District of Columbia Dental Continuing Education — Online, Accepted Statewide

District of Columbia Dental CE Requirements

In the District of Columbia, dentists must complete 30 hours and dental hygienists 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years (biennial cycle). Renewals have a birth-month renewal schedule every 2 years. Even or Odd years depends on the year of birth.. DC places no cap on self-study/online CE — up to 100% may be completed through approved internet courses, and both professions must include specific hours in infection control, ethics, LGBTQ cultural competency, and DOH public-health-priority topics.

Renewal is last day of birth month renewal- every 2 years (Odd or even depends on birth month depending of year of birth)

Key District of Columbia requirements & rules:

• 2 hours — Infection Control
• 1 hour — Ethics
• 2 hours — Cultural Competency (LGBTQ patient care)
• 3 hours dentist / 2 hours hygienist — DOH-designated Public Health Priority topics (10% of total hours) satisfies Ethics and Cultural Competency
• 2 hours — Abuse/Misuse of Controlled Substances & Opioid Prescribing (only if DEA-registered to prescribe controlled substances)
• Current CPR/BLS certification
• Self-study cap: none — up to 100% of CE may be completed online through approved providers

Licensing board: District of Columbia Board of Dentistry (DC Health)

View the official District of Columbia dental CE requirements

Information verified July 2026. Always confirm your current requirements with your District of Columbia dental board before renewing — this is a general guide, not legal advice.