State CE Requirements for Dental Assistants
| State | Renewal Cycle | CE Requirements for Dental Assistants | Notes | State Governing Agency | Online Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Learn More | There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for dental assistants in the state of Alabama. | Dental assistants who assist dentists during oral conscious sedation procedures must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). | Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama | ||
| Alaska Learn More | The Board requires that all licensees must renew their licenses every two years between January and April. | An applicant for renewal of a dental assistant restorative function certificate shall complete two hours of continuing education approved under 12 AAC 28.410(a) relating to materials or techniques used for restoration of teeth | Alaska Board of Dental Examiners Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing | ||
| Arizona Learn More | There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting. | Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners | |||
| Arkansas Learn More | Every 2 Years | Infection control (2 hours) | You must successfully complete a nitrous oxide administration and monitoring course by one of the Board's approved instructors Current certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation of Basic Life Support level. | Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners | |
| California Learn More | Licenses expire on the last day of the birth month of the licensee every two years. | All Registered Dental Assistants in the State of California who wish to maintain an active license are required to complete 25 hours of continuing education for license renewal. | Completion of the mandatory courses: 1. Basic Life Support (BLS) course provided by the American Red Cross (ARC), American Heart Association (AHA), or a provider approved by PACE or CERP. A maximum of 4 credits will be awarded for completion of this course. Online courses will not be accepted for the BLS requirement. The course must include a live, in-person skills practice session, a skills test and a written examination. 2. California Infection Control* – This course must be 2-units and be taken through a Registered Provider approved by the Board to offer this mandatory course. 3. California Dental Practice Act* – This course must be 2-units and be taken through a Registered Provider approved by the Board to offer this mandatory course. | Dental Board of California | |
| Colorado Learn More | The Board does not regulate or require the registration of dental assistants or expanded duty dental assistants. | There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for dental assistants in the state of Colorado | All dental personnel utilizing, administering or monitoring local anesthesia, analgesia (including nitrous oxide), deep sedation or general anesthesia must have successfully completed and continuously maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification consistent with the most current science and treatment recommendations from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR), and the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). | Colorado Dental Board | |
| Connecticut Learn More | Every Two Years | Must complete at least 1 hour of training or education in infection control every two years, via in-person or online courses offered by a dental school or an accredited higher education institution that is recognized by the CODA, the American Dental Association (ADA), or any association or society affiliated with the ADA or American Dental Assistants Association. EFDAs are required to maintain DANB CDA or COA certification; therefore, they must completeDANB’s Recertification Requirements annually, which include 12 continuing education (CE) credits (for certificants who hold one certification) | Maintenance of continuous, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS certification from a DANB-approved provider. | Connecticut State Dental Commission Department of Public Health | |
| Delaware Learn More | An active license must be renewed in DELPROS every two years before the expiration date. | There are no CE Requirements for Dental Assistants in the State of Delaware. | A dental assistant must hold a state certificate as a Dental Radiation Technician or a state certificate recognizing DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification from the Delaware Division of Public Health/Office of Radiation Control (Delaware ORC). | Delaware Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene | |
| District of Columbia Learn More | Every 2 Years. Current Licensing Expires December 31, 2023. | (10) Hours Total (2) Infection Control (2) LGBTQ Cultural Competency (1) Ethics (2) BLS | Abuse and Misuse of Prescription Drugs/Opioids* Not Required | District of Columbia Board of Dentistry | |
| Florida Learn More | The dental radiographer certification does not expire and therefore does not need to be renewed | There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for dental assistants in Florida. | Dental assistants who monitor nitrous-oxide inhalation analgesia must be certified in an American Heart Association or American Red Cross or equivalent agency sponsored cardiopulmonary resuscitation course at the basic life support level to include one person CPR, two person CPR, infant resuscitation and obstructed airway with a periodic update not to exceed two years. | Florida Board of Dentistry | |
| Georgia Learn More | There are no other education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting | Hold a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. A dental assistant must complete Board-approved training in phlebotomy, intravenous access, infection control, the handling of any associated medical or dental emergencies, and any other safety related topics required by the Board before performing phlebotomy and venipuncture procedures. | Georgia Board of Dentistry | ||
| Hawaii Learn More | There are no radiography requirements for dental assistants in the state of Hawaii. | All dental assistants may legally operate dental X-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. | Hawaii Board of Dentistry | ||
