Dental Board of California · DDS/DMD

50 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Dental Board of California requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated May 2026Sourced from DBC~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. California also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 50-hour total.

Infectious disease[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-unit, Board-approved Infection Control course. Must be taken through a Board-approved Registered Provider. CERP/PACE providers do NOT satisfy this.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two units of continuing education in Infection Control specific to California regulations as defined in Section 1016(b)(1)(A).”
16 CCR § 1017(a)(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-unit, Board-approved course on the California Dental Practice Act.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two units of continuing education in the California Dental Practice Act and its related regulations as defined in Section 1016(b)(1)(B).”
16 CCR § 1017(a)(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cpr[1]
4 hrs
Biennial
Maximum 4 units BLS, must be live with in-person skills practice, skills test, and written exam. ARC, AHA, ASHI, CERP, or PACE-approved BLS providers accepted.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A maximum of four units of a course in Basic Life Support as specified in Section 1016(b)(1)(C).”
16 CCR § 1017(a)(3); § 1016(b)(1)(C)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-unit, Board-approved course on Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Only dentists shall be required to complete two units of continuing education on the subjects set forth in 1016(b)(1)(D).”
16 CCR § 1017(a)(4); § 1016(b)(1)(D)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your California cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalSedation[2]
24 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding a General Anesthesia Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| General Anesthesia Permit | 24 |”
16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[2]
15 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding a Moderate Sedation Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Moderate Sedation Permit | 15 |”
16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[2]
7 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding an Oral Conscious Sedation Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Oral Conscious Sedation Permit | 7 |”
16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[2]
7 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding a Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit | 7 |”
DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[2]
24 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding an Elective Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Elective Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit | 24 |”
DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[2]
50 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery <br> Permit | 50 |”
DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[2]
25 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding a Special Permit (Faculty)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“| Special Permit (Faculty) | 25 |”
DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, California Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted for general dentist CE (NOT for the four board-mandated courses, except BLS).Sourcehttps://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dentist_continuing_education.shtml[2]
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers accepted for general dentist CE (NOT for the four board-mandated courses, except BLS).Sourcehttps://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dentist_continuing_education.shtml[2]
Board-approved credit
max 25 hrs
CE Registered Providers licensed by the Dental Board of California. 50% of the 50-unit total may be non-live (max 25 units self-study/correspondence).Sourcehttps://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dentist_continuing_education.shtml[2]
Documentation & audit

Records must be retained for 3 renewal periods (6 years). The Board conducts random monthly CE audits.

Waivers & exemptions

First-renewal exemption: License and permit holders are not required to complete CE the first time they renew their license.

Inactive status license holders are exempt from CE.

Retired dentists in uncompensated-practice-only status complete 30 units (not 50) per biennium, including the mandatory courses.

Dentists who have not practiced in California for more than one year due to disability may renew without meeting CE requirements during that renewal period.

Renewal requirements, including CE, may be waived for dentists on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces while active duty status continues.

FAQ
Does California treat DDS and DMD differently for CE purposes?
No. The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degrees are equivalent in California, and the Dental Board of California licenses both under the same Business & Professions Code provisions. The same 50-unit biennial CE obligation, the same four mandatory courses, and the same media-format limits apply to every California dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in California?
Partially. ADA CERP-recognized providers and AGD PACE-approved providers are accepted for general dentist CE — the bulk of the 50-unit total — but the four mandatory courses (Infection Control, California Dental Practice Act, Schedule II Opioid Prescribing) must come from California Dental Board-approved Registered Providers. The only mandatory course where CERP or PACE alone is acceptable is BLS, and BLS still must be live with an in-person skills check.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in California?
Yes. Four board-mandated courses are required for every California dentist's biennial renewal: a 2-unit Board-approved Infection Control course; a 2-unit Board-approved course on the California Dental Practice Act; up to 4 units of Basic Life Support (live, with skills check); and a 2-unit Board-approved course on Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs. Sedation permit holders satisfy the per-permit CE count under 16 CCR § 1017, with the rule that the total CE required is the larger of the dentist license and any permit, not the sum.
Where can I check my California dental license renewal date?
The DCA BreEZe License Search at search.dca.ca.gov displays renewal status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions for any California dentist. The Dental Board of California also maintains a Registered Provider list and per-mandatory-course provider lookups at dbc.ca.gov/licensees/dentist_continuing_education.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. 16 CCR § 1017 — Continuing Education Units Required for Renewal of License or Permit
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-10
    Show verbatim text
    “Two units of continuing education in Infection Control specific to California regulations as defined in Section 1016(b)(1)(A).”16 CCR § 1017(a)(1)
    “Two units of continuing education in the California Dental Practice Act and its related regulations as defined in Section 1016(b)(1)(B).”16 CCR § 1017(a)(2)
    “A maximum of four units of a course in Basic Life Support as specified in Section 1016(b)(1)(C).”16 CCR § 1017(a)(3); § 1016(b)(1)(C)
    “Only dentists shall be required to complete two units of continuing education on the subjects set forth in 1016(b)(1)(D).”16 CCR § 1017(a)(4); § 1016(b)(1)(D)
  2. Dental Board of California — Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal of a License or Permit
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-10
    Show verbatim text
    “| General Anesthesia Permit | 24 |”16 CCR § 1017
    “| Moderate Sedation Permit | 15 |”16 CCR § 1017
    “| Oral Conscious Sedation Permit | 7 |”16 CCR § 1017
    “| Pediatric Minimal Sedation Permit | 7 |”DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017
    “| Elective Facial Cosmetic Surgery Permit | 24 |”DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017
    “| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery <br> Permit | 50 |”DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017
    “| Special Permit (Faculty) | 25 |”DBC CE Unit Requirements; 16 CCR § 1017

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CE requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Dental Board of California, or any other state dental board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Dentists are solely responsible for verifying their own current CE requirements directly with their state dental board before relying on any information presented here.

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