447.056 Continuing education; dentists.
(1) Except as provided in subs. (2) to (4), a person is not eligible for renewal of a license to practice dentistry, other than a permit issued under s. 447.02 (3), unless the person has taught, attended, or otherwise completed, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), 30 credit hours of continuing education related to the practice of dentistry or the practice of medicine, including not less than 25 credit hours of instruction in clinical dentistry or clinical medicine. Not more than 4 of the 30 hours may be from teaching. Continuing education does not satisfy the requirements under this subsection unless the continuing education is one of the following:
(a) Sponsored or recognized by a local, state, regional, national, or international dental or medical professional organization.
(b) A college-level course that is offered by a postsecondary institution accredited by the American Dental Association commission on dental accreditation or a successor agency, or by another recognized accrediting body.
(2) Subsection (1) 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.
(3) Credit hours completed before the 2-year period immediately preceding renewal of a license to practice dentistry may not be applied to fulfill the credit hours required under sub. (1).
(4) The examining board may waive the continuing education requirements under sub. (1) if it finds that exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances have prevented a person licensed to practice dentistry from meeting the requirement.
(5) A person who is licensed to practice dentistry shall keep a written record detailing each continuing education credit completed in compliance with sub. (1) and shall maintain the written record for not less than 6 years after the person completes each credit. The examining board may require applicants for renewal of a license to practice dentistry to submit proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.
History: 2007 a. 31; 2009 a. 10.