| Idaho Learn More | There are no specific education or training requirements. | A dental assistant may be considered Board qualified in expanded functions, authorizing the assistant to perform any or all of the expanded functions described in Subsection 035.01.f. upon satisfactory completion of the following requirements: (7-1-93) a. Completion of Board-approved training in each of the expanded functions. The required training shall include adequate training in the fundamentals of dental assisting, which may be evidenced by: (3-18-99) i. Current certification by the Dental Assisting National Board; or (7-1-93) ii. Successful completion of a Board-approved course in the fundamentals of dental assisting; or (3-18-99) iii. Successfully challenging the fundamentals course. | Idaho Board of Dentistry | ||
| Illinois Learn More | There are no formal education or training requirements for an initial level of dental assisting. | Successfully complete a structured training program in coronal scaling and intracoronal temporization of a tooth provided by an educational institution (such as a dental school or a dental hygiene or dental assisting program), an approved CE provider, or by a statewide dental or dental hygienist association approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) that includes the following: a. minimum 32 hours of didactic and clinical manikin or human subject instruction covering specified content, b. an outcome assessment examination that demonstrates competency, c. completion of 6 full-mouth scaling procedures under the observation and with approval of the supervising dentist (if training not from a CODA-accredited dental assisting program), d. issuance of a certificate of completion (which must be kept on file at the dental office). | Illinois Department of Professional Regulation | ||
| Indiana Learn More | There are no continuing education (CE) requirements for dental assistants in the state of Indiana. | A dental assistant must obtain a limited dental radiographic license from the Indiana State Department of Health(opens in a new window)/Division of Radiology and Weights & Measures. | Indiana State Board of Dentistry | ||
| Iowa Learn More | The registration of all dental assistants expires on August 31 of each odd-numbered year | Dental Assistants: 20 Hours required every 2 years | • CPR Required for renewal – can claim up to 3 hours • Infection Control - Must complete a minimum of 1 hour every 2 years in the area of infection control standards as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. • Iowa Jurisprudence - Must complete a minimum of 1 hour every 2 years • Abuse Identification and Reporting Training -Effective July 1, 2019, licensees and registrants who practice in Iowa, must complete training through the Department of Human Services and renew the training every 3 years thereafter. Prior to July 1, 2019, the training was valid for 5 years. • 2 hours for dental assistants with an added qualification in dental radiography. | Iowa Dental Board | |
| Kansas Learn More | There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting. | Assisting in the administration and monitoring of nitrous oxide and/or oxygen: The dental assistant must be certified in CPR and successfully complete a Kansas Board-approved course of instruction which includes 16 hours of instruction at a CODA-accredited teaching program which includes both didactic and clinical instruction in: (A) theory of pain control, (B) anatomy, (C) medical history, (D) pharmacology and (E) emergencies and complications. | Kansas Dental Board | There is no limit on the number of CE hours that may be taken online. | |
| Kentucky Learn More | Registration simply means the dentist must update the names of their dental assistants as part of their license renewal process every two years. No action is required on the part of the assistant. | Dental Radiologist must successfully complete a CODA-approved course in radiation safety and technique, OR Complete a six-hour Kentucky Board-approved course in dental radiography safety or A four-hour course in radiography technique approved by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry | A dental assistant must have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that meets or exceeds the guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA). | Kentucky Board of Dentistry | |
| Louisiana Learn More | There are no education or training requirements for this level of dental assisting. | Radiography Requirements: A dental assistant must complete a course in X-ray function and safety approved by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry within six months after employment by a licensed dentist and shall perform dental X-ray functions solely under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist who is on the premises of the dental office at the time. | Louisiana State Board of Dentistry | ||
| Maine Learn More | The license term begins the day the license is issued and ends in five years on the last day in the month in which the license was issued | Expanded Function Dental Assistants: Fifty (50) Credit Hours Required for License Renewal | Current CPR certification | Maine Board of Dental Practice | "There is no credit hour limit on Distance learning activities such as online courses or webinars with verification and passage of an exit examination. No more than ten (10) credit hours can be claimed in any one activity or any combination of activities including Distance learning without exit examination. A licensee may claim continuing education credit for distance learning activities such as online courses and webinars in which an exit examination was not taken." |
| Maryland Learn More | Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners | ||||
| Massachusetts Learn More | Dental assistants must have their CEUs completed by October 31st in odd-numbered years | Dental assistants must complete a minimum of 12 CEUs each 2-year renewal cycle | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry | A dental assistant may earn a maximum of six CEUs per renewal cycle by completing an individual study course (home study, on-line, correspondence, audio or video). All such courses must include a test, which the licensee shall pass to obtain credit. | |
