Dental CE Requirements for New Mexico Dental Professionals

Here’s a summary of the continuing education (CE) requirements for various dental professionals in New Mexico:

Dentists

• Frequency: Every three years
• Credits required: 60 CE credits
• Mandatory hours:
  • 3 hours in understanding pharmacology and the risks of controlled substances, basic awareness of the problem of abuse, addiction, and diversion, awareness of state and federal regulations for prescription controlled substances, management of the treatment of pain (required for DEA registrants)
  • 2 hours in ethics
• Distance learning: Up to 30 credits can be obtained through distance learning methods such as online dental CE.

Dental Hygienists

• Frequency: Every three years
• Credits required: 45 CE credits
• Mandatory hours:
  • 2 hours in infection control
  • 1 hour in CPR
• Distance learning: Up to 30 credits can be obtained through distance learning methods.

Dental Assistants

• Frequency: Every three years
• Credits required: 30 CE credits
• Mandatory hours:
  • 2 hours in infection control
  • 1 hour in CPR
• Distance learning: Up to 30 credits can be obtained through distance learning methods.

Expanded Function Dental Auxiliaries (EFDAs)

• Frequency: Every three years
• Credits required: 36 CE credits
• Mandatory hours:
  • 2 hours in infection control
  • 1 hour in CPR
• Distance learning: Up to 12 credits can be obtained through distance learning methods.

Community Dental Health Coordinators (CDHCs)

• Frequency: Every three years
• Credits required: 36 CE credits
• Mandatory hours:
  • 2 hours in infection control
  • 1 hour in CPR
• Distance learning: Up to 12 credits can be obtained through distance learning methods.