Continuing Education
Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing education requirements - OAC 4715-8-01
Dentist
Continuing education - ORC 4715.141
Dental Hygienist
Continuing education - ORC 4715.25
Radiographer
Continuing education requirements - OAC 4715-12-05
Help Finding Appropriate Continuing Education
Continuing Education Extension/Waiver
CE Extension/Waiver Request
The Board has the ability by law to excuse licensed dentists and/or dental hygienists, as a group or as individuals, from all or any part of the CE requirements because of an unusual circumstance, emergency, or special hardship.
Extension/Waiver Requests – If you have been unable to complete the CE requirement for this renewal period due to an unusual circumstance, emergency, or special hardship, you may submit a Continuing Education Extension/Waiver form including a full explanation of the reasons that necessitate an extension/waiver including the following:
1. If you are currently practicing;
2. Number of hours/week you currently practice;
3. Number of hours of CE already completed during the biennium; and
4. Why course(s)/offerings were not completed during the biennium.
Qualifying reasons for extension/waiver of the CE requirements within the immediate preceding two (2) years may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Compelling causes beyond the control of the individual;
2. Medically compromised health of self or family member;
3. Death of a family member;
4. Other personal circumstance affecting the individual; or
5. Active duty in the military service.
Extension/Waiver requests due to:
1. Medically compromised health must include written verification (on physician’s letterhead) from a physician detailing the illness or condition of self or family member that precluded attendance, the date that the illness or condition occurred, reasons that a correspondence offering or on-site offering could not be attended, and an estimate of the time when recovery may be achieved.
2. Death of a family member must include a copy of the death certificate and/or copy of the obituary indicating relationship to licensee.
3. Other personal circumstances should include documentation if possible (ex. fire, flood, destruction, etc.)
4. Active duty service out of country must include a copy of original deployment orders and/or substantiation from the commanding officer.
Written requests in lieu of the form must contain all information as requested on the form in addition to all supplemental documentation.
Requests for extension/waiver should be as complete and factual as possible, an incomplete request may require additional correspondence which may delay the final decision. Each request will be considered on an individual basis.
Extension/Waiver requests can take two to three (2-3) weeks to process depending on completeness of the request. Requests and all supporting documentation may be submitted via U.S. Mail, e-mail, or by fax. All extension/waiver requests must be received prior to renewal of the license or certificate.
If you have been granted an Extension/Waiver, you must upload a copy of the letter granting the extension/waiver when prompted during renewal of your license.
Continuing Education Extension/Waiver
Continuing Education Audit
Tips for a Successful CE Audit
Ways to submit your CE documentation to the Board
There are two (2) ways in which you can submit your CE documentation. Please remember to include your full name, license number, phone number and e-mail address in any correspondence with the Board. Any of the following methods are acceptable for submission:
E-mail – education@den.ohio.gov
- You may scan your CE audit letter along with your CE documentation and submit it via e-mail to education@den.ohio.gov. We will accept scanned copies in PDF, JPEG, TIFF or Word format only.
- Please make sure that the Subject Line states: CE Audit: [Your Name and License #].
Mail – Ohio State Dental Board 77 S. High St., 17th Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6135
- Submit a copy of your CE Audit notification along with copies of your CE documentation to this address via U.S.Mail.
What is required for acceptable documentation of CE
The Board accepts CE certificates, letters of completion, transcripts, and organization printouts from sponsors of CE so long as they contain the following information:
- Name of licensee
- Name(s) of the sponsor and instructor(s) of the course
- Course title
- Date of the CE activity
- Number of acceptable CE hours (no less than half hour increments)
Recent Graduates
Licensees who attended or graduated from an ADA-accredited dental school, residency program or dental hygiene program during the 2020-2021 biennium were exempt from the CE requirement for the renewal. However, you must submit documentation from the school or program indicating that you were a student during that time.
How to determine if the CE experience is acceptable
The Board accepts documentation from approved or accepted providers of CE. Approved or accepted sponsors are the following:
Board-approved Permanent Sponsors:
- “American Dental Association,” and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the “American Dental Association.”
- “National Dental Association,” and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the “National Dental Association.”
- “American Dental Hygienists Association,” and its recognized constituents, components and affiliated societies.
- “National Dental Hygienists’ Association” and constituent and component dental hygienists’ associations and societies affiliated with the “National Dental Hygienists’ Association.”
- National, state, district or local dental specialty organizations affiliated with the “American Dental Association.”
- Academy of General Dentistry” and its constituent and component organizations.
- Colleges and universities with accredited schools of dentistry or dental hygiene and community colleges with approved dental hygiene programs, when the continuing professional education program is held under the auspices of the school of dentistry or dental hygiene, or the dental hygiene program.
- Colleges and universities accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States office of education. Hospitals accredited by the “Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).”
- Other organizations, schools or other dental-related organizations that by board action are listed as permanent sponsors.
ADA CERP
A listing of American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) sponsors is available at https://www.ada.org/en/ccepr/view-ce-providers
AGD PACE
A listing of Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education sponsors is available at https://www.agd.org/2/education/pace/findaprovider/default.asp
The Board accepts CE from any of the approved or accepted sponsors listed so long as the content complies with the guidelines set forth in Ohio Administrative Code rule 4715-8-01 which states:
Acceptable continuing education for all Ohio licensees is defined as educational and scientific courses given by board-approved sponsors consisting of activities designed to review existing concepts and techniques, to convey information beyond the basic dental education and to update knowledge on advances in scientific, non-clinical and clinical practice related subject matter, including ethics, regulatory compliance, risk management, nutrition, and evidence-based dentistry wherein the objective is to improve the knowledge, skills and ability of the individual to provide the highest quality of service to the public and the profession.
