Clinic staff need to be kept up to date on P&Ps, materials, equipment, and computer programs, among other things. Updates can be provided during staff in-services or staff meetings.

CE courses are conducted by national associations and their state and local affiliates; dental, dental hygiene, and dental assisting programs and schools; government agencies; and proprietary organizations. Various formats are used, including options for self-study. Records of completed training should be maintained in each staff member’s personnel file. For license renewal in Ohio, dentists are required to obtain 40 CE hours every 2 years, and dental hygienists are required to obtain 12 CE hours every 2 years. There is no CE requirement for license renewal for dental assistants; however certified dental assistants are required to complete CE hours to maintain their certification with the Dental Assisting National Board. Click here for more information about complying with the CE requirements of the Ohio State Dental Board.

The clinic will need to determine whether provision of or payment for CE will be an employee benefit. Choosing not to include CE as an employee benefit may have a negative impact on recruitment and retention of staff.

If the clinic decides to make CE an employee benefit, quantify the benefit in terms of CE hours, cost per course, or total amount the clinic will pay for each year. For example, the clinic may offer dentists and dental hygienists up to 1 week of time off for CE and up to $1,500 to pay for training. Clinics may also offer additional time off for staff to obtain CE at their own expense.

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