Dental CE Requirements for California Dental Professionals
Table of Contents
California Dental Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
Specific CE Requirements
- 2 hours of CE in infection control every two years
- 2 hours of CE in the California Dental Practice Act every two years
- A maximum of 4 CEUs of a course in Basic Life Support (BLS) every two years
Permissible Methods for Completing CE
- Live courses and seminars
- Online Dental CE courses
- Reading dental journals and publications
- Self-study programs
Additional Information and Resources
- At least half of the CE credits must be from AGD, ADA, or ADEA approved courses.
- Visit the DBC website for a list of approved CE providers.
- Use the DBC's CE tracking tool for managing completed credits.
- Keep a record of CE certificates for at least three years.
Dentists
- Units Required: 50 units every two years.
- Mandatory Courses:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – Up to 4 units can be applied towards the total requirement.
- Additional Requirements for Permit Holders:
- Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Permit: 50 units
- General Anesthesia Permit: 24 units, including specific courses in general anesthesia and advanced cardiac life support.
- Moderate Sedation Permit: 15 units, including specific courses in moderate sedation and medical emergencies.
- Oral Conscious Sedation Permit: 7 units.
Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs)
- Units Required: 25 units every two years.
- Mandatory Courses:
- Infection Control – 2 units
- California Dental Practice Act – 2 units
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – Up to 4 units can be applied towards the total requirement.
Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs)
- Units Required: 25 units every two years.
- Mandatory Courses:
- Infection Control – 2 units
- California Dental Practice Act – 2 units
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – Up to 4 units can be applied towards the total requirement.
Dental Assistants (DAs)
- Units Required: 25 units every two years.
- Mandatory Courses:
- Infection Control – 2 units
- California Dental Practice Act – 2 units
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – Up to 4 units can be applied towards the total requirement.
General Requirements for All Dental Professionals
- Course Providers: Courses must be taken from a registered provider approved by the Dental Board of California or a provider approved by the ADA CERP or AGD PACE programs.
- Live vs. Non-Live Courses: No more than 50% of the required units can be from non-live or correspondence courses (e.g., recorded videos, home study). Interactive webinars are considered live courses.
- Record Keeping: Maintain certificates of completion for three renewal periods.
- Audits: The Board conducts random CE audits.
Learn More from the Dental Board of California
