Section DE 13.04 - Continuing education requirements for dental hygienists(1) COMPLETION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT HOURS. Except as provided in sub. (5), during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date, a dental hygienist shall complete 12 credit hours of continuing education related to the clinical practice of dental hygiene or the practice of medicine. No more than 2 of the 12 credit hours may be satisfied by training related to basic life support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Not less than 2 of the 12 credit hours shall include training in infection control.(2) CREDIT FOR TEACHING OR PREPARING A PROGRAM. One hour of teaching or preparing a professional dental or medical program is equivalent to one credit hour of continuing education. A licensee who teaches or prepares a professional dental or medical program may obtain credit for the program only once during a biennium.(3) CREDIT FOR COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES. One credit hour of a college level course is equivalent to 6 credit hours of continuing education. A licensee may substitute credit hours of college level courses related to the practice of dental hygiene or the practice of medicine for the required continuing education credit hours.(4) CREDIT FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION. The credit hours required under sub. (1) may be satisfied by independent study, correspondence, or internet programs or courses. (5) EXEMPTION FOR NEW LICENSEES. Subsection (1) does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the applicant is licensed.(6) CERTIFICATION STATEMENT. At the time of each renewal, each licensee shall sign a statement certifying that within the 2 years immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08(2) (a), Stats., he or she has completed the continuing education credit hours required under sub. (1). (7) FAILURE TO COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS. A licensee who fails to meet the continuing education requirements by the renewal date specified under s. 440.08(2) (a), Stats., shall not practice dental hygiene until his or her license is restored under s. DE 2.03(5).(8) TIME LIMITS ON OBTAINING CREDITS. Credit hours completed before the 2-year period immediately preceding renewal of a license to practice dental hygiene may not be applied to fulfill the credit hours required under sub. (1). (9) RECORDKEEPING. Every licensee shall maintain a written record of the continuing education hours required under sub. (1) for not less than 6 years after completion of each credit. (10) WAIVER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS. The board may waive the continuing education requirements under sub. (1) if it finds that exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances have prevented a licensee from meeting the requirements. Wis. Admin. Code Dentistry Examining Board DE 13.04
CR 11-033: cr. Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12.