NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
GEORGIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY

RULE 150-5-.05 REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR
DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the authority set forth below, the Georgia Board of
Dentistry (hereinafter “Board”) proposes an amendment to Georgia Board of Dentistry, Rule
150-5-.05 Requirements for Continuing Education for Dental Hygienists (hereinafter “proposed
rule amendment”).

This notice, together with an exact copy of the proposed rule amendment and a synopsis of the
proposed rule amendment, is being mailed to all persons who have requested, in writing, that
they be placed on a mailing list. A copy of this notice, an exact copy of the proposed rule
amendment, and a synopsis of the proposed rule amendment may be reviewed during normal
business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except official State holidays,
at the Office of the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum
Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217. These documents will also be available for review on the Georgia
Board of Dentistry’s web page at http//www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/dentistry. Copies may also be
requested by contacting the Georgia Board of Dentistry office at 478-207-2440.

A public hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on April 3, 2009 at the Professional
Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Dr., Macon, GA 31217 to provide the public an
opportunity to comment upon and provide input into the proposed rule amendment. At the public
hearing anyone may present data, make a statement, comment or offer a viewpoint or argument
whether orally or in writing. Lengthy statements or statements of a considerable technical or
economic nature, as well as previously recorded messages, must be submitted for the official
record. Oral statements should be concise and will be limited to 5 minutes per person. Additional
comments should be presented in writing. Written comments are welcome. To ensure their
consideration, written comments must be received on or before March 27, 2009. Written
comments should be addressed to Randall Vaughn, Division Director, Secretary of State,
Professional Licensing Boards Division, Georgia Board of Dentistry, 237 Coliseum Drive,
Macon, Georgia 31217. FAX: 1-866-888-1308.

The proposed rule amendment will be considered for adoption by the Georgia Board of Dentistry
at its meeting scheduled to begin at 9:35 a.m. on April 3, 2009 at the Professional Licensing
Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Dr., Macon, GA 31217. According to the Department of Law,
State of Georgia, the Georgia Board of Dentistry has the authority to adopt the proposed rule
amendment pursuant to authority contained in O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-7, 43-11-8, 43-11-9, 43-11-73,
and 43-11-73.1


At its meeting on February 13, 2009 the Board voted that the formulation and adoption of this
rule does not impose excessive regulatory cost on any licensee and any cost to comply with the
proposed rule cannot be reduced by a less expensive alternative that fully accomplishes the
objectives of O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-7, 43-11-8, 43-11-9, 43-11-73, and 43-11-73.1

Also, at its meeting on February 13, 2009, the Board voted that it is not legal or feasible to meet
the objectives of O.C.G.A. §§ 43-11-7, 43-11-8, 43-11-9, 43-11-73, and 43-11-73.1 to adopt or
implement differing actions for businesses as listed at O.C.G.A. §50-13-4(a)(3)(A), (B), (C) and
(D). The formulation and adoption of these rules will impact every licensee in the same manner
and each licensee is independently licensed, owned and operated and dominant in the field of
dentistry.

For further information, contact the Board office at 478-207-2440.

This notice is given in compliance with O.C.G.A. §50-13-4.





This 23rd day of February, 2009.





_________________________

Randall D. Vaughn, Division Director

Professional Licensing Boards



Posted: February 23, 2009








SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE GEORGIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY,
BOARD RULE 150-5-.05 REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR
DENTAL HYGIENIST.

Purpose: To provide CE credit for dentists providing volunteer care to indigent patients in
Georgia.



Main Features: Provides CE credit for dentists providing volunteer care to indigent patients in
Georgia.



NOTE: Struck through text is proposed to be deleted. Underlined text is proposed to be added



150-5-.05 REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR

DENTAL HYGIENISTS.

(1) Dental hygienists licensed to practice in the state of Georgia shall maintain and furnish to the
Board, upon request, official documentation of having completed a minimum of twenty-two (22)
hours of continuing education during each biennium. Official documentation shall be defined as
documentation from an approved provider that verifies a licensee's attendance at a particular
continuing education course. Official documentation of course attendance must be maintained by
a dental hygienist for at least three (3) years following the end of the biennium during which the
course was taken.

(a) Compliance with all continuing education requirements is a condition for license renewal.
Failure to complete all hours of mandatory continuing education shall serve as grounds to deny
the renewal of a license and may also result in disciplinary action being taken against a licensee.

(b) Upon its own motion, the Board may at any time randomly select a percentage of actively
licensed dental hygienists for the purpose of auditing their compliance with the continuing
education requirements of the Board. Those licensees selected for an audit shall submit official
documentation of their compliance within thirty (30) days of receipt of the audit letter. Failure to
respond to an audit request in a timely manner shall be grounds for disciplinary action against a
licensee.

(c) The continuing education requirements shall apply within the first biennium that a dental
hygienist is licensed in Georgia. However, in order to meet the continuing education
requirements during the first biennium, a newly licensed dental hygienist may submit as their
continuing education hours proof of dental hygiene coursework taken within the previous two (2)
years of the date of the renewal application from a university or other institution accredited by
the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Following the first
biennium that a dental hygienist is licensed in Georgia such licensees shall comply with the
continuing education requirements set forth in Rule 150-5-.05 (2) and (3).

