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Continuing education requirements by state

CE is required for dental license renewal in every US state. Hours per cycle range from 6 per year for North Carolina hygienists to 63 over three years for Washington dentists. This table shows the figure where boards publish a clear one.

Information verified May 2026

About this table

State dental boards set CE requirements as a condition of license renewal. The hours required, the cycle length, and which license types are covered all differ by state. Some boards publish a single clear figure that applies to all active licensees. Many don't — requirements differ for dentists versus hygienists, or the board's published materials don't surface a specific number.

Where a clear, published figure exists in the board's sourced content, this table shows it. "Verify with board" means either the requirement varies meaningfully by license type, or the board's materials reviewed for this site didn't state a specific figure. It does not mean there's no CE requirement — every state has one.

Always verify

CE requirements change through board rulemaking. Figures shown here reflect the board's published requirements at the time this page was last updated. Confirm current requirements with your state board before each renewal cycle.

CE requirements — all 51 states and D.C.

State CE requirement Full details
Alabama Verify with board View CE details →
Alaska Verify with board View CE details →
Arizona Verify with board View CE details →
Arkansas Verify with board View CE details →
California Varies by license type View CE details →
Colorado 30 hrs / 2 yrs View CE details →
Connecticut Varies by license type View CE details →
Delaware Verify with board View CE details →
District of Columbia Verify with board View CE details →
Florida Verify with board View CE details →
Georgia Verify with board View CE details →
Hawaii Verify with board View CE details →
Idaho 30 hrs / 2 yrs (hygienists) View CE details →
Illinois Verify with board View CE details →
Indiana Verify with board View CE details →
Iowa Verify with board View CE details →
Kansas Verify with board View CE details →
Kentucky 30 hrs / 2 yrs View CE details →
Louisiana Verify with board View CE details →
Maine Verify with board View CE details →
Maryland Verify with board View CE details →
Massachusetts Verify with board View CE details →
Michigan Verify with board View CE details →
Minnesota Varies by license type View CE details →
Mississippi Verify with board View CE details →
Missouri Verify with board View CE details →
Montana Verify with board View CE details →
Nebraska 30 hrs / 2 yrs View CE details →
Nevada Varies by license type View CE details →
New Hampshire Verify with board View CE details →
New Jersey Varies by license type View CE details →
New Mexico Verify with board View CE details →
New York Varies by license type View CE details →
North Carolina Varies by license type View CE details →
North Dakota Verify with board View CE details →
Ohio Verify with board View CE details →
Oklahoma Verify with board View CE details →
Oregon Verify with board View CE details →
Pennsylvania Verify with board View CE details →
Rhode Island Verify with board View CE details →
South Carolina Verify with board View CE details →
South Dakota Verify with board View CE details →
Tennessee Verify with board View CE details →
Texas Verify with board View CE details →
Utah 30 hrs / 2 yrs (dentists) View CE details →
Vermont Verify with board View CE details →
Virginia Verify with board View CE details →
Washington 63 hrs / 3 yrs (dentists) View CE details →
West Virginia Verify with board View CE details →
Wisconsin 30 hrs / 2 yrs (dentists) View CE details →
Wyoming Verify with board View CE details →

CE requirement questions

There is no single national figure. Published requirements range from 15 hours per calendar year (North Carolina dentists) to 63 hours over three years (Washington dentists). Wisconsin and Nebraska require 30 hours per two-year cycle. Many state boards do not publish a single clean number because requirements vary by license type or permit level. When in doubt, check directly with your state board.

Frequently yes. North Carolina is a clear example: dentists must complete 15 CE hours per calendar year, while dental hygienists must complete 6. Idaho publishes a specific requirement for hygienists (30 hours per biennial period) but not for dentists. States listed as "Varies by license type" in the table above have documented differences between credential types.

Most states accept courses from providers approved under ADA CERP (Continuing Education Recognition Program) or AGD PACE (Program Approval for Continuing Education). Some boards maintain their own approved-provider lists or accept courses from accredited dental schools and professional associations. CPR and first aid may or may not count — Kentucky, for example, explicitly excludes them. Check your board's rules for subject-matter requirements, since many states mandate specific topics like opioid prescribing or infection control.

Several states — including Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina — use CE Broker as their official CE tracking platform. Licensees create an account at cebroker.com and link it to their license number; approved providers report completions directly. Other states use their own online renewal portals or require self-reporting with documentation kept on hand for audits. Check your state board's renewal instructions for the required submission method.

Generally yes, but with important exceptions. Many states require that a portion of total CE hours be completed through live, interactive instruction — pre-recorded on-demand courses do not satisfy this requirement. Hawaii explicitly accepts 100% online CE, with one exception: the hands-on portion of Basic Life Support must still be done in person. Confirm with your board whether your chosen online provider meets its approval criteria before completing the course.

Courses from nationally recognized providers (ADA CERP, AGD PACE) are widely accepted, but each state sets its own rules on what qualifies. If you hold licenses in multiple states or are applying for licensure by endorsement in a new state, confirm that your completed CE meets the new state's requirements. Hours completed in one state do not automatically satisfy another state's renewal obligations.

License requirements guide →

How dental licensing works in the US — education, board exams, clinical exams, and state applications.

State dental boards →

Directory of all 51 state dental boards with official websites and contact information.