The Pacific Center for Special Care is pleased to offer a primarily web-based postgraduate program on oral health for people with complex needs. This online program has been approved by the California Dental Board to satisfy the 150-hour education requirement for the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) license in California. The four-month program is offered twice each year.
As California's population continues to grow, it has become one of the most diverse in the U.S. Promoting oral health is becoming increasingly challenging. This course was designed for dental professionals who would like to expand their knowledge and ability to treat people with complex physical, medical, psychological or social situations. The program is primarily Web-based and was designed to reach professionals in both rural and urban areas. Two in-person sessions, one at the beginning and one at the end of the program, allow students to meet and interact with their peers and instructors.
Primary topic areas covered in this program include information management; dental hygiene practice; medically complex patients; oral pathology; pharmacology; developmental disabilities and oral health care; geriatrics; medical and dental emergencies; business administration for dental hygienists; treatment for children with and without special needs; case studies and a community field assignment.
The Pacific program is open to any oral health professional interested in oral health for people with complex needs and is not limited to individuals who will be applying for the RDHAP license. This program provides more than 100 hours of continuing education credit. Some states limit the amount of online credits that are counted for license renewal. Please check your state licensing board regulations.
Please include your $200 nonrefundable application fee with your application. It will be applied to your program fee upon acceptance into the program.
Applications are accepted until three weeks prior to the program start date. Enrollment for this program is limited, and applications are processed on a first-come first-serve basis. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Program fee for this course is $3,975. A $1,000 deposit is due upon acceptance to the program. This fee reserves the participant's enrollment and is not refundable 30 days prior to the start of the program. The remaining fee is due one week prior to the start of the first in-person session. Program fees are non-refundable after sessions have begun.
| STEPS | DETAILS/DEADLINES |
|---|---|
| Registration Begins | May 8, 2012 |
| Application Fee | $200, non-refundable |
| Acceptance Fee | $1,000 due 15 days after receiving acceptance letter |
| Program Fee Deadline | September 3, 2012 |
| Start 1st In-Person Session | September 17, 2012 |
| End & Final In-Person Session | December 7, 2012 |
Next session begins: September 2012
Reading materials and references are optional.
