To qualify, the coursework must meet three criteria:
• The course must be an approved topic.
• The course must be conducted through an approved medium.
• The course must be delivered by a designated training provider.
First, the course must cover some aspect of the safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders. The subject matter is broadly defined.
Second, the training may take the form of classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise. The ADA is seeking clarification about whether reading a journal article for continuing education credit would count toward the
requirement.
Finally, the course(s) must be delivered by a designated training provider. The GDA, ADA, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), and ADA CERP providers are designated training providers.
Some important items to note:
• Certificates of completion are required, but formal continuing education credit is not.
• Qualified coursework completed before the law's passage is eligible.
• Qualified coursework completed in dental school is eligible for those less than five years out of dental school.