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The latest news on COVID-19:

During the COVID-19 crisis, get updates and information at ADA and your state’s website. Please follow the official guidance, stay safe and help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Contact Us if you have more questions and thank you for your cooperation.

Four Reasons to Choose Home Study Courses to Earn Your Dental CE Credits

Author: Dental Geek
03.30.12 / 9:07 am

When it comes to Continuing Education (CE) and license renewal, it is important to identify what is right for you as a dental professional. There are many options to choose from, such as conferences, seminars, meetings, college courses, home study, or online courses.

For individuals or practices considering online dental CE courses or home study, four points to help make your decision easier are discussed below, courtesy of the American Dental Institute (ADI):

1.     What are your specific requirements for re-licensure and certification?

Many state boards require that dental professionals receive continuing education in order to renew their licenses. Because the state boards dictate the amount, format, and even content of continuing education, it is important that their rules and regulations be considered when making continuing education choices. Home study credits are accepted by every state.

The American Dental Institute makes it easy for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to fulfill state dental continuing education requirements. ADI offers state packs that include all of the continuing education credits, including state-mandated courses that are allowable through home study. ADI monitors state dental boards for the most up-to-date continuing education requirements for license renewal for all dental professionals. However, it is the responsibility of the licensee to determine if a course meets all of the content requirements or restrictions imposed by an individual state licensing board. Be sure to contact your state’s dental board.

2.     What are your education goals?

Selection of continuing education activities should foster individual and professional growth. Look for programs that will enhance your job performance or practice. Identify what your needs are — what gaps in knowledge and/or skills do you feel you need to address to better meet the needs of your patients?

Rapid advances in health care and technology require all healthcare professionals to become lifelong learners. To remain competent, you must remain current. You must keep abreast of changes in the field to foster safer practices. For example, did you know that April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month? Check out ADI’s newest course on oral cancer: Oral Cancer Update – Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management, or visit the American Dental Institute site to browse more relevant dental topics.

3.       What can you afford?

Individuals and practices should budget for continuing education. The cost of continuing education can vary greatly from one program to another. Set aside funds to be used for training yourself or your staff.  Home study is an affordable way of providing continuing education with low costs, and no lost office hours, billable hours, or earnings associated with traveling to a conference, seminar, class, etc.

Many dental and medical offices purchase a bundle of continuing education courses for their staff. This can encourage staff members to identify topics they are interested in learning more about. It can be very costly to have a staff member miss work for CE purposes. Get a reduced rate when buying in bulk for the whole office and choose topics you want your staff to learn more about. For more information on discounts for bulk sales, click here or call 1-888-396-1051.

If your employer funds CE, take advantage of it. If you are financing your CE yourself, shop around. There’s a wide range of pricing, and cost is not necessarily commensurate with value. You can find great content that is not expensive.

4.     Which content is most valuable?

There are a variety of continuing education resources available — some credible, some not. Look for continuing education programs providers that are accredited or approved. The American Dental Institute is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry, and is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. Click here for more information.

Certified continuing education providers go through a rigorous process to become approved and must adhere to specific requirements or standards (criteria) that guide the design and delivery of continuing education courses. This ensures that educational content is of a higher quality, educationally sound, non-biased, and free from commercial influence.

By using this incremental checklist to determine your education plan, you will complete your CE requirements in no time, and ensure that your license(s) and certifications remain current!

Plan ahead, take advantage of all the great courses out there, and be proud of your accomplishments. With each CE course you complete, you’re expanding your knowledge, improving your skills, and promoting better patient care!

ABOUT THE AMERICAN DENTAL INSTITUTE:

Since 1982, The American Dental Institute has provided continuing education for dental professionals to fulfill their Dental CE licensure requirement. More than 35,000 dental professionals in 45 states have participated in ADI’s CE program – a low-cost, self-paced program that is readily accessible and easy to use. The American Dental Institute is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry, and is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. http://www.adinet.org

Dental Geek

Dental Geek

3 responses to “Four Reasons to Choose Home Study Courses to Earn Your Dental CE Credits”

  1. Great points. With so many constraints on time and energy, continuing one’s dental education journey at home via digital learning opportunities is an excellent way to keep abreast of the latest trends and techniques as well as improve clinical and practice management skills. It is also important to ensure the at home courses complement any campus based learning (e.g. lectures, workshops).

  2. Good to see that technology is changing face of dental education and new aspirants are getting more chance to learn from dental forums, blogs and dental CE courses.
    In my opinion it is better to go through CE courses because in many countries it plays important role in carry forwarding their license. Although while perusing online CE courses students can easily go through stiff dental surgeries with live video and reconsider their mistakes to enhance their skills.
    very appreciative.
    It was very informative and helpful
    Thank You

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