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Iowa Dental Board license search Covers: Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.Iowa DIAL — Dental Board
Iowa Dental CE Requirements
Iowa dentists need 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. 2 state-mandated topics may apply, depending on the license and practice.
Need your license record? Jump to lookup, verification & renewal ↓Free CE courses ↓Exam preparation ↓
At a glance
Iowa dental license renewal
| Licenses covered | Dentist (DDS/DMD) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [1] |
| Hours per CE period | 30 hours [1] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [1] |
| Renewal and reporting | To renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. [1] |
| State-mandated topics | Infection control standards; Iowa jurisprudence [1] |
| What CE counts | Continuing education programs developed or approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and other dental specialty organizations meet Iowa Dental Board criteria. [2] |
This summary covers the licenses listed above. The topics below are selected verified requirements; consult the board’s full rules for all subjects and conditions.
State-mandated topics
- Infection control standards — 1 hour [1]
Licensees must complete a minimum of 1 hour every two years in the area of infection control standards as required by the CDC.
- Iowa jurisprudence — 1 hour [1]
Licensees must complete a minimum of 1 hour every two years in the area of Iowa jurisprudence.
Good to know
- Dentists who prescribe opioids must complete a minimum of 1 hour of continuing education in the area of opioids, and dental assistants must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years. [1]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Iowa DIAL — Dental Board ↗ before you renew.
Your next step
Look up. Verify. Renew.
Verify a credential
A public search may be enough for a status check. Another board or employer may require a verification sent directly by the issuer.
Check verification instructions Confirm the recipient’s required format and any fee.Renew your license
Confirm your due date, complete the required education, and submit to the licensing authority.
Find renewal instructions Use the board’s renewal menu for your credential.Renewal at a glance
| Credential | Dentist, dental hygienist |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | Confirm the cycle and expiration date for your specific license with the board. |
| Verified fees | $315 Dentist renewal fee. [source] |
| Renewal application | Board instructions |
Fees can differ for active, inactive, late, and reinstatement applications. Your official license record controls your deadline.
Source review dates · 2 sources
Dates show when we retrieved the source pages. They do not certify a person’s license, guarantee a portal is online, or establish that every renewal rule was reviewed.
- Dentistry | Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- Dentists | Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
Free courses that count toward the hours
Free CE accepted in Iowa
The board accepts continuing education accredited by AGD PACE [2]. These current free courses state that accreditation. State-mandated topics can require a specific approved course, so check those separately.
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demand10 Radiologic diagnoses every dentist should know Part 1
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “10 Radiologic diagnoses every dentist should know Part 1” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
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Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demand10 Radiologic diagnoses every dentist should know Part 2
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “10 Radiologic diagnoses every dentist should know Part 2” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
Checked Oct 23, 2026
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demand5 Steps to Practicing Dentistry Pain-free
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “5 Steps to Practicing Dentistry Pain-free” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
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Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demandA Dental and Dental Hygiene Faculty Webinar-Preparing for Gen Z: Technology, Tech Shame, and the Workplace
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “A Dental and Dental Hygiene Faculty Webinar-Preparing for Gen Z: Technology, Tech Shame, and the Workplace” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
Checked Oct 23, 2026
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demandA Palette of Plant-based Dietary Patterns: How do they Impact Oral Health?
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “A Palette of Plant-based Dietary Patterns: How do they Impact Oral Health?” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
Checked Oct 23, 2026
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demandA Role for Oral Care in the Prevention of Hospital-Associated Pneumonia
A Colgate Oral Health Network reading activity on “A Role for Oral Care in the Prevention of Hospital-Associated Pneumonia” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
Checked Oct 23, 2026
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demandA smile makeover; going from Point A to Point B
A Colgate Oral Health Network reading activity on “A smile makeover; going from Point A to Point B” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
Checked Oct 23, 2026
Colgate Oral Health NetworkFree
Available on demandAccelerating Best Practice in Medical-Dental Integration
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “Accelerating Best Practice in Medical-Dental Integration” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
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Available on demandAchieving Sustainable Behavior Change
A Colgate Oral Health Network recorded webinar on “Achieving Sustainable Behavior Change” for dental professionals. Includes an evaluation and CE assessment.
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Your next credential
Free exam preparation for dental professionals
Explore Iowa and national exam practice for your profession on OpenExamPrep.
OpenExamPrepFree exam preparationThese are exam-preparation resources, separate from continuing education credit. Exam registration fees and eligibility are set by the exam sponsor.
Questions
Iowa dental CE, answered
How many CE hours do Iowa dentists need?
Iowa dentists need 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. 2 state-mandated topics may apply, depending on the license and practice. To renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
Does Iowa require specific CE topics for dentists?
Infection control standards (1 hours): Licensees must complete a minimum of 1 hour every two years in the area of infection control standards as required by the CDC. Iowa jurisprudence (1 hours): Licensees must complete a minimum of 1 hour every two years in the area of Iowa jurisprudence.
Do free online CE courses count in Iowa?
Continuing education programs developed or approved by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and other dental specialty organizations meet Iowa Dental Board criteria. Free courses accredited by AGD PACE are listed on this page; a state-mandated topic may need a specific approved course.
Sources & verification
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. We fetched each page on the date shown and confirmed the exact wording below appears on it.
- Continuing Education Required for Renewal | Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing ↗dial.iowa.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (8)
“education components. Dentists & Dental HygienistsTo renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption. Licensees are also required to complete a minimum of one hour each in the following areas:Infection controlIowa jurisprudenceOpioids*Sedation***Only required for”
“education components. Dentists & Dental HygienistsTo renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption. Licensees are also required to complete a minimum of one hour each in the following areas:Infection controlIowa jurisprudenceOpioids*Sedation***Only required for”
“education components. Dentists & Dental HygienistsTo renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption. Licensees are also required to complete a minimum of one hour each in the following areas:Infection controlIowa jurisprudenceOpioids*Sedation***Only required for”
“education components. Dentists & Dental HygienistsTo renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption. Licensees are also required to complete a minimum of one hour each in the following areas:Infection controlIowa jurisprudenceOpioids*Sedation***Only required for”
“education components. Dentists & Dental HygienistsTo renew on active status, dentists and dental hygienists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years or qualify for an exemption. Licensees are also required to complete a minimum of one hour each in the following areas:Infection controlIowa jurisprudenceOpioids*Sedation***Only required for”
“the certification being issued.Infection ControlMust complete a minimum of one hour every two years in the area of infection control standards as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Iowa JurisprudenceMust complete a minimum of one hour every two years in the area of Iowa jurisprudence.Abuse Identification and Reporting TrainingEffective July”
“Disease Control and Prevention.Iowa JurisprudenceMust complete a minimum of one hour every two years in the area of Iowa jurisprudence.Abuse Identification and Reporting TrainingEffective July 1, 2019, licensees and registrants who practice in Iowa, must complete training through the Department”
“completed, for a possible total of four hours. OpioidsDentists who prescribe opioids to patients must complete a minimum of one hour of continuing education in the area of opioids.SedationSix hours for dentists who hold a current moderate sedation or general anesthesia or permit. These hours may also be reported towards the hours required”
- Continuing Education | Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing ↗dial.iowa.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (1)
“these criteria.American Dental Association (ADA)Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)Other Dental Specialty Organization Acceptable Continuing Education Programs and Activities The following types of courses are eligible for the purposes of renewal:Dental”