(a) The course shall be of sufficient duration for the student to develop minimum competence in all of the duties that orthodontic assistant permitholders are authorized to perform, but in no event less than 84 hours, including at least 24 hours of didactic instruction, at least 28 hours of laboratory instruction, and at least 32 hours of clinical instruction. A registered dental assistant shall not be required to complete further instruction in the duties of placing ligature ties and archwires, removing orthodontic bands, and removing excess cement from tooth surfaces with a hand instrument. The course hours for a student who holds a valid and current registered dental assistant license shall be no less than 55 hours, including 11 didactic hours, 24 laboratory hours, and 20 clinical hours. A registered dental assistant who has completed a Board-approved course in the use of an ultrasonic scaler shall not be required to complete further instruction in that duty. The course hours for a student who holds a valid and current registered dental assistant license and who has completed a Board-approved course in the use of an ultrasonic scaler shall be no less than 51 hours, including 9 didactic hours, 22 laboratory hours, and 20 clinical hours.

(b) The minimum requirements for equipment and armamentaria shall include banded or bonded orthodontic typodonts in the ratio of at least one for every four students, bench mount or dental chair mounted mannequin head, curing light, regular typodont with full dentition and soft gingiva in the ratio of at least one for every four students, and a selection of orthodontic instruments and adjunct material for all of the procedures that orthodontic assistant permitholders are authorized to perform under Business and Professions Code Section 1750.3.

(c) In addition to the requirements of Section 1070, all faculty or instructional staff members responsible for clinical evaluation shall have completed a two-hour methodology course in clinical evaluation prior to conducting clinical evaluations of students.

(d) Areas of instruction shall include, at a minimum, the instruction specified in subdivisions (e) to (j), inclusive, as well as instruction in basic background information on orthodontic practice. “Basic background information on orthodontic practice” means, for purposes of this subdivision, the orthodontic treatment review, charting, patient education, and legal and infection control requirements as they apply to orthodontic practice.

(e) The following requirements shall be met for sizing, fitting, cementing, and removing orthodontic bands:

(f) The following requirements shall be met for preparing teeth for bonding:

(g) The following requirements shall be met for bracket positioning, bond curing, and removal of orthodontic brackets.

(h) The following requirements shall be met for archwire placement and ligation:

(i) The following requirements shall be met for cement removal with a hand instrument:

(j) Instruction for cement removal with an ultrasonic scaler shall be in accordance with Cal. Code Regs., Title 16, Section 1070.5, which governs courses in the removal of excess cement from teeth under orthodontic treatment with an ultrasonic scaler.

(k) Each student shall pass a written examination that reflects the curriculum content, which may be administered at intervals throughout the course as determined by the course director.

(l) To maintain approval, programs approved prior to the effective date of these regulations shall submit to the Board a completed “Notice of Compliance with New Requirements for Orthodontic Assistant Permit Courses (New 10/10)”, hereby incorporated by reference, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of these regulations.