Washington CE Requirements

• Registered Dental Assistant

• Expanded Function Dental Assistant

CE Required: Complete one hour of current infection prevention standards education annually provided by a qualified individual or organization.

Infection prevention standards education must include:

(a) Standard precautions and prevention of disease transmission;

(b) Prevention of cross-contamination;

(c) Practitioner safety and personal protection equipment;

(d) Hand hygiene;

(e) Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette;

(f) Sharps safety and safe injection practices;

(g) Sterilization and disinfection of patient care items and devices;

(h) Environmental infection prevention and control;

(i) Dental unit water quality; and

(j) The requirements in the infection control rules found in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 246-817-601 through 246-817-660).

Dental Anesthesia Assistant

CE Required: 12 hours every three years

Required Topics: Continuing education must involve direct application of dental anesthesia assistant knowledge and skills in one or more of the following categories:

(a) General anesthesia

(b) Moderate sedation

(c) Physical evaluation

(d) Medical emergencies

(e) Health care provider basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS);

(f) Monitoring and use of monitoring equipment

(g) Pharmacology of drugs; and agents used in sedation and anesthesia

Limitations:

  • A maximum of two hours may be obtained through self-study using books, research materials, and other publications.
  • A maximum of two hours may be obtained through self-study using multimedia devices.
  • A maximum of four hours may be obtained through distance learning, which includes, but is not limited to, correspondence courses, webinars, print, audio/video broadcasting, audio/video teleconferencing, computer aided instruction, e-learning/online learning, or computer broadcasting/webcasting.

Additional Requirement: A dental anesthesia assistant must complete one hour of current infection prevention standards education annually provided by a qualified individual or organization (see list under “Registered Dental Assistant” and “Expanded Function Dental Assistant” above for required content of educational program).

More Information:
WAC 246-817-445: Dental anesthesia assistant continuing education requirements