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Verify a Professional or Occupational License Covers: Pennsylvania dental licensing board.Pennsylvania dental licensing board
Pennsylvania Dental CE Requirements
Pennsylvania dentists need 30 credit hours of continuing education every 2 years. 1 state-mandated topic may apply, depending on the license and practice.
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At a glance
Pennsylvania dental license renewal
| Licenses covered | Dentist (DDS/DMD) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [1] |
| Hours per CE period | 30 credit hours [1] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [1] |
| Renewal and reporting | During each preceding biennial period, dentists must complete 30 continuing education credit hours, dental hygienists 20 hours, and expanded function dental assistants 10 hours. [1] |
| State-mandated topics | Child abuse recognition and reporting [1] |
| What CE counts | Approved program sponsors include the Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program and ADA-accredited sponsors. [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
- Child abuse recognition and reporting — 2 hours [1]
All licensees and certificate holders must complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting.
Good to know
- At least 50% of the required credit hours must be taken in lecture or clinical presentations. [1]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Pennsylvania dental licensing board ↗ before you renew.
Your next step
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Confirm your due date, complete the required education, and submit to the licensing authority.
Renewal Information Covers: Pennsylvania dental licensing board.Renewal at a glance
| Credential | Dentist, dental hygienist |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | Biennial renewal expiring March 31 of every odd-numbered year. [source] |
| Verified fees | $366 dentist biennial renewal for 2025–2027 / $432 for 2027–2029; $59/$70 dental hygienist; $37/$44 EFDA. [source] |
| Renewal application | Renewal Information |
Fees can differ for active, inactive, late, and reinstatement applications. Your official license record controls your deadline.
Source review dates · 4 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.
- State Board Contact Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- Dentistry | Department of State | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Retrieved Oct 13, 2026
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 33. State Board Of DentistryPennsylvania Code Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
- Renewal Information | Department of State | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Free courses that count toward the hours
Free CE accepted in Pennsylvania
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.
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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.
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Your next credential
Free exam preparation for dental professionals
Explore Pennsylvania and national exam practice for your profession on OpenExamPrep.
OpenExamPrepFree exam preparation Free practice
More exam preparation for dental professionals →Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene Jurisprudence
Free practicePennsylvania Dental Jurisprudence
These are exam-preparation resources, separate from continuing education credit. Exam registration fees and eligibility are set by the exam sponsor.
Questions
Pennsylvania dental CE, answered
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania dentists need?
Pennsylvania dentists need 30 credit hours of continuing education every 2 years. 1 state-mandated topic may apply, depending on the license and practice. During each preceding biennial period, dentists must complete 30 continuing education credit hours, dental hygienists 20 hours, and expanded function dental assistants 10 hours.
Does Pennsylvania require specific CE topics for dentists?
Child abuse recognition and reporting (2 hours): All licensees and certificate holders must complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting.
Do free online CE courses count in Pennsylvania?
Approved program sponsors include the Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program and ADA-accredited sponsors. 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.
- 49 Pa. Code § 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. ↗www.pacodeandbulletin.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (7)
“§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. (a) An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period: (1) Dentists—30 hours. (2) Dental hygienists—20 hours. (3) Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours. (b) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in”
“§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. (a) An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period: (1) Dentists—30 hours. (2) Dental hygienists—20 hours. (3) Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours. (b) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in”
“§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. (a) An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period: (1) Dentists—30 hours. (2) Dental hygienists—20 hours. (3) Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours. (b) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in”
“§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. (a) An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period: (1) Dentists—30 hours. (2) Dental hygienists—20 hours. (3) Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours. (b) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in”
“§ 33.401. Credit-hour requirements. (a) An applicant shall complete the following continuing education credit hours during the preceding biennial period: (1) Dentists—30 hours. (2) Dental hygienists—20 hours. (3) Expanded function dental assistants—10 hours. (b) Except as provided in subsection (h), the required hours shall be taken in”
“will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (h) All licensees and certificate holders shall complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting as set forth in § 33.256 (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement). The Board will not renew a license or certificate unless”
“§ 33.403 (relating to program sponsors). (c) At least 50% of the required credit hours shall be taken in lecture or clinical presentations. (d) A maximum of 50% of the required credit hours, listed in § 33.402, may be taken through individual study, serving as an instructor or author of a book, article”
- 49 Pa. Code § 33.403. Program sponsors. ↗www.pacodeandbulletin.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 28, 2026
Quoted wording (1)
“Pennsylvania Academy of Dental Hygiene Studies. (7) The Academy of General Dentistry National Sponsor Approval Program. (8) The Veterans’ Administration. (9) The United States military services. (10) The National Institutes of Health. (11) The United States Public Health Services.”