) Further, it is the responsibility of the practitioner to obtain documentation in the form of a certificate indicating the name of the practitioner attending such course, title of the course taken, date of the course, number of hours obtained for attending the course, and verification of the approved organization sponsoring the course.(e) Any practitioner who, on their biennial renewal application, attests to attendance and successful completion of the required continuing education which in any way is not true will be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. 63-5-124(a)(1), (2), (3), (7) and (18).(3) Continuing Education Course Approval - Courses to be offered for credit toward the continuing education requirement must, unless otherwise provided, receive prior approval from the Board. (a) Course approval procedure for course providers - Unless otherwise provided, all courses shall be offered within Tennessee.1. To obtain prior approval the course provider must have delivered to the Board's Administrative Office at least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that precedes the course, documentation which includes all of the following items which must be resubmitted if changes are made after receipt of approval from the Board:(i) Course description or outline.(ii) Names of all lecturers.(iii) Brief resume of all lecturers.(iv) Number of hours of educational credit requested.(vi) Copies of materials to be utilized in the course.(vii) How verification of attendance is to be documented.2. Under no circumstances shall continuing education courses be approved if the materials required by subparts (3)(a)1.(i) through (3)(a)1.(vii) are not received at least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board at which approval is sought that precedes the course.3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (3)(a), any clinic, workshop, seminar or lecture at national, regional, state and local meetings of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants will be recognized for continuing education credit by the Board if(i) The course provider has complied with the provisions of parts (3)(a)1. and (3)(a)2.; or(ii) The course provider is exempt from needing prior approval as provided in subparagraph (3)(d).4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (3)(a), out-of-state continuing education providers may seek course approval if they are a dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting regulatory agency or association from a state that borders Tennessee; and(i) The course provider has complied with the provisions of parts (3)(a)1. and (3)(a)2.; or(ii) The course provider is exempt from needing prior approval as provided in subparagraph (3)(d).(b) Course approval procedure for individual licensees and registrants.1. Any licensee or registrant may seek approval to receive credit for successfully completing continuing education courses by complying with the provisions of subparagraph (3)(a).2. To retain course approval, the licensee or registrant must submit a course evaluation form, supplied by the Board, to the Board's Administrative Office within thirty (30) days after successfully completing the course.(c) Continuing Education courses may be presented in any of the following formats:2. Audio or audiovisual - with successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention if correspondence course.3. Correspondence - with successful completion of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention.4. Any combination of the above.(d) The following courses and/or activities need not receive prior approval and shall constitute Board-approved continuing education: 1. Courses sponsored or approved by any of the following organizations:(i) American Dental Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.(ii) Academy of General Dentistry or a State Affiliate.(iii) American Dental Hygienists' Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.(iv) Any National, Regional or State Academy or Association of any of the recognized specialty branches of dentistry listed in T.C.A. 63-5-112.(v) National Dental Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.(vi) National Dental Hygiene Association.(vii) Capital City Dental Society.(viii) American Dental Assistants' Association or its Constituent or Component Societies.(ix) Tennessee Dental Hygienists Academy of Advanced Study.(x) Tennessee Department of Health and its affiliated Metropolitan Health Departments, those being the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Health Department, the Davidson County Health Department, the Jackson-Madison County Health Department, the Knox County Health Department, the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, and the Sullivan County Health Department.(xi) Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).(xii) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).(xiii) Tennessee Dental Wellness Foundation.2. Educational courses sponsored by an accredited school of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting. If such course is taken for or assigned quarter or semester credit hours, three (3) semester hours or equivalent quarter hours shall be equivalent to fifteen (15) continuing education hours. No credits will be counted for courses failed.3. Five (5) hours of continuing education credit shall be granted for attendance at a state, regional or national dental meeting. A maximum of ten (10) continuing education credits may be earned in this category during the continuing education cycle that precedes the licensure or registration renewal year. These hours are in addition to any continuing education courses attended at any of those meetings.4. Participation at examinations(i) Four (4) hours of continuing education credit shall be awarded each time a licensee participates as an examiner for S.R.T.A.