CDC-Sponsored Water Fluoridation Training

CDC offers limited training in water fluoridation engineering and operations and does not have the staff resources to provide special training for groups, organizations, or utility systems. CDC offers the following courses to assist with managing state fluoridation programs and water treatment facility operations. Enrollment in these courses is open to any state program official, water utility system staff, trainers of water facility operators and support personnel, and registered engineers.

Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices presents basic information on community water fluoridation, including engineering and administrative guidance. The course is conducted over three days and is available periodically in Tennessee and California. Attendance is limited because of space and facility considerations, so pre-registration and approval are necessary, with preference given to state employees. There is no tuition fee for accepted state program employees, though attendees are responsible for their own travel and per diem expenses. CDC awards participants 1.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or 18 professional development hours for completing the course. See a sample agenda.

Using the Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS) is an optional half-day course (0.3 CEUs) for those responsible for maintaining state program records. This course immediately precedes the Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices course.

Future training dates:

• Murfreesboro, Tennessee:
  CDC will offer Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices on September 24-26, 2013, along with an optional half-day course on the Water Fluoridation Reporting System on September 23, 2013, at the Doubletree Hotel and the Julian R. Fleming Training Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Murfreesboro is located in the southern sector of metropolitan Nashville. Course attendance is limited to 25.
  
• Sacramento, California:
  CCDC will offer Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices from February 26-28, 2013, with an optional half-day course on February 25 on the Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS). Training will be held at the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn and at the City of Sacramento Fairbairn Water Treatment Facility. Course attendance is limited to 21.

A 6-hour Water Fluoridation Training Course offers assistance to states in providing water treatment facility operator training. The template can be customized by individual state programs. CDC does not offer CEU credits for this course, but state program sponsors often do provide credit. Contact your state dental director, drinking water administrator, or trainers of water treatment facility operators to learn when this training will be offered in your state.

CDC has been reviewed and approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102. CDC awards 0.3 CEUs to participants who successfully complete the WFRS training and 2.0 CEUs for completing Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices training.

Contact CDC at oralhealth@cdc.gov if you have questions about any training.

Date last reviewed: September 28, 2012
Date last updated: September 28, 2012