Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

3100.5100 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; DENTISTS, DENTAL THERAPISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND LICENSED DENTAL ASSISTANTS.

Subpart 1.

Professional development cycles.

A.

The initial professional development cycle begins on the date licensure is granted by the board and ends on the last day of the licensee's birth month in either an even-numbered or odd-numbered year that corresponds with the licensee's year of birth. The initial cycle varies in the number of months depending on the date licensure is granted.

B.

A biennial professional development cycle coincides with the biennial renewal period. Each biennial renewal cycle consists of a 24-month period beginning on the first day of the month following expiration of the previous cycle. An established biennial cycle continues to apply even if the license is revoked, suspended, conditioned, or not renewed for any reason for any length of time.

Subp. 2.

Professional development requirements.

A.

Each licensee shall establish a portfolio to record, monitor, and retain documentation of fundamental and elective professional development activities.

B.

The minimum number of required hours of fundamental and elective activities for each initial or biennial cycle is 50 hours for dentists and dental therapists and 25 hours for dental hygienists and licensed dental assistants. Any professional development hours earned in excess of the required hours for an initial or biennial cycle must not be carried forward to the next biennial cycle.

(1)

Of the 50 hours required for a dentist and dental therapist, at least 30 hours must be fundamental activities and no more than 20 hours can be elective activities.

(2)

Of the 25 hours required for a dental hygienist and licensed dental assistant, at least 15 hours must be fundamental activities and no more than ten hours can be elective activities.

C.

Professional development is credited on an hour-for-hour basis.

D.

If a licensee fails to meet the professional development requirements because of extenuating circumstances, the licensee may request to the board in writing an extension of time at least seven days before the end of the licensee's biennial cycle. The licensee's written request must explain the circumstances, the renewal period, and the licensee's plan for completing the requirement. If the board grants the extension, the board shall notify the licensee of the extension. If the licensee fails to submit a written extension request to the board by the seven-day deadline or fails to complete the professional development requirements by the end of the extension period, the board shall administratively terminate the licensee's license. A licensee may reinstate a license that has been terminated under this subpart according to part 3100.1850.

Subp. 3.

Professional development activities.

Professional development activities are categorized as fundamental or elective activities as described in items A and B.

A.

Fundamental activities for an initial or biennial cycle must directly relate to clinical dental services to patients. Fundamental activities include:

(1)

clinical subjects. Clinical subjects are covered through seminars, webinars, symposiums, lectures, college courses pertaining to basic sciences, or programs whose contents directly relate to the provision of dental care and treatment to patients. College course credit is limited to five hours for each college course completed within a cycle with a maximum of 15 college credit hours per cycle;

(2)

other fundamental courses listed in units (a) to (f) that are offered through seminars, webinars, symposiums, lectures, or programs. Each licensee must complete at least two courses out of the following list for each initial or biennial cycle:

(a)

record keeping;

(b)

ethics;

(c)

patient communications;

(d)

management of medical emergencies;

(e)

treatment and diagnosis; and

(f)

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);

(3)

an infection control course. An infection control course is mandatory for each licensee to maintain licensure. The course must primarily address patient safety and health issues as referenced in part 3100.6300 and chapter 6950; and

(4)

activities approved by the board. Fundamental activities under this subitem shall be approved by the board only if the board finds the activity contents are directly related to dental care and treatment to patients or public safety and professionalism.

B.

Elective activities for an initial or biennial cycle must directly relate to or support dentistry and include:

(1)

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

(2)

volunteerism or community service directly relating to dentistry 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 dentistry;

(4)

scholarly activities, including:

(a)

teaching a professional course directly related to dentistry or presenting a continuing dental education program;

(b)

presenting a table clinic directly related to dentistry;

(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;

(e)

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

(f)

similar academic activities relating to dentistry;

(5)

dental practice management courses;

(6)

leadership or committee involvement with a dental board or a dental professional association for a maximum of three credit hours per cycle; and

(7)

elective activities approved by the board. Elective activities under this subitem shall be approved by the board only if the board finds the contents of the activity directly relates to or supports dentistry.

Subp. 4.

Documentation of professional development activities.

A licensee must record or obtain documentation of hours in professional development activities for the licensee's portfolio. Documentation includes:

A.

confirming documentation from the presenting organization that provides the attendee's name, name of the organization or presenter, course date, number of credit hours, subject matter, or program title;

B.

a personal log of published articles read by the licensee including title of the article, name of author, name of journal or periodical, and date of published article; and

C.

similar documentation of professional development activities.

Subp. 5.

Retention of documentation.

A licensee must keep documentation for each fundamental and elective activity as required to meet professional development requirements. The licensee must retain the documentation for the current biennial renewal cycle and the previous completed biennial cycle for purposes of an audit by the board.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 150A.04; 150A.06

History:

29 SR 306; 31 SR 1238; 35 SR 459; 36 SR 738; 37 SR 1849; 39 SR 1455; 42 SR 226; 46 SR 908

Published Electronically:

March 17, 2022

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes