Definitions of Credit Categories

A.  Fundamental activities include, but are not limited to, clinical subjects, core subjects, and CPR training.

(1) Clinical subjects are those seminars, symposiums, lectures, college courses pertaining to basic sciences, or programs whose contents directly relate to the provision of dental care and treatment to patients.

(2) Core subjects are those seminars, symposiums, lectures, or programs that relate to public safety and professionalism.  Each licensee or registrant shall complete a minimum of two of the categories of core subjects for each biennial cycle.  Examples of core subject categories include, but are not limited to:

(a) infection control

Infection control is any course pertaining to the promotion of health and safety of patients and regulated persons in the dental health-care setting through adequate safety and sanitary conditions and the use of standard precautions and other infection control procedures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control - 2003 Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings.

EXAMPLES: Includes all courses about safety and sanitary conditions in dental healthcare settings and the CDC’s infection control guidelines for 2003;

(b) record keeping

Recordkeeping is any course pertaining to making and maintaining adequate records for patients as described in Minnesota Rules 3100.9600.

EXAMPLES: Recordkeeping courses, risk management courses that include recordkeeping;

(c) ethics

Ethics is any course pertaining to a code of ethics as it relates to the dental profession.

EXAMPLES: Boundary issues, Professional vs. Personal Relationships, Professional Ethical code and guidelines, Sexual harassment, Vulnerability of Patients, Dynamics & distribution of power

(d) patient communications

Patient Communication is any course that expands or improves the professional’s ability to communicate with their patients, co-workers, or colleagues.

EXAMPLES: Non-verbal communication, communicating with handicapped or disabled individuals, foreign languages / sign language, psychology, personal communication courses, courses on teamwork, conflict resolution;

(e) management of medical emergencies

Management of medical emergencies is any course pertaining to the following: familiarity with the critical steps in prevention, preparation, early recognition, and appropriate management of common medical emergencies in the dental office; familiarity with the strategy for evaluating the medical history of all patients in a dental office; and/or accessing community and office resources necessary for medical emergencies.

EXAMPLES: Medical emergencies in the dental office: Diagnosis and management;

(f) treatment and diagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment planning isany educational course that focuses on the skills and knowledge of diagnosis/prognosis and formulating a comprehensive treatment plan relative to these areas of dentistry.  These courses are not limited to only hands-on courses.

EXAMPLES: Periodontics, Endodontics, Restorative, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics.

(3) A CPR certification course is mandatory for each licensee or registrant to maintain licensure or registration.  The CPR course must be equivalent to the American Heart Association healthcare provider course or the American Red Cross professional rescuer course.

B.  Elective activities:

(1) general attendance at a multiday state or national dental convention for a maximum of three credit hours;

(2) volunteerism or community service directly relating to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting such as international or national mission work, voluntary clinic work, or dental health presentations to students or groups;

(3) professional reading of published articles or other forms of self-study directly relating to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting;

(4) scholarly activities include, but are not limited to:

(a) teaching a professional course directly related to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting; or presenting a continuing dental education program;

(b) presenting a table clinic directly related to the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or dental assisting;

(c) authoring a published dental article or text in a recognized publication;

(d) participating in test construction for an accredited state or nationally recognized dental association or organization; and

(e) participating in a scientific dental research program from an accredited institution or program or an evidence-based clinical study;

(5) dental practice management courses include, but are not limited to, computer, insurance claims or billing, transferring patient records, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training, and patient abandonment.

Courses not approved:

Examples of subjects that are NOT eligible for credit are estate planning, financial planning, marketing, investments, personal health and growth.