| Michigan Learn More | Dentistry licenses expire every 3 years | Every dental hygienist and dental assistant is required to complete, during the 3-year period prior to the date of application for renewal of the license, not less than 36 hours of continuing education | "The 36 hours of continuing education must include all of the following: At least 2 hours in pain and symptom management. One hour in dental ethics and jurisprudence with inclusion of delegation of duties to allied dental personnel. One hour in infection control, which must include sterilization of hand pieces, personal protective equipment, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s infection control guidelines." | Michigan Board Of Dentistry | |
| Minnesota Learn More | The initial cycle for each licensee begins on the date of initial licensure and ends on the last day of the licensee's birth month in either an even-numbered or odd-numbered year that corresponds with the licensee's year of birth. A biennial professional development cycle coincides with the biennial licensure periods for each dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, or licensed dental assistant. Each biennial renewal cycle consists of a 24-month period beginning on the first day of the month following expiration of the previous professional development cycle. | Licensed Dental Assistants must complete 25 total hours every 2 years (15 Minimum Fundamental Hours and 10 max Elective Hours) | Licensees must maintain continuous CPR certification. Course must be a healthcare provider level course (BLS) taken through only the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Each licensee must complete an infection control course during each biennial cycle period. The self-assessment is based on the core subject areas. This activity is required for each biennial cycle and is worth one (1) fundamental credit. | Minnesota Board of Dentistry | |
| Mississippi Learn More | Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners | ||||
| Missouri Learn More | Missouri Dental Board | ||||
| Montana Learn More | Montana Board of Dentistry | ||||
| Nebraska Learn More | On or before March 1 of each odd-numbered year, a licensed dental assistant must complete continuing education | Each licensed dental assistant holding an active license must complete at least 30 hours of acceptable continuing education hours during the preceding 24-month period | "A minimum of 2 hours in a renewal period must be obtained in infection control continuing education A minimum of 2 hours in a renewal period must be obtained in each area for which a licensee holds an expanded function permit" | Nebraska Board of Dentistry | |
| Nevada Learn More | Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners | ||||
| New Hampshire Learn More | New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners | ||||
| New Jersey Learn More | Regardless of the date that you earned your own license, all RDA licenses expire on December 31st of every even year | All registered dental assistants and limited registered dental assistants in orthodontics shall submit a certification verifying the completion of 10 hours of continuing education every two years at the time of registration renewal | New Jersey State Board of Dentistry | ||
| New Mexico Learn More | After the initial license period, licenses expire every three years on June 30 | "Dental Assistants: 30 hours of continuing education are required during each triennial renewal cycle Expanded Function Dental Auxilliary: 36 hours of continuing education are required during each triennial renewal cycle" | "3 hour Radiation Health & Safety (RHS course) At least 1 hour of INFECTION CONTROL Current CPR/BLS (cannot be on-line)" | New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care | "Dental Assistants: A max of 30 hrs can be online, webinars or self study. EFDA: A max of 12 hrs can be online, webinars or self study." |
| New York Learn More | New York Office of the Professions Dentistry | ||||
| North Carolina Learn More | North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners | ||||
| North Dakota Learn More | Renewal deadline for all registered dental assistants is December 31 of EVEN numbered years | Registered Dental Assistants are required to take 16 hours of continuing education during each biennial renewal cycle | "A cardiopulmonary resuscitation course; webinar CPR courses must have a hands-on component. A minimum of two hours of infection control education. A minimum of two hours of ethics and/or jurisprudence. General anesthesia and moderate or minimal sedation permit holders must include four hours related to sedation or anesthesia. Registered dental assistants and dental hygienists holding a permit for Dental Anesthesia Assistant or Restorative Functions must include two hours related to the permit." | North Dakota Board of Dental Examiners | "Self-study: One half of the required hours for renewal of license and registration may be obtained thru self-study. Self-study is defined as an education process designed to permit a participant to learn a given subject without involvement of a proctor or interaction of a third party. Self-study programs may be pre-recorded audio programs, self-paced digital courses, or self-paced printed material. Payment for a course and the certificate of completion are required in the event of an audit. Continuing education hours may consist of a maximum of one-half self-study and the remainder must come from online webinars (recorded, not live) or classroom style education. Live Webinars: The Board determined that a live webinar is equivalent to classroom education where CE is concerned. A live webinar is not considered equivalent to online/self-study education because live webinars allow for interaction with the presenter and ability to ask questions. Live webinars are by the nature of the experience, the existence of a third party and the inclusion of proof of attendance. CPR may be obtained via a webinar but the course must include an actual hands-on component." |
| Ohio Learn More | Each person who is certified as a dental assistant radiographer shall on or before the first day of January of each odd-numbered year, register with the state dental board | Dental assistant radiographers are required to obtain continuing education 2 hours of CE in order to renew their Ohio licenses | At least two hours of continuing education in radiation technology | Ohio State Dental Board | |
| Oklahoma Learn More | "Effective January 1, 2020 the CE hours will be changing to the following: The reporting period is changing from a 3 year reporting period to a 2 year. The current reporting period is July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021" | OMS assistants shall complete eight (8) hours | Dental assistants shall have two (2) hours of infection control | Oklahoma Board of Dentistry | |
