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Board of Dentistry

Administering COVID-19 Vaccines

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On January 27, 2021, the Kentucky Board of Dentistry filed an emergency administrative regulation to temporarily bring COVID-19 vaccination into its scope of practice. The new rule, 201 KAR 8:505E, allows qualifying dentists and dental hygienists to administer any COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services guidelines. Those eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccinations under this regulation must have an active Kentucky dental license OR an active Kentucky dental hygiene license and registration to practice local anesthesia. 

Emergency Regulation 201 KAR 8:505E

Qualifying dentists and dental hygienists who wish to administer COVID-19 vaccinations must first participate in a Board approved training program and then submit the vaccine authorization form.

Immunization Training Program

Before to administering COVID-19 immunizations, 201 KAR 8:505E, Section 3 requires  licensees to "complete an immunization training program approved by the board. The course shall include, at a minimum:

(1) Educational material on the disease of COVID-19 and immunization as prevention of the disease;

(2) Contraindications and precautions for administration of the COVID-19 immunization;

(3) Intramuscular administration;

(4) Communication of the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 immunization and the legal requirements involved;

(5) Reporting of adverse events;

(6) Documentation required by federal law and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and 

(7) Storage and handling of COVID-19 immunizations."

The Board of Dentistry has approved the following CDC training modules as satisfying the training program requirement. This site contains three modules - one on vaccine overview and best practices, one on the Pfizer vaccine and one on the Moderna vaccine (additional modules will be added as new COVID-19 vaccines are approved). Please thoroughly review the contents of all three modules, including the embedded links on each page. 

 COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules (CDC) 


In addition to the CDC training modules, licensees without recent experience are encouraged to become reacquainted with injection techniques by reviewing the following videos:


Vaccine Authorization Form

After completing the training modules, fill out the following authorization form using your information as it appears on your license to practice and submit it to the Board of Dentistry. On the form, applicants must attest that they have participated in the training program and understand the requirements for administering COVID-19 vaccines under 201 KAR 8:505E. Once approved, authorization to administer COVID-19 vaccines will be in place until the emergency regulation expires on October 24, 2021.

 Vaccine Administration Authorization Form 


CE Questionnaire and Certificate 

Unfortunately, the Continuing Education Units offered by the CDC for its training modules are not currently available to dental professionals. Therefore, the Board has authorized its own CE for licensees who participate in this training. Upon receipt of a properly completed authorization form, applicants will receive a conformation email with a link to a quiz covering the training modules as well as basic injection techniques. Although the quiz is voluntary and not required for authorization to administer vaccines, it does provide one hour of Board approved CE and a certificate to document your knowledge should it be requested or required by an outside agency.