Pennsylvania Dental CE Requirements & License Renewal

Pennsylvania Dental CE Requirements at a Glance

Pennsylvania Dental Continuing Education Requirements

Pennsylvania dentists, dental hygienists and expanded function dental assistants must complete continuing education during each 2-year renewal cycle to maintain an active license or certificate.

For the current renewal period:

• Dentists: 30 hours of continuing education
• Dental Hygienists: 20 hours of continuing education
• Expanded Function Dental Assistants: 10 hours of continuing education

The current Pennsylvania dental licensing period runs from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027.

At least 50% of the required CE hours must be completed through lecture or clinical presentations. Pennsylvania distinguishes these formats from individual study, which is limited to no more than 50% of the total requirement.

Live, real-time webinars that allow attendees to interact with the instructor are considered lecture-format continuing education. ACES webinars are always live and interactive, allowing Pennsylvania dental professionals to earn qualifying lecture credit remotely.

Pennsylvania Dentist Continuing Education Requirements

Pennsylvania dentists must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education during each 2-year renewal period.

Important requirements include:

• Lecture or Clinical Education: At least 50% of the required CE hours must be completed through lecture or clinical presentations.
• Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: Two of the required 30 hours must be completed through a Pennsylvania-approved child-abuse training provider.
• CPR Certification: Dentists must maintain current CPR certification. Hours used to obtain CPR certification do not count toward the regular 30-hour CE requirement.
• Approved Subjects: CE must contribute directly to the maintenance of clinical competence and must be provided by an approved program sponsor.

Because ACES courses are presented live and include real-time interaction with the instructor, they can be used to build the lecture portion of a Pennsylvania dentist’s CE schedule.

Pennsylvania Dental Hygienist Continuing Education Requirements

Pennsylvania dental hygienists must complete 20 hours of approved continuing education during each 2-year renewal period.

Important requirements include:

• Lecture or Clinical Education: At least 50% of the required CE hours must be completed through lecture or clinical presentations.
• Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: Two of the required 20 hours must be completed through a Pennsylvania-approved child-abuse training provider.
• CPR Certification: Dental hygienists must maintain current CPR certification. CPR certification hours do not count toward the regular 20-hour CE requirement.
• Communication Skills: Dental hygienists may complete no more than 3 of the required 20 hours in communication-skills courses.

Additional requirements apply to certain Pennsylvania dental hygienists:

• Local Anesthesia Permit Holders: Three of the required 20 hours must relate to local anesthesia administration, pharmacology or related subjects.
• Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners: Five of the required 20 hours must be completed in public-health-related courses.

ACES offers 3-hour live interactive webinars, allowing Pennsylvania dental hygienists to earn lecture-format CE while attending remotely.

Pennsylvania EFDA Continuing Education Requirements

Pennsylvania expanded function dental assistants must complete 10 hours of approved continuing education during each 2-year renewal period.

Two of the required 10 hours must be completed in approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training. EFDAs must also maintain current CPR certification.

Certain EFDAs are required to complete 3 hours of continuing education in coronal polishing. This requirement must be completed through physical attendance at a hands-on clinical course and may not be satisfied through an online or distance-learning course.

Exemptions may apply to EFDAs who are also licensed dental hygienists or who previously completed qualifying coronal-polishing education. EFDAs should confirm whether this requirement applies to their individual certification with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry.

Pennsylvania’s Lecture and Clinical CE Requirement

At least 50% of the continuing education required for Pennsylvania dentists, dental hygienists and EFDAs must be completed through lecture or clinical presentations.

Individual study is limited to no more than 50% of the total CE requirement. Individual study generally refers to education completed without interaction with an instructor or the use of interactive learning methods.

Live, interactive webinars are different from individual study because the course is presented in real time and attendees can communicate with the instructor during the presentation.

Do Live Webinars Count as Pennsylvania Dental CE?

Yes. A live webinar conducted in real time with opportunities for attendees to communicate and ask questions is considered a lecture-format continuing education course in Pennsylvania.

ACES courses are presented live by an instructor and include real-time participation and interaction. Nothing is prerecorded.

ACES is also an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. Pennsylvania includes the American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program among its approved program sponsors.

Coursework must still cover subject matter accepted by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry and apply to the individual licensee’s requirements.

Pennsylvania Child Abuse Training Requirement

Pennsylvania dentists, dental hygienists and expanded function dental assistants must complete 2 hours of approved continuing education in child-abuse recognition and reporting during each renewal period.

These hours are included within the licensee’s overall CE requirement rather than added to it.

The training must be completed through a child-abuse education provider specifically approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The approved provider must electronically report completion to the appropriate Pennsylvania licensing bureau.

This is a Pennsylvania-specific approval and reporting requirement. Licensees should confirm that a course appears on the Commonwealth’s approved provider list before registering.

Pennsylvania CPR Certification Requirement

Pennsylvania dentists, dental hygienists and expanded function dental assistants must maintain current CPR certification as a condition of renewal.

CPR certification is separate from the general continuing education requirement. Hours completed to obtain or renew CPR certification do not count toward the required 30, 20 or 10 CE hours.

Dental professionals should complete CPR certification separately through an appropriate CPR course or provider.

DEA Opioid Training for Pennsylvania Dentists

Under the federal Medication Access and Training Expansion Act, commonly called the MATE Act, dentists applying for or renewing a DEA registration must satisfy a one-time 8-hour training requirement.

The training must address the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance-use disorders or the safe pharmacological management of dental pain.

This is a federal DEA registration requirement and is separate from Pennsylvania’s dental license renewal requirements.

Accepted Dental Continuing Education Subjects in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania continuing education must contribute directly to the maintenance of clinical competence. Qualifying subjects may include:

• Diagnosis and treatment of oral pathology
• Clinical and technological subjects
• Emergency procedures, excluding CPR certification hours
• Infection control
• Abuse and neglect
• Medical and scientific subjects
• Laws and regulations affecting dental professionals

Courses in billing, office management, practice building and insurance reimbursement generally do not qualify for Pennsylvania dental CE credit.

Dental hygienists may earn a limited number of hours in communication skills, subject to Pennsylvania’s 3-hour maximum.

Why Pennsylvania Dental Professionals Choose ACES

Pennsylvania Dental License Renewal

Pennsylvania dental licenses and EFDA certificates operate on a 2-year renewal cycle.

The current renewal period runs from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027. The next Pennsylvania dental license renewal deadline is March 31, 2027.

Before renewing, licensees should confirm that they have:

• Completed the required number of CE hours
• Met the lecture or clinical education requirement
• Completed the required Pennsylvania-approved child-abuse training
• Maintained current CPR certification
• Completed any requirements associated with permits or additional certifications
• Retained documentation of completed continuing education

Pennsylvania may audit licensees for compliance, so CE certificates and supporting records should be retained as required by the Board.

Complete Your Pennsylvania Dental CE Requirements Early

With a March 31, 2027 deadline, completing continuing education early can help Pennsylvania dental professionals avoid searching for qualifying courses during the final weeks of the renewal period.

ACES offers live interactive webinars throughout the year, allowing dentists, dental hygienists and EFDAs to spread out their CE hours and attend on a schedule that works for them.

Each ACES course provides 3 CE hours, making it easy to build toward Pennsylvania’s continuing education requirements.

Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry

For the most current Pennsylvania dental continuing education requirements, approved child-abuse training information and license-renewal details, visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry.

Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry
Visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry

Pennsylvania Dental Continuing Education Regulations
Review Pennsylvania’s CE Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions