(a) The process to establish a new equine dental provider
certification program shall be initiated with the Board one year prior
to the anticipated start date of the certification program.
(b) An organization that educates equine dental providers
cannot own or control an equine dental provider certification program.
(c) The individual writing the application for board
approval of an equine dental provider certification program should
hold a current license to practice as an equine dental provider in
Texas.
(1) The name and credentials of the author of the application
should be included in the document.
(2) A qualified director must be employed by the program
early in the application process, and in no event shall a director
be hired later than six (6) months prior to the submission of the
application to the Board. The director shall:
(A) hold a current license to practice equine dentistry
or veterinary medicine in Texas; and
(B) have a minimum of ten (10) years experience as
a practicing equine dental provider.
(3) The program director must review/revise the application
and agree with the components of the application as being representative
of the proposed certification program that the individual will be
responsible for administratively.
(4) If the program director changes, the director shall
submit to the Board written notification of the change indicating
the final date of employment, and identifying and providing information
about the qualifications of a replacement director.
(5) The director shall have authority to direct the
equine dental provider certification program in all its aspects and
phases, including approving staff, selection of testing sites, facilities
and equipment, application processes, rejection of applicants, and
enforcement of policies.
(6) The director shall notify the Board immediately
when there is a change in the name of the certification program or
the governing organization, or when there are changes in the contact
information.
(d) The application shall include the following information
documenting written policies on the following required elements for
a board-approved equine dental provider certification program:
(1) Documentation of financial stability, including
but not limited to information on ownership, sources and amounts of
financial resources and support for the first two years of operation,
financial audit, and budget for the program.
(2) Policies on examiners, including but not limited
to qualifications, responsibilities, performance evaluation criteria,
and terms of employment.
(A) An equine dental provider certification program
shall employ examiners in sufficient numbers and with the training
and expertise necessary to evaluate accurately the skill and knowledge
of applicants for equine dental provider licensure.
(B) All examiners must hold active Texas veterinary
licenses or equine dental provider licenses.
(C) All examiners must have at least five (5) years
of experience working as an equine dental provider.
(D) All examiners must be evaluated annually by the
program director.
(3) Position descriptions for the director and examiners
outlining their job duties and responsibilities.
(4) Requirements for examiner training, plans for examiner
development and requirements for examiner continuing education.
(5) Requirements for certification, including but not
limited to:
(A) Prerequisites for certification.
(B) Testing to prove competency in at least the following
topic areas:
(i) Equine anatomy;
(ii) Harm and potential side effects of equine dentistry;
(iii) Sterilization and disease control;
(iv) Legal limits of equine dental provider practice,
including supervision by a veterinarian.
(6) Document creation, retention, and safe storage
guidelines to maintain in the official program files for five (5)
years the following documents:
(A) Documentation of examiner qualifications and examiner
employment;
(B) Application records for each applicant seeking
certification;
(C) Examination records for each applicant seeking
certification;
(D) Certification records for each equine dental provider
certified; and
(E) Examination materials, including copies of all
test questions or areas of examination, and answer keys or grading
criteria, for all examinations given, whether written and practical.
(e) After reviewing the application, board staff may
request additional information or may issue recommendations. The organization
seeking approval shall provide all additional requested information
and respond to all recommendations before the application is eligible
for consideration by the Board.
(f) After the application is submitted and board staff
has determined that the application is complete, a survey visit may
be conducted by a board representative prior to presentation to the
Board. Additional survey visits may be conducted as necessary by board
representatives until the Board grants full approval status. Following
the survey visits, the organization seeking approval will be given
a list of identified deficiencies and a specified time in which to
correct the deficiencies. If the organization seeking approval fails
to correct the identified deficiencies within the specified time,
the application will be presented to the Board with the uncorrected
deficiencies noted.
(g) The application shall be considered by the Board
at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The Board may approve
the application and grant approval to the certification program, may
defer action on the application, or may deny further consideration
of the application. In order to ensure success of newly approved certification
programs, the Board may, in its discretion, impose any restrictions
or conditions it deems appropriate and necessary.
(h) When the application is submitted, a fee shall
be assessed in accordance with §577.15 of this title (relating
to Fee Schedule).
(i) An application without action for one (1) calendar
year shall be inactivated and a new application and fee will be required.
(j) If the Board denies an application, the organization
seeking approval of a certification program must wait a minimum of
twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the denial before submitting
a new proposal to establish an equine dental provider certification
program.
(k) The director of the board-approved equine dental
provider certification program shall notify the Board in writing of
an intent to transfer the administrative authority of the program.
(l) Closing a board-approved equine dental provider
certification program.
(1) When the decision to close a board-approved equine
dental provider certification program is made, the director must notify
the Board by submitting a written plan for closure which includes:
(A) reason for closing the program;
(B) date of intended closure; and
(C) provisions made for access to and safe storage
of records, including application, test and certification records
for all individuals certified by the organization.
(2) A board-approved equine dental provider certification
program will be deemed closed when the program has not certified any
equine dental providers for a period of two (2) years.
(m) Factors Jeopardizing Certification Program Approval
Status.
(1) When a certification program demonstrates non-compliance
with Board requirements, approval may be withdrawn, or the Board,
in its discretion, may impose restrictions or conditions as it deems
appropriate and necessary. In addition to imposing restrictions or
conditions, the Board may also require monitoring of the program.
(2) A change in approval status, requirements for restrictions
or conditions, or a monitoring plan may be issued by the Board for
any of the following reasons:
(A) Deficiencies in compliance with the board rules;
(B) Non-compliance with the certification program's
stated philosophy/mission, program design, objectives/outcomes, and/or
policies;
(C) Failure to submit records and reports to the Board
within designated time frames;
(D) Failure to comply with board requirements or to
respond to board recommendations within the specified time;
(E) Accepting applications for certification or certifying
equine dental providers without resources to support the program,
including sufficient qualified examiners, and adequate testing facilities;
(F) Other activities or situations that demonstrate
to the Board that a program is not meeting requirements.
(3) A program from which approval has been withdrawn
may reapply for approval. A new application may not be submitted to
the Board until after at least twelve (12) calendar months from the
date of withdrawal of approval have elapsed.
(4) Notice of a program's approval status shall be
sent to the director of the program.
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