Complete your Tennessee dental continuing education requirements with convenient live online webinars from ACES.
Tennessee Dental CE Requirements at a Glance
Tennessee Dental CE Must Be Completed by December 31, 2026
Tennessee dental professionals are currently completing continuing education for the January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 CE cycle.
During each two-year CE cycle, Tennessee dentists must complete 40 CE hours, dental hygienists must complete 30 CE hours, and registered dental assistants must complete 24 CE hours.
The current CE cycle ends on December 31, 2026. This continuing education cycle is separate from an individual professional's license expiration and renewal date.
Why Tennessee Dental Professionals Choose ACES
- Live, interactive online webinars
- All ACES courses are 3 CE credit hours
- Tennessee recognizes live interactive webinars as in-person CE
- ACES reports Tennessee course completions to CE Broker
- Real-time interaction with course instructors
- Attend from home or office
- Daytime, evening and weekend course options
- Easy online registration
- Practical clinical topics for dentists and hygienists
- Courses available throughout the year
- ADA CERP Recognized Provider
Tennessee Dentist Continuing Education Requirements
Tennessee dentists must complete 40 hours of continuing education during each two-year CE cycle.
The current cycle runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
Required Continuing Education
At least 2 of the required 40 CE hours must cover prescribing controlled substances and include instruction in the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines.
Dentists must also maintain a current CPR certification at all times.
Dentists who hold a Limited Conscious Sedation, Comprehensive Conscious Sedation, or Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia permit must complete at least 4 hours of the required 40 hours in sedation and/or anesthesia. Additional ACLS or PALS certification requirements may apply to these permit holders.
Tennessee Dental Hygienist Continuing Education Requirements
Tennessee dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each two-year CE cycle.
The current CE cycle runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
At least 2 of the required 30 CE hours must be completed in chemical dependency education.
Dental hygienists must also maintain a current CPR certification at all times.
Tennessee generally limits dental hygienists to earning no more than 50% of their continuing education through online or web-based education. However, live interactive webinars are considered in-person continuing education under Tennessee rules.
Tennessee Registered Dental Assistant Continuing Education Requirements
Tennessee registered dental assistants must complete 24 hours of continuing education during each two-year CE cycle.
The current CE cycle runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
At least 2 of the required 24 CE hours must be completed in chemical dependency education.
Registered dental assistants must also maintain a current CPR certification at all times.
Can Tennessee Dental Professionals Complete CE Online?
Yes. Tennessee permits qualifying continuing education to be completed online, with specific limits applying to dental hygienists.
Importantly, Tennessee defines a live interactive webinar as in-person continuing education when participants can interact with the presenter in real time.
ACES webinars are live and interactive, giving Tennessee dental professionals the convenience of online learning while participating with instructors in real time.
ACES & CE Broker in Tennessee
The Tennessee Board of Dentistry uses CE Broker to help dental professionals track continuing education and monitor compliance with their CE requirements.
ACES reports Tennessee course completions to CE Broker, helping keep your continuing education record up to date after you complete an eligible ACES live webinar.
Dental professionals should still review their CE Broker account before the end of the December 31, 2026 CE cycle to confirm that all required continuing education has been properly recorded.
Still Need Tennessee CE Hours?
The current Tennessee dental CE cycle ends December 31, 2026. ACES offers live online dental CE webinars throughout the year, making it easy to fit continuing education into your schedule before the deadline.
Each ACES course provides 3 CE credit hours. Whether you are a dentist completing 40 hours, a dental hygienist completing 30 hours, or a registered dental assistant completing 24 hours, you can choose from a wide range of live dental CE topics throughout the month.
View Upcoming Live CE CoursesPopular CE Topics for Tennessee Dental Professionals
DEA 8-Hour Mandatory Training (MATE Act)
DEA-licensed prescribers, including dentists, are subject to the federal one-time 8-hour training requirement on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
View Required CoursesFrequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Tennessee dentists need?
Tennessee dentists must complete 40 CE hours during each two-year continuing education cycle.
How many CE hours do Tennessee dental hygienists need?
Tennessee dental hygienists must complete 30 CE hours during each two-year continuing education cycle.
How many CE hours do Tennessee registered dental assistants need?
Tennessee registered dental assistants must complete 24 CE hours during each two-year continuing education cycle.
When is the current Tennessee dental CE deadline?
The current Tennessee dental CE cycle runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. Required continuing education for this cycle must be completed by the end of the cycle.
Do Tennessee dentists have a required controlled substance CE course?
Yes. At least 2 of the required 40 dentist CE hours must cover prescribing controlled substances and include instruction in the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines.
Do Tennessee dental hygienists and dental assistants need chemical dependency CE?
Yes. Dental hygienists and registered dental assistants must complete at least 2 hours of chemical dependency education during each two-year CE cycle.
Can Tennessee dental professionals complete CE online?
Yes. Tennessee permits qualifying online continuing education. Dental hygienists generally have a limit on web-based CE, but live interactive webinars are considered in-person continuing education.
Do ACES webinars count as live interactive CE in Tennessee?
ACES webinars are conducted live and allow participants to interact with instructors in real time, matching Tennessee's definition of a live interactive webinar.
Does ACES report Tennessee CE to CE Broker?
Yes. ACES reports Tennessee course completions to CE Broker, helping dental professionals keep their continuing education records up to date.
How many CE hours is each ACES webinar?
All ACES live, interactive webinars provide 3 CE credit hours.
Important Notice
ACES strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information regarding Tennessee dental continuing education requirements. Because licensing rules and individual requirements may change, dental professionals should always verify their current requirements and renewal status with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. If you notice any inaccuracies, please email aces@aces4ce.net so we can correct any errors.