Below is exactly what Florida Board of Dentistry requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 9, 2026
For Dentists, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Florida also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.
“A board-approved two (2) hour continuing education course on the prevention of medical errors. To be approved by the board, the course shall include a study of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety.”
“all licensed dentists shall complete a board-approved, two-hour continuing education course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances.”
“the dentist and dental hygienist shall complete a board-approved two (2) hour continuing education course on domestic violence”
“a dentist and dental hygienist shall complete a board approved two (2) hour continuing education course on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).”
“Online training without hands-on training completed in person for certification shall not be accepted by the board.”
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.
Dentists who hold an active sedation permit of any level
“Each Biennium, all dentists who hold an active sedation permit of any level must complete a four hour board-approved continuing education education course in Medical Emergencies.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Florida 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 system | Notes |
|---|---|
ADA CERP | Courses from the American Dental Association, National Dental Association, their constituent/component/affiliate organizations, or provider organizations recognized by either association qualify under Rule 64B5-12.013(6)(b).SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(b)1[1] |
AGD PACE | Courses from the Academy of General Dentistry, its constituent/component organizations, or a provider approved by AGD's national sponsor approval pathway qualify under Rule 64B5-12.013(6)(b).SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(b)3[1] |
Board-approved credit | Courses offered by Florida Board-approved continuing education providers qualify; provider applications and renewals are handled through CE Broker.SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(a); R. 64B5-12.017[1] |
Board-approved pro bono programs max 6 hrs | Substantial pro bono dental or dental hygiene services through board-approved programs may count up to 6 hours per biennium, one CE credit per hour of patient services.SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(e)[1] |
Adjunct or part-time faculty teaching | Adjunct or part-time teaching at a qualifying dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting school earns 3 CE hours per semester/quarter with documentation.SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(g)[1] |
Board disciplinary meeting attendance max 4 hrs | Attendance at Board of Dentistry meetings where disciplinary cases are considered may count hour-for-hour up to 4 hours per renewal cycle, if the licensee is not attending as a party to a disciplinary action.SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(6)(h)[1] |
Practice management max 3 hrs | Approved dentistry practice-management courses may count up to 3 hours per biennium.SourceFla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.016(4)[1] |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
Licensees are excused from general CE during the biennium in which they receive initial licensure, but Rule 64B5-12.0135(4) says this does not relieve statutory training obligations for medical errors, domestic violence when due, HIV/AIDS, or controlled-substance prescribing.
Dentists enrolled full-time in a post-graduate specialty training or residency program at a CODA-accredited dental school are excused from general CE for that biennium, subject to the statutory-topic carve-out in Rule 64B5-12.0135(4).
Dentists serving as full-time faculty at a CODA-accredited dental, dental hygiene, or dental assisting school are excused from general CE for that biennium, subject to the statutory-topic carve-out in Rule 64B5-12.0135(4).
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
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.
“A board-approved two (2) hour continuing education course on the prevention of medical errors. To be approved by the board, the course shall include a study of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety.”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(2)(a)
“all licensed dentists shall complete a board-approved, two-hour continuing education course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances.”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(5); F.S. Section 456.0301
“the dentist and dental hygienist shall complete a board-approved two (2) hour continuing education course on domestic violence”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(3); F.S. Section 456.031
“a dentist and dental hygienist shall complete a board approved two (2) hour continuing education course on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(4); F.S. Section 456.033
“Online training without hands-on training completed in person for certification shall not be accepted by the board.”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-12.013(2)(b)
“Each Biennium, all dentists who hold an active sedation permit of any level must complete a four hour board-approved continuing education education course in Medical Emergencies.”Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B5-14.004(1)-(3)