The board must create and administer continuing education requirements for dentists and dental hygienists, including minimum hours and an annual pain-management course for certain dentists.
Sec. 257.005. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR DENTIST AND DENTAL HYGIENIST. (a) The board shall develop a mandatory continuing education program for licensed dentists and dental hygienists. The board by rule shall establish the minimum number of hours of continuing education a license holder is required to complete for each registration period to renew the license for a subsequent registration period. (b) The board may: (1) assess the continuing education needs of license holders; and (2) require license holders to attend continuing education courses specified by the board. (b-1) The board shall require a licensed dentist whose practice includes direct patient care to complete not less than two hours of board-approved continuing education annually regarding safe and effective pain management related to the prescription of opioids and other controlled substances, including education regarding: (1) reasonable standards of care; (2) the identification of drug-seeking behavior in patients; and (3) effectively communicating with patients regarding the prescription of an opioid or other controlled substance. (c) The board by rule shall: (1) identify the key factors required for competent performance of professional duties under this subtitle; (2) develop a process to evaluate and approve continuing education courses; and (3) develop a process to assess a license holder's participation and performance in continuing education courses to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the program. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.079(d), eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 295 (S.B. 313), Sec. 17, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 818 (H.B. 2454), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.