Section 447.055. Continuing education; dental hygienists.

 

(1)  

(a) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) , a person is not eligible for renewal of a license to practice dental hygiene, other than a permit issued under s. 447.02 (3) , unless the person has taught, prepared, attended, or otherwise completed, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a) , 12 credit hours of continuing education relating to the clinical practice of dental hygiene that is sponsored or recognized by a local, state, regional, national, or international dental, dental hygiene, dental assisting, or medical-related professional organization.

(b) Continuing education required under par. (a) may include training in all of the following:

1. Basic life support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Not more than 2 of the credit hours required under par. (a) may be satisfied by such training.

2. Infection control. Not less than 2 of the credit hours required under par. (a) must be satisfied by such training.

(c) Biennially, beginning January 1, 2007, the department shall consult with the examining board and with the department of health services regarding the number of credit hours of continuing education required for eligibility for renewal under par. (a) . After consulting with the examining board and the department of health services, and notwithstanding par. (a) , the department may promulgate a rule requiring not more than 20 nor less than 12 credit hours of continuing education for eligibility for renewal.

(d) After consultation with the examining board and with the department of health services, the department may promulgate rules requiring that continuing education credit hours under par. (a) include courses in specific clinical subjects.

(2)  The credit hours required under sub. (1) (a) may be satisfied by independent study, correspondence, or Internet programs or courses.

(3)   Subsection (1) (a) does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the examining board initially granted the license.

(4)  A person may substitute credit hours of college level courses related to the practice of dental hygiene for the credit hours required under sub. (1) (a) . For purposes of this subsection, one credit hour of a college level course is equivalent to 6 credit hours of continuing education.

(5)  For purposes of sub. (1) (a) , one hour of teaching or preparing a continuing education program is equivalent to one credit hour of continuing education, but a person who teaches or prepares a continuing education program may obtain credit for the program only once.

(6)  The examining board may require applicants for renewal of a license to practice dental hygiene to submit proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.

2005 a. 318 ; 2007 a. 31 ; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a) ; 2009 a. 10 .