How Often Do I Need to Renew My License?
All dental licenses must be renewed by April 1 every two years on odd numbered years. For instance, license renewal years are 2021, 2023, 2025, and so on.
How Many CE Credits Do I Need for Licensure?
Continuing Education Credits are required for each biennial period. The biennial period runs from April 1 to March 31 of the odd-numbered years. The requirements are as follows:
| Dentist |
30 hours |
| Dental Hygienist |
20 hours |
| EFDA |
10 hours |
| Unrestricted Permit* |
15 hours |
| Restricted Permit I* |
15 hours |
| Restricted Permit II* |
none |
| Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia |
3 hours |
| Public Health Dental Hygienist |
5 hours |
*Dentists who practice in an office where there are other individuals who administer general anesthesia, deep sedation or conscious sedation who do not hold an Anesthesia Unrestricted or Restricted Permit I are required to complete five hours of anesthesia related courses in accordance with the Board's regulations.
NOTE: The 15 hours of continuing education required to maintain the Anesthesia Unrestricted or Restricted Permit I and the 5 hours of continuing education required for dentists who do not hold the Unrestricted or Restricted Permit I who practice in an office where other individuals administer general anesthesia, deep sedation or conscious sedation can be applied to the 30 hour continuing education requirements to maintain the license to practice dentistry.
The State Board of Dentistry will accept your AGD transcript as proof of the CE courses you have taken. To download your transcript visit the AGD web site or contact them at 1-888-AGD-DENT.
Is My CE Provider Accepted by the State Board of Dentistry?
There are a lot of CE courses on the market providing education to dentists. But if they are not an approved provider from the State Board of Dentistry, then those credits won't go towards your licensure renewal. Here is a listing of the approved providers:
The Board has approved the following as program sponsors:
- An accredited dental, dental hygiene or expanded function dental assisting school or program.
- The medical or osteopathic medical school or college accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the State Board of Medicine, State Board of Osteopathic Medicine or State Board of Nursing.
- The American Dental Association Continuing Education Review Program, the American Dental Association’s specialty associations, the American Dental Hygienists Association and the American Dental Assistants Association.
- The National Dental Association and its specialty societies and the National Dental Hygienists Association.
- The American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Nursing Association.
- The Pennsylvania Academy of Dental Hygiene Studies.
- The Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program.
- The Veterans’ Administration.
- The United States military services.
- The National Institutes of Health.
- The United States Public Health Services.
Here is an easy way to know if the provider is accepted by the State Board of Dentistry. Look for these logos:
What Subject Areas are Accepted by the State Board for CE Credit?
Here are the educational subject areas that the State Board of Dentistry will accept for licensure:
1. Diagnosis and treatment of oral pathosis
2. Clinical and technological subjects
3. Emergency procedures excluding hours required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
4. Infection Control
5. Abuse and neglect
6. Medical and scientific subjects
7. Laws and regulations pertaining to dentists, dental hygienists and EFDAs
Credit hours will not be awarded in non-clinical subjects, including:
1. Billing
2. Office management
3. Practice management
4. Insurance reimbursement