(1) To renew a dental therapy license, an individual shall:

(a) Complete 54 hours of continuing education every three years following the first license renewal;

(b) Maintain a current basic life support (BLS) for the health care provider certification. Certification must include both didactic and hands-on components;

(c) Submit to the department a signed practice plan contract;

(d) Sign a declaration attesting to the completion of the required number of continuing education hours as part of the annual renewal requirement.

(2) The department will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses. Continuing education course work must contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the dental therapist or enhance services provided to patients.

(3) Continuing education is defined as any of the following activities:

(a) Continuing education courses offered or authorized by industry recognized local, state, private, national and international organizations, agencies or institutions of higher learning;

(b) BLS for health care providers, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), or emergency related training such as courses offered or authorized by the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, or any other organizations or agencies;

(c) Self-study through study clubs, books, research materials, or other publications. The required documentation for this activity is a summary of what was learned, not to exceed five hours per year;

(d) Distance learning includes, but is not limited to: Correspondence course, webinar, audio/video broadcasting, audio/video teleconferencing, computer aided instruction, e-learning/online-learning, or computer broadcasting/webcasting that includes an assessment tool upon completion;

(e) Provision of clinical dental therapy services in a documented volunteer capacity when preceded by educational/instructional training prior to provision of services, not to exceed five hours per year. Volunteering must be without compensation and under appropriate supervision;

(f) College courses;

(g) Attendance at a continuing education program with a featured speaker;

(h) Courses relating to practice organization and management, medical/dental insurance courses, or retirement, not to exceed five hours per year;

(i) Dental therapy examination standardization/calibration workshops and dental therapy examination item writer workshops, not to exceed five hours per year;

(j) A licensee who serves as a public health official or employee, contractor for a state or local health agency, community prevention education expert, or works in a field that relates to prevention activities in public health dentistry, may accumulate hours for the content preparation of providing services, education, or training to the underserved, rural, and at risk populations, not to exceed five hours per year.

(4) The department may randomly audit up to 25 percent of practitioners for compliance after the credential is renewed under WAC 246-12-190.