* an outline of the presentation must be submitted for approval to the MDA continuing education committee BEFORE presentation date
** verification of independent assessment must be submitted by the RDA with reporting form (appendix 1).
*** a reporting form must be submitted (appendix 1)
Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) Bylaw C-10
The following is a detailed explanation of the Continuing Education requirements for Dental Assistants practicing in Manitoba. Essentially it is a summary of Bylaw C-10 of the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA).
NOTE: Items highlighted in grey are changes made to the Bylaws in 2010
2. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
The continuing education cycle will be three years commencing February 1 of the calendar year following the year of registration.
Note: for first-time registrants only, credits obtained between the date of registration and the beginning of the first three-year cycle may be applied to the first three-year cycle.
a) Credit Hours
One Hour = One Credit Hour
Only hours of lecture, instruction or participation can be submitted.
b) Credits Required
1.The registrant must obtain a minimum of 36 credit hours during a three-year cycle. Credit hours in excess of those required in a three-year cycle cannot be carried forward to a subsequent three-year cycle.
2. Minimum of 2 hours on infection control in a three-year cycle
c) Reporting Credit Hours
It is the registrant's responsibility to ensure that credit hours towards continuing education are submitted on approved forms, either individually, or through the sponsoring agency's group submission (for example, dental societies, study clubs, universities and colleges). A history of the continuing education for each registrant will be maintained based on information submitted to the MDA office on an individual basis or from a sponsoring agency.
The MDA will send to each registrant by mail every October a historical transcript of their continuing education.
d) Approved Sponsors
The following sponsors of courses, lectures or equivalents are approved for continuing education credit, subject to limitations contained in the guidelines.
NOTE: The Dental Assistant Continuing Education Committee reserves the right to deny eligibility of credit hours, even for approved sponsors, for programs that do not meet the objectives of the Continuing Education Program.
- A faculty or school of dentistry or medicine
- The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) accredited dental/dental assisting/dental hygiene programs
- A body that has been approved by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the American Dental Association - Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA - CERP), the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recognition program and or the Manitoba Dental Association
- An international, national, provincial or state dental or medical association
Examples: Canadian Dental Association (CDA), Canadian Dental Assistants' Association (CDAA), American Dental Association (ADA), Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI), and Manitoba Dental Assistants Association
- Dental or medical regulatory authorities
- All provincial or local government departments of health or public health
- Qualified providers of emergency procedure programs such as Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and First Aid
- Local or regional dental or component societies
o Examples: Northern Manitoba Dental Society, Western Manitoba Dental Society, & Winnipeg Dental Society
e) Non-approved Sponsors
It is mandatory to submit details of the non-approved sponsored program in advance to the Manitoba Dental Association for approval for continuing education credits.
i. Non-approved Sponsors - Clinical Dental Category
Hour-for-hour credit is available for participation in a course or equivalent that is offered by a non-approved sponsor where it relates directly to dentistry and is presented to a dental audience.
ii. Non-approved Sponsors - Non-clinical Dental Category
NOTE: 12 credit hours limit per continuing education cycle. Credit hours are available for participation in non-approved sponsored- non-clinical dental such as practice management, professional development and other profession-related general interest topics
f) Guidelines for Continuing Education Exemption
Applications for continuing education exemption for the current renewal year can be made in writing to the MDA Registrar and must be accompanied by supporting documentation i.e. doctor's letter. Deadline for application for exemption is December 15th to allow for processing prior to the January 31st renewal deadline.
- Medical health reasons:
- Illness or disability 6 months and over with letter from doctor
- Loss of job due to illness for 6 months and over with letter from doctor.
- Death of a spouse, child, or dependant, with letter from doctor.
- Severely ill spouse, child, or dependant with letter from doctor.
- Out of country for more than 6 months but less than one year.
