GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1993 SESSION
CHAPTER 307
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR MANDATORY CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. Article 2 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 90-31.1. Continuing education courses required.
All dentists licensed under G.S. 90-30 shall be required to attend Board-approved courses of study in subjects relating to dentistry. The Board shall have authority to consider and approve courses, or providers of courses, to the end that those attending will gain (i) information on existing and new methods and procedures used by dentists, (ii) information leading to increased safety and competence in their dealings with patients and staff, and (iii) information on other matters, as they develop, that are of continuing importance to the practice of dentistry. The Board shall determine the number of hours of study within a particular period and the nature of course work required. The Board may provide exemptions or waivers from continuing education requirements where dentists are receiving alternate learning experiences or where they have limited practices. The Board shall by regulation define circumstances for exemptions or waivers for dentists who are involved in dental education or training pursuits where they gain experiences equivalent to formal continuing education courses, for those who have reached an advanced age and are semiretired or have otherwise voluntarily restricted their practices in volume and scope, and for such other situations as the Board in its discretion may determine meet the purposes of this section."
Sec. 2. G.S. 90-34 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90-34. Refusal to grant renewal of license.
For nonpayment of fee or fees required by this Article, for
failure to comply with continuing education requirements adopted by the Board
under the authority of G.S. 90-31.1, or for violation of any of the
terms or provisions of G.S. 90-41, G.S. 90-41 concerning
disciplinary actions, the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners
may refuse to issue a certificate for renewal of license. As used herein
in this section, the term 'license' shall include includes
license, provisional license or intern permit."
Sec. 3. Article 16 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 90-225.1. Continuing education courses required.
All dental hygienists licensed under G.S. 90-225 shall be required to attend Board-approved courses of study in subjects relating to dental hygiene. The Board shall have authority to consider and approve courses, or providers of courses, to the end that those attending will gain (i) information on existing and new methods and procedures used by dental hygienists, (ii) information leading to increased safety and competence in their dealings with patients and supervising dentists, and (iii) information on other matters, as they develop, that are of continuing importance to the practice of dental hygiene as a part of the practice of dentistry. The Board shall determine the number of hours of study within a particular period and the nature of course work required. Failure to comply with continuing education requirements adopted under the authority of this section shall be grounds for the Board to decline to issue a renewal certificate under G.S. 90-227."
Sec. 4. This act becomes effective October 1, 1993, and applies to requirements imposed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of July, 1993.
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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate
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Daniel Blue, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives