Louisiana State Board of Dentistry · DDS/DMD

30 hours. Every year. On a calendar year dec31 cycle.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from LSBD~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

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

Opioid / controlled substances[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
“In order to renew your license starting in 2018 DENTISTS must obtain 3 hours of CE on opioid management. This is a ONE TIME requirement.”
LA Act 76 of 2017; LSBD Continuing Education PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
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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 holding an adult moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Dentists holding an adult moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit must also maintain current ACLS certification.”
LAC 46:XXXIII §1611 G(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[1]
Hrs vary
Ongoing

Dentists holding a pediatric moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Dentists holding a pediatric moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit must also maintain current PALS certification.”
LAC 46:XXXIII §1611 G(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Louisiana 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.
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[1]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME 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
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 verbatim-confirmed structural requirement is that all 30 hours must be clinical in nature, with 20 hours personally attended. Specific topic mandates (infection control, opioid CE, abuse reporting) were not surfaced in our current Layer 1 record. 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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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. Louisiana State Board of Dentistry — Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-05
    Show verbatim text
    “In order to renew your license starting in 2018 DENTISTS must obtain 3 hours of CE on opioid management. This is a ONE TIME requirement.”LA Act 76 of 2017; LSBD Continuing Education Page
    “Dentists holding an adult moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit must also maintain current ACLS certification.”LAC 46:XXXIII §1611 G(1)
    “Dentists holding a pediatric moderate sedation or adult general anesthesia permit must also maintain current PALS certification.”LAC 46:XXXIII §1611 G(2)

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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