- Any extenuating circumstances not listed above can be submitted to the committee for consideration.
g) Acceptable Option
A registrant in lieu of continuing education hours may select, as an option, the taking and passing satisfactorily the comprehensive certification examination of the National Dental Assistance Examining Board and the Clinical Practical Evaluation.
h) Non compliance of Continuing Education Bylaw
A registrant, who has not completed the 36 credit hours requirement by May 1 of his/her three year anniversary date may, as an option, choose to attend the number of courses necessary to complete the requirement after May 1st. In such case the registrant shall not be re-certified as a registered dental assistant from the May 1st date until the 36 credit hours of continuing education has been completed and submitted to the MDA Registrar. In order for this option to be valid the registrant shall complete the remaining credit hours of continuing education and be re-certified within 1 year of the May 1st continuing education three-year anniversary date. To complete 3 year requirement will not count towards new 3 year term.
3. OTHER CATEGORIES AND CREDITS
a) Self Study
The MDA recognizes the value of self-study and will award credit hours for submission of a written review or summary. A neat, coherent, original, typed or written review of the educational material from any of the sources listed below must accompany the submissions. Materials reviewed must be related to dentistry.
Self Study Programs with Independent Assessment
For journal articles, video-audio tapes, DVD/CD and/or internet courses with
independently graded self-study questions, credit hours will be awarded on the
basis on what was established by the recognized provider to a maximum of 18
credit hours per CE cycle. Verification of independent assessment must be
submitted. Reporting form must be used in submitting information; (Appendix
1)
Self Study Programs without Independent Assessment
Credit hours will be awarded on the basis of one credit hour per video-audio
tape, DVD-CD and internet course that is more than one hour or more in
duration to a maximum of 12 credit hours per CE cycle. For internet courses
please include website address. Reporting form must be used in submitting
information (Appendix 1).
Sources: internet, audio or video tapes, books, articles or in-office (staff generated) lectures.
Guidelines: to qualify for continuing education credit hours, submissions are to include:
- your name, registration number, and date of submission
- title of material, author's name, publisher's name, date of publication
- a brief outline summary of the material
b) Presentations
The MDA recognizes the value of researching, preparing and presenting dentally related information. Continuing Education credit hours will be awarded upon written submission of a summary of the presentation for the following:
- Lectures given outside regular duties of employment to a study group, health group, dental health care association or convention presentation approved by the Dental Assistant Continuing Education Committee. An outline of the presentation must be submitted.
- A maximum of six credit hours per continuing education three year cycle. No additional credit hours will be awarded for delivering the same lecture in the same continuing education cycle. Credit hours will be awarded on an hour per hour basis.
- Table Clinic Presentations.
An individual or group outline of the presentation/activity must be submitted.
- A maximum one credit hour per year.
- Presentation to a non-professional group i.e. Kindergarten tours, pre-natal group presentations. An individual or group outline of the presentation must be submitted. Presentation must be outside normal employment duties and voluntary in nature
- A maximum of one credit hour per year
.
c) Publications
Continuing education credit hours will be awarded for the following:
- Original articles submitted to local, provincial or national dental assistant association publications. Minimum 750 words.
- A maximum of three credit hours per article. Limited to a maximum of nine credit hours in the three year continuing education cycle.
d) Examinations
Credit hours are awarded for the knowledge gained in preparing to write the exam; not as a reward for writing the exam. Credit hours will be awarded for the following:
- Dentistry/dental hygiene entrance examination.
- A maximum of ten credit hours for passing exam. - If exam is not passed, credits will be awarded on a 1 credit hour per 10% basis when the verified mark is provided.
e) Volunteer Positions
Continuing education credit hours will be awarded for:
- Holding executive/board/council positions within national, provincial and/or local dental assistant association.
- Volunteering for specific dental charitable organization, dental health promotional programs, and professional dental assistants committees;
- A maximum of 2 credit hours per year per position held. A maximum of 6 credit hours per year applies regardless of how many or what combination of positions an individual holds.
