IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM WSDLA, WSDA and NBC!
March 18, 2020
News from WSDLA:

Our 2020 NW Lab Forum is now scheduled for October 30th - November 1st, 2020 at the Embassy Suites Seattle/Bellevue. Given the impact of COVID-19, we want to assure you that our Board of Directors and Staff are monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as local public health authorities. At the current time, we plan to move forward with the 2020 NW Lab Forum as scheduled in mid-June. Our attendees, exhibitors and speakers will be the first to know if circumstances change. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary
 
News from WSDA:

We know that many organizations including the American Dental Association have issued recommendations about postponing elective procedures in dental offices.  We are in active dialogue with state public health officials and will defer to their guidance on the appropriate course of action for our state. We anticipate further guidance from state public health officials very soon.

As health care providers during a pandemic, we implore dentists to continue with the relief of pain and management of infection with their patients in order to keep patients out of hospitals and emergency departments. Please continue to adhere to CDC and ADA guidelines for infection prevention and PPE. The safety of our patients, staff, and dental colleagues is our highest priority.  
More information:  https://www.wsda.org/member-center/covid-19/2020/03/16/covid-19-update-march-16-7-45-pm
 
Update from NBC:

The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC), along with the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) and the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology (Foundation) is actively monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19. As this is an evolving situation those seeking news and updates should visit:  Many CDTs and RGs have reached out to NBC concerned about their ability to obtain continuing education in the wake of meetings and events being cancelled or postponed. NBC policy currently states that CDTs and RGs that renew by their renewal deadline will receive an automatic 45-day grace period from their renewal deadline to get their remaining credits into NBC. However, given the developments of COVID-19, NBC is extending the grace period for CDTs and RGs to complete their continuing education to 90-days from a CDTs renewal deadline. This provides an additional three months beyond a CDTs or RGs given deadline to complete all continuing education requirements.

For example, CDTs and RGs, whose deadlines to renew are March 31, 2020, should renew as they normally do by the deadline of March 31, 2020. NBC will grant a 90-day grace period for CDTs and RGs, whose deadlines to renew are March 31, 2020, to get their remaining credits to NBC, giving them until June 30, 2020 to submit their continuing education. Additionally, any CDTs that need additional time to obtain their continuing education requirements beyond this initial 90-day grace period can contact NBC to discuss individual circumstances and receive an additional extension.

NBC is encouraging CDTs and RGs to renew online through the MyNBC Portal at www.nbccert.org/myNBC  rather than mailing in their payment to avoid potential delays processing renewals.
 
NBC is also encouraging CDTs and RGs to submit any continuing education verification online through the MyNBC Portal at www.nbccert.org/myNBC rather than mailing in continuing education verification. 
 
Questions regarding CDT Renewals and Continuing Education can be emailed to certification@nbccert.org or you can contact the NBC office at (800) 684-5310.

Questions for NADL can be emailed to nadl@nadl.org or contact the NADL office at (800) 950-1150.