Continuing Education: Separate Not Equal
Today I sent in my re-licensure paperwork and a check made out to the State Board of Dental Examiners. And when I print out the ole P&L report and scan the cost of doing business with dental labs, dental suppliers, and the Tax Man (Did I actually leave out insurance expense?), the tab for my now nearly classic license looks like a pretty sweet deal.
But trust me; I won’t be making too many “sweet deal” remarks around recent grads who qualify only because they’ve already spent hundreds of thousands for school and hundreds of thousands more if they’re ready to roll the dice on opening a new business.
Yeah, $335 isn’t half bad. Shucks, what with the value of gold these days, you could almost pay the lab fee for one crown with three bills and change. And I hope you’ll forgive some dang cynicism creeping in; think maybe I’ve been watching a little too much Doc House Monday nights.
Never knew the State Board ever felt bad for anyone but that just goes to show ya, doesn’t it? The state of California requires only 50 hours of continuing education every two years. So $335 and only 50 hours of CE is a sweet deal because continuing education can be very expensive (As in about 20 grand bottom-line for a great 3-day course.) Continuing education is a commitment. And learning what you didn’t know you didn’t know is the sweetest deal of all.
When I completed what I like to call “The Miracle on 34 th St.” and finally ditched Doc “wrath of” Kahn and graduated from USC D-School I had no idea you could have fun hangin’ out with a bunch of dentists taking courses.
If at “Miracle” plus one day anyone had suggested I’d eventually become addicted to my continued continuing dental education, I would have said, “That’ll happen when the Angels win the World Series or maybe the day after Sarah Palin gets nominated for VP.”
The re-licensure form asks for the number of Continuing Ed hours completed during the preceding two years. I usually go with about 50% of the hours I do in one year because over 400 might make ‘em a little suspicious. Plus, even if I lose half of my CE credits slips, I’ll still have way more than I need for documentation.
I used to just take local courses (and I mean the west San Gabriel valley.) Then I branched out to Downtown LA and even parts of the Valley. About 15 years ago, we flew to Calgary for a 3-day course. Never stopped flying to learn since.
So I’ve practiced dentistry some 30 years and it took about half of ‘em to find out I really do love doing what I do (I’ve always loved the people part.)
I’ve taken cosmetic courses in Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Nashville. I’ve learned about mouths being effective chewing machines in Seattle, St Louis, San Francisco, San Diego, and St Pete’s, Florida. My team has joined me in Calgary, Dallas, San Antonio, Park City, Orlando, Nashville, Colorado Springs, and even Kennebunkport. I know full well I’ve left out a few stops.
I never dreamed I’d ever love Seattle but I do. And what’s not to love about great food, an unbelievable innovative spirit, Pike Place Fish, and the best dental educator of ‘em all, Doc John Kois?
Last week when I was speaking over at the Community Room at City Hall, I was asked how patients know their Doc is keeping up. I answered, “Just ask.” The question in no way merits a defensive answer.
Anyone should be proud of his or her commitment to learn. Education has never been separate but equal. And that means continuing education too
