Connecticut Department of Public Health — Dental Commission · DDS/DMD

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

Below is exactly what Connecticut Department of Public Health — Dental Commission requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from CDPH—DC~5 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated May 5, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 25 hours is the total CME requirement. Connecticut also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 25-hour total.

Infectious Disease[1]
1 hr
Biennial
Minimum 1 contact hour of CE in infection control in a dental setting per biennium. Counts within the 25-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“(B) for registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, infection control in a dental setting”
CT DPH Dentist CE InformationSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid/Substance Use[1]
1 hr
Biennial
Minimum 1 contact hour of CE in prescribing controlled substances and pain management per biennium. Counts within the 25-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“(C) prescribing controlled substances and pain management”
CT DPH Dentist CE InformationSee source [1] in Primary Sources
General[1]
3 hrs
Biennial
Per CT DPH guidance, the 25-hour total must also include not less than 1 contact hour each in any THREE of the ten Commissioner-prescribed mandatory topics (licensee chooses which 3): behavioral health, sexual assault and domestic abuse, cultural competence, veterans' health, diagnostic technology, risk management/recordkeeping, HIPAA, access to care, medical emergencies/CPR, and one rotating topic.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“three of the ten mandatory topics for continuing education activities prescribed by the Commissioner”
CT DPH Dentist CE Information ('any three of the ten')See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Connecticut cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Connecticut 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 / AGD
ADA-affiliated state, district, and local dental associations and societies; explicit acceptance.SourceCT DPH Dentist CE Information[1]
CODA-accredited
CODA-accredited dental schools and CODA-recognized programs/agencies.SourceCT DPH Dentist CE Information[1]
AMA PRA Category 1
Local, state, or national medical associations and ACGME-accredited postgraduate training programs are explicitly listed.SourceCT DPH Dentist CE Information[1]
Documentation & audit

Records retention: 3 years.

Waivers & exemptions

First-renewal CE exemption — a licensee applying for license renewal for the first time is exempt from continuing education requirements until such licensee's next registration period.

Waiver pathway for licensees with medical disability or who are not in active practice.

FAQ
Does Connecticut 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 Connecticut, and the Connecticut Department of Public Health licenses both under the same Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 379 provisions. The same 25-hour biennial CE obligation and the same ten mandatory topic categories apply to every Connecticut dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Connecticut?
Yes, functionally. The Connecticut Department of Public Health rule explicitly lists ADA-affiliated state, district, and local dental associations and AGD courses as qualifying providers, which encompasses essentially all ADA CERP-recognized and AGD PACE-approved providers. CODA-accredited dental school courses, CODA-recognized agencies, medical associations, hospitals, and ACGME-accredited training all qualify as well.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Connecticut?
Yes — ten of them. Every Connecticut dentist's biennial CE must address: prescribing controlled substances and pain management, record-keeping and risk management, infection control, access to care, HIPAA compliance, medical emergencies in the dental office (including current CPR training), sexual assault and domestic abuse, cultural competence, mental health conditions common to veterans, and diagnostic technology. The rule uses an "include topic" framing rather than per-topic hour minimums.
Where can I check my Connecticut dental license renewal date?
Connecticut DPH maintains a license verification search at elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx. The DPH Dental Commission page at portal.ct.gov/dph displays renewal information and the current CE rules.

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Other roles in Connecticut

Dentists (DDS/DMD) CME requirements in other states

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. Connecticut Department of Public Health — Dentist Continuing Education Information
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “(B) for registration periods beginning on and after October 1, 2016, infection control in a dental setting”CT DPH Dentist CE Information
    “(C) prescribing controlled substances and pain management”CT DPH Dentist CE Information
    “three of the ten mandatory topics for continuing education activities prescribed by the Commissioner”CT DPH Dentist CE Information ('any three of the ten')

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 Connecticut Department of Public Health — Dental Commission, 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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