Question:
After being released from dental school, students who manage
to con the state boards into granting them a license are
forced to attend continuing education (CE) classes in order
to keep abreast of changes in the discipline, right?
Are _all_ CE courses approved (by the ADA or any other
august body)?
How does a practitioner gain credit for such courses:
merely by attending; or is there an examination that has to
be passed?
Answer:
Interestingly not all state boards require continuing education.
I am not aware of examinations anywhere. There are re-examinations for
board certified specialists.
CE credits can be given for attended courses, lectures, through
journals, etc...
You always have such nice things to say about dentistry.
Actually, *my feelings* on CE courses and requirements are that they are
a joke.
CE courses may or may not be relevant to good dental practice.
CE courses cannot be depended on to *always* provide correct
information.
The dentist is the one who decides which courses to take. This is a two
edged sword. Mandatory "state" programs would be absolute bunk, but
there is no way to get a dentist to take courses in what he
*needs*.
Attendance is the only requirement for credit.
Even if there was a "test", there would be no way to see if it actually
improved the practice of the attendees.
I have to attend 75 hours of CE in the course of 3 every three years to
maintain my license. I have learned a few things that have been very
helpful in my everyday practice, but most of it has been boring drivel
that I have had to pay for (and waste my time attending).
I believe it to just be a "feel good" rule to show the public the state
governments are looking out for the public.
I don't understand your signature "Yurs fur gud dentistry"
Are you a dentist? Do you have a problem with dentists?
Your question can be easily answered, but when you say
dentist students are "released" from dental school, those who
manage to "con" the state license board. Wow!
