Society News

Updated Child Abuse Reporting Training Requirements

Jan 29, 2024
ALL licensed dentists and dental hygienists who completed an "once in a lifetime" course must now complete a new Child Abuse Reporting course. This includes newly licensed dentists who completed a New York residency program as of 2023. This course must be completed by April 1, 2025.
Updated Mandated Reporter Training Requirements.  Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2021 amended Social Services Law § 413 to require additional training to include protocols to reduce implicit bias in decision-making processes, strategies for identifying adverse childhood experiences, and guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment while interacting virtually within the New York State Mandated Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment/Neglect coursework.  This law requires that mandated reporters, including those who have previously undergone the current training, complete the updated training curriculum by April 1, 2025.

ALL licensed dentists and dental hygienists who completed an "once in a lifetime" course must now complete a new Child Abuse Reporting course.  This includes newly licensed dentists who completed a New York residency program as of 2023.  

The course must be approved by NYSED.  A list of course providers can be found here. Please review and select a course provider from this list.

Approved Course Providers of Training


After completing the course:
Documentation in the form of an authorized Certification of Completion must be submitted to the State Education Department at the time of reregistration or initial application for licensure, certification, or a limited permit. Within ten days of coursework completion, the approved provider from whom you obtain the training is required to issue you two copies of the Certification form.

Exemptions
The law exempts from the training an individual who can document, to the satisfaction of the Department, that there is no need for the training based on the nature of his or her practice.  You may be eligible for an exemption if the nature of your practice is such that you do not have professional contact with persons under the age of 18 years and you do not have contact with persons 18 years of age or older with a handicapping condition, who reside in a residential care school or facility.  

If you wish further information about an exemption, or you wish to request an exemption application (17 KB), please contact:

The New York State Education Department
Professional Education Program Review
89 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor West Wing
Albany, New York 12234
Attn: Child Abuse Training Exemption