Louisiana State Board of Dentistry · DDS/DMD

Louisiana CE Requirements for Dentists (DDS/DMD)

30 hours. Every two years. On a fixed biennial dec31 cycle.

Updated April 2026Sourced from LSBD

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

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 30 hours is the total CE requirement. Louisiana also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Opioid/Substance Use[1]
3 hrs
One-time
3 hours of opioid management CE. Mandated by Louisiana Act 76 of 2017 — the legislature has forbidden the board from renewing the license of any dentist who has failed to take 3 hours of CE on opioid management. Counts toward the regular CE requirement once per career.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Successful completion of this three-hour requirement once during a dentist’s career shall satisfy this requirement in full.”
LAC 46:XXXIII §1611(A)(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Louisiana 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 & Anesthesia[1]
Hrs vary
Ongoing

Dentists holding an adult moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“order to receive or renew a personal moderate sedation permit or a personal deep sedation/general anesthesia permit, the licensee must provide proof of current certification in advanced cardiac life support as defined by the American”
LAC 46:XXXIII §1503.ESee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation & Anesthesia[1]
Hrs vary
Ongoing

Dentists holding a pediatric moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“receive or renew a personal permit with a pediatric certification, the licensee must provide proof of current certification in pediatric life support (PALS), or its equivalent.”
LAC 46:XXXIII §1504.A.4See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit
Credit systemNotes
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers customarily accepted.
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers customarily accepted.
Board-approved credit
min 20 hrs
20 of 30 hours must be personally attended (live in-person). All hours must be clinical.Sourcehttps://www.lsbd.org/conted.htm[2]
Documentation & audit

Dentists are responsible for retaining CE documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

One-time opioid management CE exemption — a dentist may be exempted by certifying via notarized affidavit (mailed to the Board prior to current license expiration) that the dentist has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed a controlled dangerous substance during the entire renewal period. The Board verifies via the Prescription Monitoring Program. A new affidavit must be filed prior to each license renewal; exemptions are valid for only the license period for which the Board has the notarized affidavit on file. If the dentist later prescribes CDS, the Board must be notified and the 3-hour opioid management CE must be obtained.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Louisiana dentists need?
Louisiana dentists must complete 30 hours of clinical continuing education during each two-year biennial renewal period (LAC 46:XXXIII §1611), with 20 of the 30 hours personally attended (live in-person). Completed CE must be reported no later than December 31 — a reporting deadline, not an annual requirement. Since January 2018, all 30 hours must be clinical in nature — non-clinical CE (practice management, communications, marketing) does not count.
Does Louisiana 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 Louisiana, and the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry licenses both under La. R.S. Title 37 Ch. 9. The same 30-hour clinical CE obligation, the same 20-hour personal-attendance requirement, and the same CE Broker reporting requirement apply to every Louisiana dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Louisiana?
ADA CERP-recognized providers and AGD PACE-approved providers are customarily accepted by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, but only for clinical CE — the board's post-2018 rule excludes all non-clinical CE regardless of provider accreditation. CERP-recognized practice management courses, for example, do not count toward Louisiana compliance even though they would count in most other states. CE Broker reporting is required.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Louisiana?
The confirmed structural requirement is that all 30 hours must be clinical in nature, with 20 hours personally attended. Beyond the one-time 3-hour opioid management CE described above, Louisiana's dental CE rules do not enumerate additional per-topic minimums such as infection control or abuse reporting. Sedation permit holders satisfy permit-tier CE under LAC Title 46 Part XXXIII's sedation provisions. DEA-registered dentists are subject to the federal MATE Act 8-hour SUD training as a separate federal obligation.
Where can I check my Louisiana dental license renewal date?
The Louisiana State Board of Dentistry maintains license and renewal information at lsbd.org/renewals.htm. CE Broker (cebroker.com) displays Louisiana CE compliance and renewal information for any registered licensee.

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Other roles in Louisiana

CE requirements for Dentists (DDS/DMD) 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. LAC Title 46, Part XXXIII — Dental Profession Rules
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05
    Show verbatim text
    “Successful completion of this three-hour requirement once during a dentist’s career shall satisfy this requirement in full.”LAC 46:XXXIII §1611(A)(2)
    “order to receive or renew a personal moderate sedation permit or a personal deep sedation/general anesthesia permit, the licensee must provide proof of current certification in advanced cardiac life support as defined by the American”LAC 46:XXXIII §1503.E
    “receive or renew a personal permit with a pediatric certification, the licensee must provide proof of current certification in pediatric life support (PALS), or its equivalent.”LAC 46:XXXIII §1504.A.4
  2. Louisiana State Board of Dentistry — Continuing Education
    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 Louisiana State 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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