| Oregon Learn More | Oregon Board of Dentistry | ||||
| Pennsylvania Learn More | Licenses expire on March 31 of each odd-numbered year, regardless of the date of issuance | An Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) shall complete 10 hours of continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period | "Of those 10 hours, 2 hours must be Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting. Expanded Function Dental Assistants shall complete 3 of the 10 required hours of continuing education in the area of coronal polishing" | Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry | A maximum of 50% of the required credit hours may be taken through individual study. |
| Rhode Island Learn More | Every DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant who desires to renew his or her license must file with the Board before the first (1st) of May in each even-numbered year. Continuing education is reported biennially. The biennial accrual period for continuing education is July 1st. | An Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) shall complete 10 hours of continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period | "All DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistants practicing in a dental setting shall receive a minimum of one (1) hour per year of training on the CDC Infection Control Guidelines All DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistants practicing in a dental setting shall hold a current certificate of completion of an approved course in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) for the Healthcare Provider that includes a hands-on skill component and conforms to the current American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) offered by any accredited agency approved by the Board." | Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry | Successful completion of a post-test is necessary to obtain credit for self-instructional courses. |
| South Carolina Learn More | Continuing education (CE) is a requirement of renewal per S.C. Regulation 39-5(F). Licensees renewing for the first time are exempt from the CE requirements. Current CE cycle is January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023 | All dental technician will need eight (8) hours of continuing education (CE) completed for biennial renewal | South Carolina Board of Dentistry | "Of the required eight (8) hours, no more than half of the required CE hours can be attained through online or computerized courses. Interactive webinars are considered live or in-person CE hours and not subject to the fifty percent (50%) restriction." | |
| South Dakota Learn More | Every five years of licensure or registration, each licensee or registrant shall provide the board evidence, of a nature suitable to the board that a licensee or registrant has attended, or participated in an amount of board approved continuing education or continuing competency as shall be required by the board | Registered Dental Assistants must earn 60 hours of continuing education in every 5-year CE cycle. | A person who is certified in dental radiography must have documented at least five hours of continuing education in dental radiography in a five-year period. Registered Dental Assistants must maintain a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) card. | South Dakota State Board of Dentistry | "Home Study: Limited to 30 hours maximum in a 5-year CE cycle Home study courses or lectures completed on one’s own time without leaving your home or office. You must demonstrate your participation and knowledge of the course or lecture through a certificate of completion from the continuing education provider. If the course you are taking utilizes technology in any way that is interactive, you may consider that course to fall under the appropriate category- Clinical, Radiography, Practice Management, etc. This includes all courses that are conducted with an instructor via webinar, Skype, Zoom, Go To Meeting or other technology that allows for participant interaction. If your course consists of a DVD or video that you view and does not include the ability to interact or ask questions of the instructor, this should be entered as Home Study." |
| Tennessee Learn More | All registered dental assistants are required to complete continuing education during the two calendar year cycle (January 1 of an odd year - December 31 of an even year) | All registered dental assistants are all required to fulfill 24 hours of continuing education during the two calendar year cycle | "Current CPR A minimum of 2 of the required 24 biennial hours must be obtained in the area of chemical dependency education" | Tennessee Board of Dentistry | |
| Texas Learn More | The expiration date will be based on the licensee's birth month and will be staggered to a biennial renewal affecting licensees due to renew by 10/31/2018 and there after | A dental assistant must complete six (6) hours of continuing education each year in areas covering dental assistant duties. At least three (3) of these six (6) hours must be clinical continuing education. | "CPR As part of the 12-hour requirement, a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission must be completed." | Texas State Board of Dental Examiners | CE can be self-study, interactive computer courses, or classroom lecture courses. |
| Utah Learn More | Utah Board of Dentistry | ||||
| Vermont Learn More | Vermont Dental licenses expire every two years, on September 30 of odd-numbered years | All dental assistants shall as a condition of every registration renewal complete a course in emergency office procedures | Vermont Board of Dental Examiners | ||
| Virginia Learn More | Virginia Board of Dentistry | ||||
| Washington Learn More | Expanded function dental auxiliaries must renew their license every year. Credentials expire on the credential holder’s birthday. | There are no continuing education requirements. | Washington State Department of Health | Washington State Department of Health | |
| West Virginia Learn More | West Virginia Board of Dentistry | ||||
| Wisconsin Learn More | State of Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board | ||||
| Wyoming Learn More | Wyoming Board of Dental Examiners |
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11/1/2021 to 10/31/2027
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