Continuing education requirements by state

There is no single national figure. Published requirements range from 15 hours a year in North Carolina and Virginia to 100 hours over a 5-year cycle in South Dakota, and most states fall somewhere around 30 hours every two years. See the table below for your state's specific cycle length and hour totals.

Frequently yes. Some states publish a specific requirement for hygienists that differs from the dentist requirement, or vice versa. Check your state's page below for the figures that apply to each license type.

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. Check your board's rules for subject-matter requirements, since many states mandate specific topics like opioid prescribing or infection control.

Several states use CE Broker as their official CE tracking platform. Licensees create an account 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. 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.