Continuing Education FAQ's
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - CE & LICENSURE
- Click the questions listed below to view the answers
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- How many hours are in specific areas?
- When do my 30 CE credits have to be obtained by in order to qualify for relicensure?
- How many credits do I need for relicensure?
- Of those 30 hours, how many are needed in specific areas for Infection Control?
- Can I obtain continuing education credits from other states?
- Does Maryland accept reciprocity?
- As a new dental school or dental hygiene graduate, when am I required to complete the continuing education requirements for my license renewal?
- How many of my continuing education courses can be obtained from individual correspondence courses?
- As a retired member on inactive status, am I required to comply with continuing education requirements?
- If I am retired, can I still maintain my license if I want?
- If I have extra credits (more than 30 hours of continuing education for a dentist and dental hygienist) at the end of the two-year licensing period, can I carry them over to the next licensing period?
- Can I take CE courses via video tapes or from the Internet?
- As a dental hygienist, how many hours of CE do I need to monitor levels of nitrous oxide?
- How many credits can I receive for teaching continuing education courses?
- How many hours are in specific areas?
Education must be "clinical" in all areas.
Mandatory - two hours of Infection Control (including MOSH) and current CPR for Health Care Providers for each two year renewal period. CPR does not count towards renewal credits.- When do my 30 CE credits have to be obtained by in order to qualify for relicensure?
The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners now requires that ALL 30 CE credits must be obtained by December 31 of the year PRIOR to the license expiring. If a license expires on June 30, 2007 then all CE credits to qualify for renewal must be taken by December 31, 2006. The Licensees may still request, in writing a six month extension, but all CE credits must be obtained on or before the expiration date of the license (June 30). Questions??? Call the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners at 410-402-8501.
- How many credits do I need for relicensure?
30 hours of CE every two years. This applies for both dentists and dental hygienists.
- Of those 30 hours, how many are needed in specific areas for Infection Control?
Two hours of Infection Control within four years and also must become recertified in CPR-C.
- Can I obtain continuing education credits from other states?
Yes, as long as they are approved sponsors in the CE regulations (ADA or AGD state constituent society, etc.) Please contact the SBDE for a list of approved sponsors.
- Does Maryland accept reciprocity?
No, it does not. However, the SBDE has licensure by waiver of clinical examination for dentists and dental hygienists. A dentist must be in active clinical practice for the past five (5) years and a dental hygienist must be in active clinical practice for the past three (3) years.
- As a new dental school or dental hygiene graduate, when am I required to complete the continuing education requirements for my license renewal?
If you are a new graduate and receive your license within six months of graduation, CE requirements are waived for the first license renewal period (two years after date of obtaining license).
- How many of my continuing education courses can be obtained from individual correspondence courses?
Up to 15 hours of home study. (NOTE from the SBDE: Just because the dental hygienist or dentist sees an advertised course that says "Board Approved", it does not mean it is approved by the Maryland SBDE. Contact the Board to learn if this course has been approved.)
- As a retired member on inactive status, am I required to comply with continuing education requirements?
Yes, if you want to renew your license, you must follow CE requirements. Also, licensees who are on an inactive status shall provide evidence of compliance with the CE requirements of the SBDE for the two-year period preceding application for reactivation of their license. Also if license is suspended, the licensee needs to be current with SBDE CE credits to be reinstated.
- If I am retired, can I still maintain my license if I want?
If you have not practiced actively in dentistry or dental hygiene with three (3) years before the license expires, the Board must issue an inactive license.
- If I have extra credits (more than 30 hours of continuing education for a dentist and dental hygienist) at the end of the two-year licensing period, can I carry them over to the next licensing period?
No, they may not be carried over into the next licensing period.
- Can I take CE courses via video tapes or from the Internet?
Yes, if the Maryland SBDE has recognized and approved the courses up to 15 credit hours.
- As a dental hygienist, how many hours of CE do I need to monitor levels of nitrous oxide?
None. Maryland licensed dental hygienists may not monitor nitrous oxide.
- How many credits can I receive for teaching continuing education courses?
The SBDE will count up to a maximum of 15 credit hours of CE times spent in preparing lectures or preparing articles in dental journals or preparing and presenting table clinics. *In addition to the above, the SBDE recognizes successful completion of the following written examinations as equivalent to 25 full hours of CE: Academy of General Dentistry's Fellowship exam and exams leading to recognized specialty boards' Diplomate status.
