District of Columbia Board of Dentistry · DDS/DMD

30 hours. Every two years. On a license expiration birth month cycle.

Below is exactly what District of Columbia Board of Dentistry requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from DCBD~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 5, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. District of Columbia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Infectious disease[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 hours of infection control in approved continuing education programs, counted within the 30-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two (2) hours of infection control in approved continuing education programs”
17 DCMR § 4206.5(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1 hour of ethics in approved continuing education programs, counted within the 30-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“One (1) hour of ethics in approved continuing education programs”
17 DCMR § 4206.5(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cultural competency[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 hours of cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as LGBTQ, per Section 510(b)(5) of the DC Health Occupations Revision Act.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two (2) hours of continuing education on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression ("LGBTQ")”
17 DCMR § 4206.5(d); D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)See source [1] in Primary Sources
General CME[2]
3 hrs
Biennial
At least 10% of the 30-hour total (i.e., 3 hours) must be in subjects identified by the DC Health Director as public health priorities. The 2025 Public Notice (effective October 1, 2025) identifies the current priority subjects.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District”
17 DCMR § 4206.5(e)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Cpr[1]
0 hrs
Ongoing
Current CPR certification for health care providers required (a certification, not an hour-bearing CE line item). Approved internet courses may satisfy CPR/BLS/PALS/ACLS requirements per § 4206.8.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification for health care providers ("CPR certification")”
17 DCMR § 4206.5(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your District of Columbia 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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

Dentists permitted by the DEA and DC Pharmaceutical Control Division to prescribe controlled substances in the District

View sourceVerbatim from source
“shall complete two (2) hours of continuing education in the abuse and misuse of controlled substances, and in opioid prescription practices. This continuing education shall be as part of the continuing education hours required under Subsection 4206.4 and 4206.5 of this chapter.”
17 DCMR § 4206.6See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, District of Columbia 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
Board-approved credit
A continuing education credit shall be valid only if it is part of a program or activity approved by the Board.Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Chapter.42.Dentistry.3.26.21.pdf[1]
ADA CERP / AGD PACE
ADA CERP and AGD PACE provider acceptance customary; full sponsor list in 17 DCMR Ch. 42 not pulled verbatim. Approved internet/online formats are explicitly permitted for CPR/BLS/PALS/ACLS per § 4206.8.
Documentation & audit

Renewal cadence changed effective June 16, 2024: licenses now expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month. Prior rule was Dec 31 of odd-numbered years. New applicants and renewals from September 2024 onward use the birth-month basis.

Waivers & exemptions

Continuing education is not required for first-time renewal applicants.

FAQ
When does my DC dental license expire?
Effective June 16, 2024, DC dental licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month — not on December 31 of odd years as the prior rule required. New applicants and renewals from September 2024 forward use the birth-month basis.
Does DC 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 the District of Columbia, and the DC Health Board of Dentistry licenses both under 17 DCMR Chapter 42. The same 30-hour biennial CE obligation and the same mandatory subject carve-outs apply to every DC dentist regardless of degree title.
Does the DEA controlled substance opioid CE count toward the 30 hours?
Yes. Per 17 DCMR § 4206.6, the 2-hour controlled substance / opioid prescribing CE for DEA-permitted dentists counts within the 30 hours required under § 4206.4 and § 4206.5, not in addition.
Are first-time renewals exempt from CE in DC?
Yes. The DC Board of Dentistry expressly exempts first-time renewal applicants from the CE requirement.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in DC?
ADA CERP-recognized providers and AGD PACE-approved providers are customarily accepted in DC, but the controlling rule is that "a continuing education credit shall be valid only if it is part of a program or activity approved by the Board." Approved internet courses are explicitly permitted for the CPR, BLS, PALS, and ACLS components per § 4206.8. Atlas CME has not pulled the explicit named provider list from 17 DCMR Chapter 42; dentists relying on edge-case CE should confirm board approval directly.
Where can I check my DC dental license renewal date?
DC Health maintains license verification at dchealth.my.site.com/dchpla/s/license-verification. License expiration is now tied to the licensee's birth month for licenses issued on or after June 16, 2024.

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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. 17 DCMR Chapter 42 — Dentistry
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05
    Show verbatim text
    “Two (2) hours of infection control in approved continuing education programs”17 DCMR § 4206.5(b)
    “One (1) hour of ethics in approved continuing education programs”17 DCMR § 4206.5(c)
    “Two (2) hours of continuing education on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression ("LGBTQ")”17 DCMR § 4206.5(d); D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)
    “Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification for health care providers ("CPR certification")”17 DCMR § 4206.5(a)
    “shall complete two (2) hours of continuing education in the abuse and misuse of controlled substances, and in opioid prescription practices. This continuing education shall be as part of the continuing education hours required under Subsection 4206.4 and 4206.5 of this chapter.”17 DCMR § 4206.6
  2. DC Health Director's Public Health Priorities for CE (effective October 1, 2025)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05
    Show verbatim text
    “At least ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District”17 DCMR § 4206.5(e)

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 District of Columbia Board of Dentistry, 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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