SECTION 116.6. Continuing Education

(a) A dental laboratory renewing a certificate must provide proof that the designated CDT has met the continuing education requirements of a recognized board of certification for dental technology, or its successor.

(b) A dental laboratory that meets the exemption qualifications in §116.5 of this chapter must provide, in lieu of the requirement of subsection (a) of this section, proof, that the designated employee has completed at least 12 hours of continuing education during the preceding 12-month period. Continuing education hours may only be used for one renewal period.

(c) Acceptable continuing education shall be comprised of business management, infection control, and technical competency courses presented in seminars or clinics as accepted by a recognized organization of dentistry or dental technology, subject to the following requirements:

(1) The designated employee must complete at least one course in regulatory compliance annually. Examples include courses in Infection Control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Texas Jurisprudence, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Ethics.

(2) No more than one course in business management may be applied toward the annual continuing education requirement.

(3) Self-study in a course approved by a recognized organization of dentistry or dental technology may be taken for not more than four hours of the annual continuing education requirement.

(d) In lieu of furnishing proof of continuing education as set forth in subsection (c) of this section, a dental laboratory may furnish proof that the designated dental technician has a current certification from a recognized board of certification for dental technology or its successor. Certification as "retired" does not qualify the technician.

Source Note: The provisions of this §116.6 adopted to be effective May 10, 2004, 29 TexReg 4484; amended to be effective February 26, 2009, 34 TexReg 1246