(ii) One (1) hour of continuing education credit shall be awarded each time a licensee participates as an examiner for the coronal polishing examination.5. Hour-for-hour of continuing education credit will be granted for courses in Advanced (ACLS) or Pediatric (PALS) Cardiac Life Support that are taught in accordance with the "Guidelines" of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross or sponsored by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross during the continuing education cycle that precedes the licensure or registration renewal year.6. Twenty (20) hours of continuing education credit will be awarded for authorship of publications relevant to the practice of dentistry (e.g., a book, a chapter of a book, or an article or paper published in a professional peer reviewed journal).7. Four (4) hours of continuing education credit shall be awarded, during each continuing education cycle that precedes the licensure or registration renewal year, to presenters for each hour of an initial presentation of a formal continuing education course that is a didactic and/or a participatory presentation to review or update knowledge of new or existing concepts and techniques. Hour-for-hour credit will be granted for repeat presentations. This category is limited to a maximum of twenty (20) hours continuing education credit during each continuing education cycle that precedes the licensure or registration renewal year.(e) Individual Board members and the Board consultant are vested with the authority to approve continuing education courses submitted in compliance with this rule. All such approvals must be presented to the Board for ratification..(4) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (a) Each dentist, dental hygienist, and dental assistant must attest, check a box, and/or enter signature when applying for biennial renewal of licensure or registration, which indicates current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which is defined as successful completion of a BLS for Healthcare Providers, or CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, or an equivalent course, which provides training for healthcare professionals in CPR and the use of an AED. The course must be conducted in person and include a skills examination on a manikin with a certified instructor.(b) The hours necessary to obtain or maintain CPR may be counted as continuing education hours.(c) Each dentist, dental hygienist and registered dental assistant must retain independent documentation of CPR training for a period of three (3) years from the end of the calendar year in which the training is received. Such proof must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its verification process.(d) The following organizations are approved by the Board for CPR training: 1. The American Red Cross2. The American Heart Association3. Programs offered in hospital settings4. Any organization which receives approval of specially designed CPR courses from the Board after its review.(5) Waiver of Continuing Education And/Or CPR Training (a) The Board may grant a waiver of the need to attend and complete the required hours of continuing education and/or the required CPR training if it can be shown to the Board that the failure to comply was not attributable to or was beyond the physical capabilities of the person seeking the waiver.(b) Waivers will be considered only on an individual basis and may be requested by submitting the following items to the Board Administrative Office: 1. A written request for a waiver which specifies what requirement is sought to be waived and a written and signed explanation of the reasons for the request.2. Any documentation which supports the reason for the waiver requested or which is subsequently requested by the Board.(c) A waiver approved by the Board is effective for only the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure renewal year for which the waiver is sought unless otherwise specified in writing by the Board.(d) A dentist may not perform dental procedures if CPR training is waived unless another dentist, a dental hygienist or dental assistant currently trained in CPR is present within the confines of the dental office.(e) The Board Consultant is authorized to grant or deny requests for waivers subject to subsequent Board ratification.(6) Continuing Education for Reactivation of Retired License or Registration - The continuing education hours obtained as a prerequisite for reactivation of licensure or registration may not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained before the licensee's or registrant's next biennial renewal. (a) Any dentist or dental hygienist who applies for reactivation of a license must comply with the following: 1. If the license has been retired for less than two (2) years, the licensee must submit along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of one half (1/2) the number of hours of approved dental-related continuing education required by subparagraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) of this rule, all of which must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation.2. If the license has been retired for a period of two (2) years or more, but less than five (5) years, the licensee must submit, along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty four (24) hours of Board-approved dental-related continuing education. The continuing education must include at least one (1) course which focuses on and serves as a clinical (in the mouth) refresher and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation. In addition, and at the sole discretion of the Board or its consultant, when information indicates a cause for concern about continued competency, the licensee may be required to contact one of the approved schools of dentistry/hygiene for an evaluation of current competency before reinstatement will be considered.3. All applicants who have been retired for a period of five (5) years or more must submit, along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty four (24) hours of Board-approved dental-related continuing education. The continuing education must include at least one (1) course which focuses on and serves as a clinical (in the mouth) refresher and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation. In addition, the licensees shall be required to present themselves to one of the approved schools of dentistry/hygiene for an evaluation of current competency before reinstatement will be considered. Compliance with any educational recommendations of the evaluating school is required before reinstatement will be considered.