Categories of credit - To fulfill the minimum requirements set forth in sections 4715.141 and 4715.25 of the Revised Code, the licensee is free to select areas of study within the stated categories, not to exceed the maximum number of hours in each category.
"Directly interactive presentation format" means a presentation format in which each participant is able to provide direct feedback and have interaction with the instructor through a question and answer format in real time.
"Supervised self-instruction" means the coursework is provided in a self-instruction format which must include a testing mechanism supplied by a board-approved sponsor. The licensee must complete a test with a passing score of not less than seventy-five percent and demonstrate a level of comprehension before credit is awarded. Tests must be graded by the sponsor and results returned to the licensee. Supervised self-instruction includes, but is not limited to:
Graded audio/video courses.
Graded correspondence courses.
Graded internet computer courses.
"Non-clinical dental practice related continuing education" means continuing education experiences which may include, but is not limited to, those courses which aid in the management of a dental practice or clinic, including those courses pertaining to the management of third party payer issues, dental billing practices, patient and provider appeals of payment disputes and patient management of billing matters; courses to improve recall and scheduling systems, production flow, communication systems and data management; courses in organization and management of the dental practice including office computerization and design, ergonomics, and the improvement of practice administration and office operations; courses in leadership development and team development; and, courses in human resource management and employee benefits. A maximum of six continuing education hours may be obtained in this category. *Recent legislation now allows you to obtain up to 1/3 of your CE hours through volunteer service at a ratio of 1 CEU for each hour of volunteer clinical service you provide. Therefore, you may claim up to eight (8) hours of volunteer CE.
"Papers, publications and scientific presentations" means scientific papers authored by the licensee and published in a scientific professional journal, and/or the original presentation of papers, essays, scientific exhibits or formal lectures to recognized groups of fellow professionals. A maximum of four continuing education hours may be obtained in this category.
"Teaching and research appointments" means documented teaching or research activities at an accredited institution, at least one-half day per week per academic year, and holding at least a part-time faculty or research appointment as evidenced by a signed, dated letter of appointment from the chair or director of the accredited institution. A maximum of four continuing education hours may be obtained in this category.
"Volunteer service as a clinician" means continuing education credit may be awarded at a ratio of one continuing education credit for each four hours of volunteer clinical services provided through an approved program. An approved program is one sponsored by a permanent sponsor as defined in paragraph (A) of rule 4715-8-02 of the Administrative Code, that allows licensees to provide substantial pro bono dental and dental hygiene services to indigent and underserved populations, or to persons who reside in areas of critical need in the state of Ohio. No remuneration shall be made to the licensee or the program sponsor for services provided under this section. A maximum of four continuing education hours may be obtained in this category.
"Table clinics" means the original presentation of or documented viewing of a table clinic at a professional meeting. A maximum of two continuing education hours may be obtained in this category.
CPR Certification
Submit a copy of the front and back of your CPR certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), American Red Cross (ARC), or the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) from the time of renewal. If you are claiming the CPR course as part of your continuing education renewal requirement you must provide documentation from the instructor indicating your name, name of the sponsor (AHA, ARC or ASHI), name of the instructor, course title, date of the course, and the number of hours of contact (CE Hours) in order for the hours to be accepted as credit.
Cultural Competency
Cultural Competency Education Opportunities
Cultural Competency Continuing Education
Continuing Education Sponsors
Board-approved Biennial Sponsors
Beginning January 1, 2022 the Ohio State Dental Board is no longer accepting applications from continuing education (CE) providers to become Board-approved Biennial Sponsors. Course providers who would like to continue offering CE to Ohio licensees may consider applying to become approved as a local or national CE provider through the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) or Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education (AGD PACE). Information on the application, application process, requirements, policies and guidelines to become providers may be found here:
ADA CERP – ADA CERP Recognition
AGD PACE – Apply for PACE Approval (agd.org)
- Another option for course providers would be to partner or enter into an agreement to provide joint sponsorship of CE with any one of the following:
- American Dental Association, and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the American Dental Association.
- National Dental Association, and constituent and component dental associations and societies affiliated with the National Dental Association.
- American Dental Hygienists Association, and its recognized constituents, components and affiliated societies.
- National Dental Hygienists' Association and constituent and component dental hygienists' associations and societies affiliated with the National Dental Hygienists' Association.
- National, state, district or local dental specialty organizations affiliated with the American Dental Association.
- Academy of General Dentistry and its constituent and component organizations.
- Colleges and universities with accredited schools of dentistry or dental hygiene and community colleges with approved dental hygiene programs.
- Colleges and universities accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States office of education.
- Healthcare organizations and institutions accredited by the Joint Commission (JC).
- Other accredited or nationally recognized healthcare organizations (e.g. American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute).
- American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) – Providers of continuing education that have been granted approval status and remain in good standing.
- Academy of General Dentistry Program Approval for Continuing Education (AGD PACE) – Providers of continuing education that have been granted approval status and remain in good standing.
CE course providers must ensure that as a joint program provider they are following those guidelines and policies as set forth by these organizations for continuing education joint providership, as well as the Ohio CE guidelines as set forth in Ohio Revised and Administrative Code 4715. Additionally, any certificates of course completion issued to Ohio licensees must reflect joint provider status.