Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry · DDS/DMD

Massachusetts CE Requirements for Dentists (DDS/DMD)

40 hours. Every two years. On a license expiration mar31 even year cycle.

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBRD

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

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 40 hours is the total CE requirement. Massachusetts also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Infectious Disease[1]
Hrs vary
Biennial
234 CMR 8.03(1)(a) makes CDC Guidelines (infection-control) CE a condition precedent to biennial license renewal for all MA dentists. The rule states no CEU hour count — it is satisfied within the 40-CEU biennial total — so this is modeled as a 0-hour mandatory-topic existence row, not an additive hour requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“(1) A licensee shall complete continuing education as a condition precedent to the biennial renewal of a license in the following areas: (a) CDC Guidelines; and”
234 CMR 8.03(1)(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
CPR / BLS[1]
0 hrs
Ongoing
234 CMR 8.03(1)(b) requires continuous certification in CPR/AED or BLS as a condition precedent to renewal (anesthesia-permit holders under 234 CMR 6.00 must instead maintain ACLS or PALS commensurate with the permit level). Modeled as a 0-hour certification-maintenance mandate, not an additional CE-hour requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“(b) Continuous certification in CPR/AED, or BLS, or, if the licensee has an anesthesia permit issued pursuant to 234 CMR 6.00”
234 CMR 8.03(1)(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Massachusetts 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.

ConditionalOpioid/Substance Use[2]
0 hrs
Biennial

Dentists holding a current Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) and/or DEA registration

View sourceVerbatim from source
“You are also required to complete mandatory CEUs on safe and effective opioid prescribing/pain management each licensure cycle if you hold a current MCSR and/or DEA registration.”
234 CMR 8.03(2); M.G.L. c. 94C § 18(e)See source [2] 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
Approved CE per 234 CMR 8.00. Reactivation: max 50% online self-study; remaining 50% must be live in-person or live interactive webinar.Sourcehttps://www.mass.gov/info-details/continuing-education-for-dentistry[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

New graduates of a CODA-accredited dental school are exempt from CE for the licensing period in which they graduate.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Massachusetts dentists need?
Massachusetts dentists must complete 40 CEUs per biennial renewal cycle to renew their license, with the renewal deadline March 31 of even-numbered years. Only CEUs earned during the 2-year cycle count — there is no carryover between cycles.
Does Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry licenses both under M.G.L. Chapter 112. The same 40-CEU biennial CE obligation, the same March 31 even-year renewal deadline, and the same no-carryover policy apply to every Massachusetts dentist regardless of degree title.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Massachusetts?
234 CMR 8.00 does not name "ADA CERP" or "AGD PACE" by their program names. Instead, 234 CMR 8.05(1)(a) accepts CE sponsored or approved by accredited institutions, professional associations and societies, accredited postdoctoral programs, governmental health agencies, and accredited hospitals; 8.05(1)(d) additionally credits ADA-recognized board-specialty certification CE. In practice, CE from ADA CERP- and AGD PACE-affiliated providers is accepted under this board-approval framework.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts dentists must complete CDC Guidelines (infection-control) CE and maintain continuous CPR/AED-or-BLS certification (ACLS or PALS for anesthesia-permit holders) as conditions precedent to renewal under 234 CMR 8.03(1)(a)-(b); neither carries a separate CEU count, and both are satisfied within the 40-CEU biennial total. Dentists holding a current Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration (MCSR) and/or federal DEA registration must additionally complete mandatory CEUs on safe and effective opioid prescribing and pain management each cycle — the primary source does not specify a fixed hour count for this training. DEA-registered dentists are also subject to the federal MATE Act 8-hour SUD training as a separate federal obligation.
Where can I check my Massachusetts dental license renewal date?
The Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure maintains license verification at elicensing.dpl.mass.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry page at mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-dentistry has current CE rules and renewal information.

Never miss a Massachusetts CE deadline.

Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your renewal date.

Start tracking freeSee how it works

Other roles in Massachusetts

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. https://www.mass.gov/doc/234-cmr-8-continuing-education/download
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “(1) A licensee shall complete continuing education as a condition precedent to the biennial renewal of a license in the following areas: (a) CDC Guidelines; and”234 CMR 8.03(1)(a)
    “(b) Continuous certification in CPR/AED, or BLS, or, if the licensee has an anesthesia permit issued pursuant to 234 CMR 6.00”234 CMR 8.03(1)(b)
  2. Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry — Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “You are also required to complete mandatory CEUs on safe and effective opioid prescribing/pain management each licensure cycle if you hold a current MCSR and/or DEA registration.”234 CMR 8.03(2); M.G.L. c. 94C § 18(e)

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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in 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.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact