Summary:
• Pennsylvania dentists must complete 30 hours of Board-approved CE every two-year renewal cycle, with mandatory subjects including child abuse reporting and, for eligible prescribers, opioid education.
• Courses must come from approved providers, and at least half of total hours must be completed through live or interactive instruction.
Pennsylvania dental professionals are required to complete continuing education as a condition of biennial license renewal. Understanding exactly what the state mandates — and how to meet those requirements efficiently — helps you stay compliant and avoid any lapse in licensure.
Completing dental continuing education courses in Pennsylvania means working within a structured framework set by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry. Knowing the credit-hour totals, mandatory subject requirements, and approved provider rules before you register for any course saves time and prevents compliance gaps.
Pennsylvania CE Credit-Hour Requirements by License Type
The next Pennsylvania license renewal deadline is March 31, 2027. Dentists must complete 30 total hours, dental hygienists must complete 20 hours, and dental assistants must complete 10 hours within the two-year renewal cycle.
Pennsylvania dental licenses renew April 1 of each odd-numbered year, and licensees have the full two-year period prior to that date to earn their required CE credits.
| License Type | Total CE Hours Required | Max Online/Self-Study Hours |
| Dentist | 30 hours | 15 hours |
| Dental Hygienist | 20 hours | 10 hours |
| Expanded Function Dental Assistant | 10 hours | 5 hours |
CE credit hours must be completed in subject areas directly related to the maintenance of clinical competence of a dentist, dental hygienist, or expanded function dental assistant.
Mandatory Subject Areas You Cannot Skip
Beyond the total hour count, Pennsylvania law designates specific subjects that must appear in every renewal cycle.
Dentists must complete 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education, including 2 hours of Act 31 Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training from an approved provider, and 2 hours of Act 124 Opioid continuing education if they hold a DEA registration or use another person’s DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances.
Under Act 31 of 2014, dentists, hygienists, and EFDAs must complete two hours of approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting from an approved program provider every two-year period preceding licensure renewal, and those two hours count toward the total hours required.
Additional requirements to keep in mind:
• Current Infant, Child, and Adult CPR certification is required for all licensees.
• Online CPR courses are not acceptable to fulfill the CPR requirement by the PA State Board of Dentistry.
• A licensee will not be permitted to renew their license until electronic verification is received from the approved course provider and processed by the Department of State and State Board of Dentistry.
Approved Providers and Course Format Rules
Not every CE course qualifies. The Board is specific about what it accepts.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry accepts courses from any provider who is ADA or AGD approved. According to the Pennsylvania Dental Association’s licensure requirements page, CE subject areas must directly relate to clinical competence, and the Board distributes CE tracking folders to active PDA member dentists each odd-numbered year to help monitor progress.
Course format also matters:
• The PA State Board of Dentistry considers live, interactive online CE as in-person learning.
• A recording of a lecture made available online is considered a self-study CE course.
• All licensees must maintain at a minimum a current Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR or equivalent certification, and elective hours are subject to a cap on online or individual study hours.
Choosing a provider with verifiable accreditation and a clear record of electronic reporting to the Board is essential. Processing of child abuse recognition and reporting CE verification can take up to 14 days from the date the course is completed. Plan accordingly before the renewal window closes.
Choosing the Right CE Courses for Your Practice Goals
Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. Many Pennsylvania dental professionals use the renewal cycle as an opportunity to build clinical depth in areas like implantology, periodontics, and restorative techniques.
Think Dental Learning Institute aims to provide evidence-based continuing education to aid the dental clinician in providing high-quality patient care, with strong emphasis on what is in the literature and how it can be applied in clinical practice.
Programs at the institute emphasize hands-on learning, case-based instruction, and practical skills that dentists can immediately apply in their practices. Formats include focus groups, live workshop events, and online classes.
When evaluating any CE provider, consider:
• Whether the provider is ADA CERP or AGD PACE approved
• Whether the course format (live, interactive, or self-study) fits within your remaining allowable hours
• Whether mandatory subjects like child abuse reporting are offered separately with electronic verification to the Board
• Whether hands-on clinical topics align with the services you intend to expand
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania dentists need per renewal cycle? Dentists are required to complete 30 hours every two years, 15 of which may be completed by individual study.
Does live online CE count as in-person credit in Pennsylvania? Yes. A live webinar CE course is considered a lecture, but only if it is conducted as a live, real-time session that is fully interactive and allows attendees to communicate and ask questions with the presenter and other attendees.
What happens if a licensee does not renew on time? Dentists and dental hygienists who fail to renew their licenses, and expanded function dental assistants who fail to renew their certificates, are prohibited from practicing their profession in Pennsylvania.
Is opioid CE required for all Pennsylvania dentists? The opioid CE requirement applies only to dentists who have a DEA registration or who use another person’s or entity’s DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances; those without such registration are exempt.
Staying current with Pennsylvania’s CE requirements protects your license and your patients. Think Dental Learning Institute offers evidence-based, hands-on programs designed for dental professionals who want to satisfy state requirements while building real clinical skills. Review the Board’s current renewal guide and confirm your provider’s accreditation status before registering for your next cycle.
