Continuing Education

How many hours of continuing education do I need to renew my dental license?

Twenty-one hours annually. State law details continuing education requirements for dentists. (WAC 246-817-440)

Do I need to send copies of certificates of completion?

No. You must sign an affidavit of compliance annually. You will find the affidavit on the back of your annual renewal notice.

How long do I have to keep continuing education documentation?

You must keep your documentation for four years.

Can I count continuing education hours I accumulate for other sources, (i.e. national certification with specialty organizations, etc.) towards this requirement?

Yes.

How many continuing education hours can I obtain online or through correspondence?

Seven hours. Law indicates a maximum of seven hours in this category. (WAC 246-817-440 (c))

Can I count continuing education hours from one year in the next year?

No. You cannot carry over continuing education in excess of the required hours earned in a reporting period to the next reporting cycle. (WAC 246-12-230)

I administer sedation, am I required to take additional continuing education?

Yes. You can find details below in the Administration of Anesthetic Agents section of this FAQ.

We want to provide a continuing education course. How do we obtain approval?

The commission does not approve or accredit continuing education courses. Law indicates that a credit hour for time actually spent in a course cannot be less than fifty (50) minutes. (WAC 246-12, Part 7) All courses must be designed to enhance the professional development of the dentist or improve the care provided to patients. You may provide a document to the dentists attending your course, stating the name of the course, the date(s) taken, and the total number of continuing education hours completed. Other organizations, such as American Dental Association accredit continuing education courses.

Does my study club have to be recognized by some entity to be considered acceptable?

No. Study club hours are an acceptable source of continuing education, provided the coursework is designed to enhance the professional knowledge and development of the practitioner or enhance services provided to patients. We do realize there are various types of study clubs and that some are more social in nature, while others are offered, authorized or accredited by various professional organizations.

One of the dental product vendors wants to come into my office and provide an "in service" training to me and my staff on new dental products and materials, techniques and equipment. Is this acceptable continuing education?

Yes. Fifty (50) minutes is a credit hour. You should get some type of documentation of the content of the training, the time spent, etc. for your records. We would consider this, per the rule, as training offered or authorized by an industry recognized private organization or agency.

Explain the volunteer services category – what types of volunteer services are acceptable?

The commission recognizes the value of dentists providing volunteer services to targeted populations. The dentist and recipient both benefit. The commission determined that if the dentist obtains some specialized training or education, prior to providing services to a specific population, up to seven continuing education hours could be accumulated per reporting cycle. Examples of this type of continuing education would be working with the Special Olympics, working with the Smilemobile or ABCD programs, etc. Most of these programs provide training/orientation programs to dentists working in these settings. It is not the intention for continuing education hours to be granted for routine pro-bono work that is not preceded by specialized education or instructional training.

Can I get an extension of time to complete my continuing education?

Dentists may be excused from or granted an extension of continuing education requirements due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. Law requires continuing education to renew your annual license. Any requests should be made several weeks before your renewal date to prevent delays in processing your license renewal. Requests must be in writing and sent to Dental Quality Assurance Commission Program Manager by email or mail. You cannot practice without an active license.

Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission
PO BOX 47852
Olympia, WA 98504