(d) The continuing education requirements shall not apply to dental hygienists who are on
inactive status.

(2) Coursework, including home study courses, sponsored or approved by any organization
recognized under Rule 150-3-.09(2) will be accepted.

(3) Course content:

(a) All courses must reflect the professional needs of the hygienist providing quality dental
health care to the public;


(b) At least fifteen (15) hours of the minimum requirement must be scientific courses in the
actual delivery of dental services to the patient or to the community.

(c) Four (4) credit hours for successful completion of the CPR course required by Georgia law
offered by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the American Safety and
Health Institute, or the National Safety Council may be used to satisfy continuing education
requirements per renewal period.

(d) Up to eight (8) hours of continuing education per year may be obtained by assisting the
Board with administering the clinical licensing examination or by assisting the Board with
investigations of licensees. These hours shall be approved by the Continuing Education
Committee of the Georgia Board of Dentistry and need not be sponsored by any agency or
organization listed in 150-3-.09(2).

(e) Up to five (5) hours of continuing education per year biennium may be obtained by teaching
dental hygiene at any ADA-approved educational facility. These hours shall be awarded, in
writing, by the course director at the facility and approved by the Continuing Education
Committee of the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

(f) Up to ten (10) hours of continuing education per biennium may be obtained by providing,
uncompensated dental care at a public agency or institution, not for profit agency, not for profit
institution, nonprofit corporation or not for profit association which provides dentistry services to
indigent patients.

(4) Criteria for receiving credit for attending an approved continuing education course:

(a) Credit hours are not retroactive or cumulative. All credit hours must be received during the
two (2) year period to which they are applied; and

(b) One credit hour for each hour of course attendance will be allowed;

(c) Only twelve hours of credit will be accepted per calendar day;

(d) Effective January 1, 2008, at least eleven (11) of the required twenty-two (22) hours of credit
must be acquired in person at an on-site course or seminar; you are not allowed to acquire all CE
hours through on-line courses, electronic means, journal studies, etc.

(5) Criteria for receiving credit for teaching an approved continuing education course:

(a) Credit hours for teaching an approved course must be obtained and used during the biennium
that the approved course is taught;

(b) A dental hygienist that teaches an approved continuing education course is eligible to receive
two (2) credit hours for each hour of coursework that he or she presents at a particular course.
Credit will be given for teaching a particular course on one occasion only. A maximum of five
(5) credit hours per biennium may be obtained by a dental hygienist by whom an approved
continuing education course is taught;

(c) Only continuing education course designated in rule 150-5.05(2) as being sponsored or
approved by recognized organizations will be considered for credit pursuant to this subsection of
the rule. Courses taught by a dental hygienist prior to or a part of the process of obtaining his or
her R.D.H. shall not be eligible for consideration pursuant to this provision of the rule;

(d) In the event that an audit is conducted of the continuing education hours of a dental hygienist
who has taught a course approved by a recognized organization, the following shall be required
to document the dental hygienists role in presenting a continuing education course:

(i) Documentation from an approved provider verifying that the dental hygienist presented an
approved continuing education course;

(ii) Documentation from an approved provider reflecting the content of the course;


(iii) Documentation from an approved provider specifying the list of materials used as part of the
course; and

(iv) Documentation from an approved provider verifying the hours earned and the dates and
times that the course in question was given.

(e) In the event that an approved continuing education course is taught by more than one dental
hygienist, continuing education credit will be given for those portions of course work in which
the dental hygienist is directly involved and primarily responsible for the preparation and
presentation thereof. Continuing education credit will not be available to a dental hygienist
whose participation in preparing and presenting an approved course is not readily identifiable.

(6) Criteria for receiving credit for providing uncompensated indigent dental hygiene care.

(a)Up to six (6) hours of continuing education per biennium may be obtained by providing,
uncompensated dental hygiene care at a public agency or institution, not for profit agency, not
for profit institution, nonprofit corporation or not for profit association which provides dental
hygiene services to indigent patients.

(b) Dental hygienist may receive one hour of continuing education for every four hours of
indigent dental hygiene care the dental hygienist provides, up to six hours. Such continuing
education credits will be applied toward the dental hygiene’s clinical courses.

(c) All credit hours must be received during the two (2) year renewal period;

(d) Dental hygienist shall at all times be required to meet the minimal standards of acceptable
and prevailing practice in Georgia;

(e) The Board shall have the right to request the following:

(i) Documentation from the organization indicating that the dental hygienist provided the
services;

(ii) Documentation from the organization that it provided medical and/or dental hygiene services
to the indigent and/or those making up the underserved populations;

(iii) Notarized verifications from the organization documenting the dental hygienist agreement
not to receive compensation for the services provided;

(iv) Documentation from the organization detailing the actual number of hours spent providing
said services; and

(v) Documentation from the dental hygienist and/or organization verifying the services
provided.



Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-11-7, 43-11-8, 43-11-9, 43-11-73, and 43-11-73.1