Recognized Requirements for CE

Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners Continuing Education Rules

R4-11-1204. Dental Hygienists

A dental hygienist shall complete 54 credit hours of recognized continuing dental education* in each renewal period as follows:

1.  At least 31 credit hours in any of the following areas: dental and medical health and dental hygiene services, periodontal disease,  care of implants, maintenance of cosmetic restorations and sealants, radiology safety and techniques, managing medical emergencies, pain management, dental recordkeeping, dental public health, and new concepts in dental hygiene;

2.  No more than 14 credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in one or more of the following; dental hygiene practice organization and management, patient management skills and methods of health care delivery;

3.  At least three credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in one or more of the following areas: chemical dependency, tobacco cessation, ethics, risk management and jurisprudence;

4.  At least three credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in infectious diseases and infectious disease control.

5.  At least three credit hours in CPR, healthcare provider, ACLS and PALS.  Coursework may be completed online if the course requires a physical demonstration of skills.

A licensee who performs dental hygiene services under an affiliated practice relationship who is required to obtain continuing education under R4-11-609 may apply those credit hours to the requirements of this Section.

R4-11-1203. Dentists and Dental Consultants

Dentists and dental consultants shall complete 72 hours of recognized continuing dental education* in each renewal period as follows:

1.  At least 42 credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in one or more of the following areas: dental and medical health, preventative services, dental diagnosis and treatment planning, dental recordkeeping, dental clinical procedures, managing medical emergencies, pain management, dental public health, and courses in corrective and restorative oral health and basic dental sciences which may include current research, new concepts in dentistry, and behavioral and biological sciences that are oriented to dentistry.  A licensee who holds a permit to administer general anesthesia, deep sedation, parenteral sedation, or oral sedation who is required to obtain continuing education pursuant to Article 13 may apply those credit hours to the requirements of this Section;

2.  No more than 18 credit hours of recognized continuing dental education in one or more of the following areas: dental practice organization and management, patient management skills and methods of health care delivery;

3.  At least three credit hours in chemical dependency, which may include tobacco cessation;

4.  At least 3 credit hours in infectious diseases or infectious disease control.

5.  At least three credit hours in CPR healthcare provider, ACLS and PALS.  Coursework may be completed online if the course requires a physical demonstration of skills; and

6.  At least three credit hours in ethics or Arizona dental jurisprudence.

24 hours of self study courses are acceptable for a dental hygienists and dentist's triennial renewal.

*"Recognized continuing dental education" means a program whose content directly relates to the art and science or oral health and treatment, provided by a recognized dental school as defined in ARS 32-12-1(18), recognized dental hygiene school as defined in ARS 32-1201 (17), or sponsored by a national or state dental, dental hygiene association, dental or dental hygiene study club, governmental agency or commercial dental supplier.