Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners · DDS/DMD

30 hours. Every two years. On a license expiration june30 cycle.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MSBDE~5 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated May 12, 2026

Mandatory topics

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

Infectious Disease[1]
3 hrs
Biennial
3 hours of infection control CE every renewal cycle for renewals in 2025 and thereafter (increased from prior 2-hour requirement under §L). Must be a single 3-hour course teaching the CDC's Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee seeking renewal in 2025 and thereafter shall complete a Board-approved course of 3 hours in infection control every renewal cycle.”
COMAR 10.44.22.04(M)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Abuse Reporting & Mandatory Reporter[1]
2 hrs
Quadrennial
2-hour Board-approved abuse and neglect course required every OTHER renewal cycle (every 4 years on the biennial renewal cadence) per §O(1). Must relate to Maryland law on abuse and neglect. Counts toward the 30-hour CE total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee seeking renewal shall complete a Board-approved course of 2 hours in abuse and neglect.”
COMAR 10.44.22.04(N)-(O) (§O(1): 'Be completed by each licensee every other renewal cycle'; §O(2)-(3): Maryland-law component, counts toward the 30)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid/Substance Use[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-hour Board-approved course on proper prescribing and disposal of prescription drugs required of dentists seeking renewal (dentist-only — not required of hygienists). Counts toward the 30-hour CE total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A dentist seeking renewal shall complete a 2-hour Board- approved course on proper prescribing and disposal of prescription drugs, which shall count toward the 30 full hours of required continuing education.”
COMAR 10.44.22.04(P)See source [1] in Primary Sources
CPR / BLS[1]
0 hrs
Ongoing
Current CPR certification required from AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers, ARC Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Professional Rescuers, or an equivalent Board-approved program. CPR certification cannot lapse while licensed.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee shall maintain cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification from one of the following programs:”
COMAR 10.44.22.04(K)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Maryland cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Maryland 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
Live/webinar (min 13 hrs)
min 13 hrs
Minimum 13 of the 30 hours must be completed via in-person Board-approved courses or real-time webinars with interactive Q&A capability.SourceCOMAR 10.44.22.04(C) (§D defines qualifying real-time interactive webinars)[1]
Self-study (max 17 hrs)
max 17 hrs
Maximum 17 of the 30 hours may be earned from self-study activities (preparing table clinics, preparing lectures, preparing articles for publication) or pre-recorded webinars meeting Board requirements.SourceCOMAR 10.44.22.04(E)-(F) (§E: pre-recorded webinars count only toward the 17 non-in-person hours)[1]
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers are automatically approved by the Board (course must enhance the licensee's clinical knowledge and ability to treat dental patients).SourceCOMAR 10.44.22.08(B)(1)[1]
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers are automatically approved by the Board.SourceCOMAR 10.44.22.08(B)(2)[1]
AADB ACE
AADB ACE (American Association of Dental Boards Accredited Continuing Education Program) approved providers automatically approved.SourceCOMAR 10.44.22.08(B)(3)[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

A dentist who received a Maryland license within 6 months of graduation from an approved dental school is not required to fulfill CE requirements for the first renewal following initial licensure.

The Board may waive any or all CE requirements for a dentist who is unable to complete them due to active military service.

A dentist who fails to obtain the required CE due to disability or retirement must comply within 6 months of returning to practice (grace period, not a permanent waiver).

FAQ
Does Maryland 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 Maryland, and the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners licenses both under Md. Health Occupations § 4. The same 30-hour biennial CE obligation, the same 3-hour infection control mandate, and the same clinical-knowledge subject rule apply to every Maryland dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Maryland?
Yes. Under COMAR 10.44.22.08(B), the Board automatically approves courses approved by ADA CERP, AGD PACE, AADB ACE, and AADH, provided the course is designed to enhance the licensee's clinical knowledge and ability to treat dental patients. The Board also automatically approves courses sponsored by the entities listed in 10.44.22.08(A), including accredited dental schools, the ADA, the AMA, the AHA, the American Red Cross, recognized specialty societies, the AGD, the VA, the U.S. uniformed services, HHS, and the Maryland Department of Health.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Maryland?
Yes. Every Maryland dentist must complete 3 hours of infection control CE per biennium (increased from 2 hours effective March 3, 2025, COMAR 10.44.22.04(M)), a 2-hour course on proper prescribing and disposal of prescription drugs every cycle (§P), and a 2-hour abuse-and-neglect course every other cycle relating to Maryland law (§N-O). Current CPR certification must be maintained separately (§K). DEA-registered dentists are subject to the federal MATE Act 8-hour SUD training as a separate federal obligation.
Where can I check my Maryland dental license renewal date?
The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners maintains license verification at health.maryland.gov/dental/Pages/license-verification.aspx. The board's CE Quick Reference Chart at health.maryland.gov/dental displays current CE rules and renewal information.

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Other roles in Maryland

Dentists (DDS/DMD) CME requirements 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. COMAR 10.44.22 — Continuing Education (Maryland Board of Dental Examiners)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-05-11
    Show verbatim text
    “A licensee seeking renewal in 2025 and thereafter shall complete a Board-approved course of 3 hours in infection control every renewal cycle.”COMAR 10.44.22.04(M) · Effective 2025-03-03
    “A licensee seeking renewal shall complete a Board-approved course of 2 hours in abuse and neglect.”COMAR 10.44.22.04(N)-(O) (§O(1): 'Be completed by each licensee every other renewal cycle'; §O(2)-(3): Maryland-law component, counts toward the 30)
    “A dentist seeking renewal shall complete a 2-hour Board- approved course on proper prescribing and disposal of prescription drugs, which shall count toward the 30 full hours of required continuing education.”COMAR 10.44.22.04(P)
    “A licensee shall maintain cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification from one of the following programs:”COMAR 10.44.22.04(K)

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 Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners, 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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