EFFECTIVE 3/22/20: 
IMPORTANT: NOTICE FROM PA DEPT OF STATE REGARDING CE REQUIREMENTS DUE TO PANDEMIC

Pennsylvania dental licenses renew on April 1 of each odd-numbered year. During the two-year period prior to renewal (April 1 of an odd-numbered year to March 31 of an odd-numbered year), the State Board of Dentistry requires the following minimum number of credits:

  • 30 hours for dentists
  • 15 hours (as part of the above 30-hour requirement) for anesthesia permit holders
  • 20 hours for dental hygienists
  • 5 hours (as part of the above 20-hour requirement) for public health dental hygienists in public health related courses.
  • 3 hours (as part of the above 20-hour requirement) for dental hygienists with a local anesthesia permit.
  • 10 hours for EFDAs

ONLINE CPR COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE TO FULFILL THE CPR REQUIREMENT BY THE PA STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY.

Please note: Credit will not be awarded for repeating a program in the same renewal period unless the subject matter has substantially changed during that period.

CE credit hours must be completed in subject areas directly related to the maintenance of the clinical competence of a dentist, dental hygienist or expanded function dental assistant (EFDA). You should also be aware that other governmental agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, require additional CE and/or training, but not as a condition of license renewal.

NOTE ABOUT THE CHILD ABUSE COURSE: The child abuse course must be taken EVERY TWO YEARS for each new license renewal period. If you take the course at Bala Institute of Oral Surgery, your credits are submitted electronically from our organization to the state upon completion of the course. 


On August 5, 2021, the Department of State sent out a notification that effective September 30, 2021 the continuing education restriction will expire. Therefore, all CE credits will need to be fulfilled for the current biennial renewal period as per the following requirements:

Dentists: 30 hours every two years (15 hours or 50% must be in person)
Dental Hygienists: 20 hours every two years (10 hours or 50% must be in person)