The VA Board of Dentistry emergency regulations on opioid prescribing became effective on April 24, 2017. Part of these regulations included a requirement for 2 hours of continuing education (CE) focused on pain management. The regulations originally indicated that the CE must be taken between March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, which meant that any CE taken before the March 31, 2018 date would not count. The VDA brought this to the Board of Dentistry’s attention and the emergency regulations have been revised so that accredited CE taken after April 24, 2017 and no later than March 31, 2019 will count towards the requirement. It will then be required every 2 years. The regulatory action can be viewed
HERE. The VDA is offering a pain management course at the Virginia Meeting in September and any other accredited pain management courses between April 24, 2017 and March 31, 2019 will now count towards the requirement. Below is the newly approved language.
18VAC60-21-106. Continuing education required for prescribers.
Any dentist who prescribes Schedules II through IV controlled substances after April 24, 2017 shall obtain two hours of continuing education on pain management, which must be taken by March 31, 2019. Thereafter, any dentist who prescribes Schedule II through IV controlled substances shall obtain two hours of continuing education on pain management every two years. Continuing education hours required for prescribing of controlled substances may be included in the 15 hours required for renewal of licensure.
Read the full regulation