(b) Any registered dental assistant who applies for reactivation of a registration must comply with the following:1. If the registrant has been retired for less than two (2) years, the registrant must submit along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of one-half (1/2) the number of hours of approved dental-related continuing education required by subparagraph (1)(c) of this rule, all of which must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation.2. If the registrant has been retired for a period of two (2) years or more, but less than five (5) years, the registrant must submit, along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of twelve (12) hours of continuing education as provided in subparagraph (1)(c) of this rule and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation.3. All applicants who have been retired for a period of five (5) years or more must submit, along with the reactivation request and application, proof or check a box/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates the attendance and completion of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education as provided in subparagraph (1)(c) of this rule and must have been earned in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for reactivation.(c) The dentist, dental hygienist, or registered dental assistant who applies for reactivation of a license must also submit proof or check a box and/or enter signature on a Board form which indicates current training in CPR issued by a Board-approved training organization. The hours required to obtain or maintain CPR training shall not constitute continuing education hours.(d) The Board, upon receipt of a written request and explanation, may waive or condition any or all of the continuing education or CPR requirements for reactivation of a retired license in emergency situations.(e) The Board Consultant is authorized to grant or deny requests for waivers subject to subsequent Board ratification.(7) Violations (a) Any dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant who falsely attests to attendance and completion of the required hours of continuing education and/or the CPR training requirement may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-5-124(a)(1), (3), (7) and (18).(b) Any dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant who fails to obtain the required continuing education hours and/or CPR training may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-5-124(a)(1) and (18).(c) Education hours obtained as a result of compliance with the terms of a settlement or Board Orders in any disciplinary action shall not be counted toward the continuing education hours required to be obtained during the two (2) calendar years (January 1st of an odd-numbered year through December 31st of the subsequent even-numbered year) that precede the licensure or registration renewal year.(8) Continuing education - In order to retain a limited or comprehensive conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia permit, a dentist must:(a) Maintain current certification in ACLS (a pediatric dentist may substitute PALS); or(b) Certify attendance every two (2) years at a Board-approved course comparable to ACLS or PALS and devoted specifically to the prevention and management of emergencies associated with conscious sedation or deep sedation/general anesthesia.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0460-01-.05
Original rule certified June 7, 1974. Repeal filed August 26, 1980; effective December 1, 1980. Repeal and new rule filed December 11, 1991; effective January 25, 1992. Amendment filed June 29, 1994; effective September 12, 1994. Amendment filed December 5, 1994; effective February 18, 1995. Amendment filed March 20, 1996; effective June 3, 1996. Amendment to rule filed October 9, 1997; effective December 23, 1997. Amendment filed February 9, 2000; effective April 24, 2000. Amendment filed April 10, 2002; effective June 24, 2002. Amendment filed June 13, 2003; effective August 27, 2003. Amendment filed June 18, 2003; effective September 1, 2003. Amendment filed July 22, 2003; effective October 10, 2003. Notice of Withdrawal of subparagraph (3)(c) filed and effective September 24, 2003. Amendment filed August 18, 2003; effective November 1, 2003. Amendment filed December 28, 2004; effective March 13, 2005. Amendment filed August 3, 2005; effective October 17, 2005. Amendment filed August 23, 2005; effective November 6, 2005. Amendment filed July 10, 2006; effective September 23, 2006. Amendments filed September 25, 2008; effective December 9, 2008. Amendment filed August 4, 2009; effective November 2, 2009. Amendment filed October 22, 2010; effective January 20, 2011. Amendment filed September 30, 2014; effective December 29, 2014. Amendments filed December 7, 2021; effective 3/7/2022.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-1-107, 63-5-105, 63-5-107, 63-5-107(c), 63-5-108, 63-5-112, 63-5-114, 63-5-115, 63-5-117, and 63-5-124.