Hawaii Board of Dentistry · DDS/DMD

38 hours. Every two years. On a license expiration dec31 odd year cycle.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from HBD~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 38 hours is the total CME requirement. Hawaii also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 38-hour total.

General CME[1]
17 hrs
Biennial
At least 17 of the 38 hours must be clinical courses (directly related to the provision of oral health care and treatment of patients per HAR § 16-79-141(a)(1)(A)).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“38 total”
HAR § 16-79-141(a)(1)(A); Dentist CE Requirements tableSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
6 hrs
Biennial
At least 6 hours of ethics CE per biennium, mandated by HRS § 448-8.5 (Ethics Requirements for Dentists). Counts within the 38-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 6 ethics”
HRS § 448-8.5; HAR § 16-79-141See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cpr[1]
1 hr
Biennial
At least 1, but no more than 4, hours of Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers per biennium. Must be sponsored by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association — completion of a general CPR course will not be sufficient. Counts within the 38-hour total. The hands-on skills portion of BLS is NOT covered by the virtual-CE waiver.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 1 BLS, not more than 4 ... Basic Life Support ("BLS") for Healthcare Providers courses must be sponsored by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Completion of a general CPR course will not be sufficient.”
HAR § 16-79-141; Dentist CE Requirements tableSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Hawaii 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[1]
Hrs vary
Ongoing

Dentists administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A dentist administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation shall be required to complete the Advanced Cardiac Life Support ("ACLS") course or if treating pediatric patients, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support ("PALS") course; provided that both courses shall be completed if the dentist is treating pediatric patients and minors thirteen years or older.”
Dentist CE Requirements FAQ; HAR Ch. 16-79See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Hawaii 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 customarily accepted; HAR § 16-79-142 lists approved sponsors.
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers customarily accepted.
Board-approved credit
CE must be in approved categories (HAR § 16-79-141) and from approved sponsors (HAR § 16-79-142) or previously board-approved courses (HAR § 16-79-143).Sourcehttps://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/dentist/continuing-education-information/[2]
Documentation & audit

Records retention: 4 years per HAR § 16-79-145 — original documentation showing CE completion.

Waivers & exemptions

First-cycle reduced load — dentists initially licensed in the first year of the biennium (e.g., Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024 for the 2024-2025 biennium) must complete 22 CE hours rather than 38: at least 9 clinical, at least 6 ethics, and at least 1 BLS (not more than 4).

First-cycle exemption — dentists initially licensed in the second year of the biennium (e.g., Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025 for the 2024-2025 biennium) are exempt from CE for that initial cycle.

Continuing education is not required for inactive-status licensees, unless applying to reactivate the inactive license. Inactive licenses must still be renewed by Dec 31 of each odd-numbered year to maintain inactive status.

Per HAR § 16-79-147, the Board may waive or modify CE requirements for: (1) full-time service in the U.S. armed forces, (2) incapacitating illness documented by a licensed physician, (3) being disabled and unable to practice, (4) being retired from practice and not performing dental services, or (5) undue hardship or other extenuating circumstances. Waiver request must be submitted before the renewal application.

FAQ
Does Hawaii 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 Hawaii, and the Hawaii Board of Dentistry licenses both under HRS Chapter 448. The same 38-hour biennial CE obligation, the same first-cycle scaling, and the same approved-categories framework apply to every Hawaii dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Hawaii?
ADA CERP-recognized providers and AGD PACE-approved providers are customarily accepted within the Hawaii Board of Dentistry's approved-sponsors list at HAR § 16-79-142. CE must come from a sponsor on the HAR § 16-79-142 list, or be a previously-board-approved course under HAR § 16-79-143. Practice-building or marketing CE is explicitly not eligible — HAR § 16-79-141(a) requires CE to be relevant to patient care.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Hawaii?
Yes. Within the 38-hour biennial total: at least 17 clinical hours (directly related to oral health care and treatment), at least 6 ethics hours (statutorily required by HRS § 448-8.5), and at least 1 BLS hour (no more than 4). BLS must be sponsored by AHA or ARC — courses that "follow AHA standards" but are not AHA/ARC-sponsored are not accepted. Dentists administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation must additionally hold current ACLS (or PALS for pediatric, or both for pediatric + adolescent). DEA-registered dentists are separately subject to the federal MATE Act 8-hour SUD training.
How long do I need to keep my CE records?
Per HAR § 16-79-145, original documentation showing CE completion must be retained for a minimum of 4 years after completion of each CE course. The Board conducts random audits after each biennium closes.
Where can I check my Hawaii dental license renewal date?
Hawaii's eHawaii license verification at pvl.ehawaii.gov/pvlsearch displays Hawaii dental license status and expiration. The Hawaii Board of Dentistry CE Information page at cca.hawaii.gov has current CE rules and renewal FAQs. Licenses expire December 31 of every odd-numbered year. Dentists with anesthesia/sedation privileges cannot renew online — they must mail hardcopy renewals and submit a facility inspection form.

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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. Hawaii Dentist & Dental Hygienist Licenses Renewal Requirements FAQs (Rev. 11-04-2025)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05
    Show verbatim text
    “38 total”HAR § 16-79-141(a)(1)(A); Dentist CE Requirements table
    “At least 6 ethics”HRS § 448-8.5; HAR § 16-79-141
    “At least 1 BLS, not more than 4 ... Basic Life Support ("BLS") for Healthcare Providers courses must be sponsored by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Completion of a general CPR course will not be sufficient.”HAR § 16-79-141; Dentist CE Requirements table
    “A dentist administering general anesthesia or moderate sedation shall be required to complete the Advanced Cardiac Life Support ("ACLS") course or if treating pediatric patients, the Pediatric Advanced Life Support ("PALS") course; provided that both courses shall be completed if the dentist is treating pediatric patients and minors thirteen years or older.”Dentist CE Requirements FAQ; HAR Ch. 16-79
  2. Hawaii Board of Dentistry — Continuing Education Information
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05

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 Hawaii 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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