OAR 818-021-0070: Continuing Education — Dental Hygienists

(1) Each dental hygienist must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years. An Expanded Practice Permit Dental Hygienist shall complete a total of 36 hours of continuing education every two years. Continuing education (C.E.) must be directly related to clinical patient care or the practice of dental public health. (2) Dental hygienists must maintain records of successful completion of continuing education for at least four licensure years consistent with the licensee's licensure cycle. (A licensure year for dental hygienists is October 1 through September 30.) The licensee, upon request by the Board, shall provide proof of successful completion of continuing education courses. (3) Continuing education includes: (a) Attendance at lectures, dental study groups, college post-graduate courses, or scientific sessions at conventions. (b) Research, graduate study, teaching or preparation and presentation of scientific sessions. No more than six hours may be in teaching or scientific sessions. (Scientific sessions are defined as scientific presentations, table clinics, poster sessions and lectures.) (c) Correspondence courses, videotapes, distance learning courses or similar self-study course, provided that the course provides a certificate of completion to the dental hygienist. The certificate of completion should list the dental hygienist’s name, course title, course completion date, course provider name, and continuing education hours completed. (d) Continuing education credit can be given for volunteer pro bono dental hygiene services provided in the state of Oregon; community oral health instruction at a public health facility located in the state of Oregon; authorship of a publication, book, chapter of a book, article or paper published in a professional journal; participation on a state dental board, peer review, or quality of care review procedures; successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, taken after initial licensure; or test development for clinical dental hygiene examinations. No more than 6 hours of credit may be in these areas. (4) At least three hours of continuing education must be related to medical emergencies in a dental office. No more than two hours of Practice Management and Patient Relations may be counted toward the C.E. requirement in any renewal period. ( 5) Dental hygienists who hold a Nitrous Oxide Permit must meet the requirements contained in OAR 818-026-0040(11) for renewal of the Nitrous Oxide Permit. (6) At least two (2) hours of continuing education must be related to infection control. (7) At least two (2) hours of continuing education must be related to cultural competency (Effective January 1, 2021).