Below is exactly what New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Dentistry requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 13, 2026
For Dentists, 60 hours is the total CME requirement. New York also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 60-hour total.
“A two-hour course regarding the oral health effects of tobacco and tobacco products”
“A three-hour course in dental jurisprudence and ethics”
“all dentists must achieve certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and from that point forward, continually maintain certification”
“a State approved infection control course every 4 years”
“Mandatory training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment offered by a New York State Education Department approved provider (two hours).”
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.
Dentists licensed under New York Education Law Title 8 who treat humans and have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances
“prescribers licensed under Title 8 of the Education Law in New York to treat humans and who have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances ... are required to complete at least three (3) hours”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, New York 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 system | Notes |
|---|---|
Self-study (max 18 hrs) max 18 hrs | Self-study is capped — at least 42 of 60 hours must be live courses.Sourcehttps://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/dentists/continuing-education-q-a[1] |
Live courses (min 42 hrs) min 42 hrs | At least 7/10 of hours must be from live courses.Sourcehttps://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/dentists/continuing-education-q-a[1] |
Board-approved credit | NYSED-approved providers (ADA CERP, AGD PACE typically accepted within this framework).Sourcehttps://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/dentists/continuing-education-q-a[1] |
Teaching CE (max 7 hrs) max 7 hrs | Up to 7 hours per triennial registration period for teaching a continuing education course in an appropriate subject area offered by an approved sponsor.Sourcehttps://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/dentists/continuing-education-q-a[1] |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
No formal waivers or exemptions are published for New York.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
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.
“A two-hour course regarding the oral health effects of tobacco and tobacco products”NYSED Dentists CE Q&A
“A three-hour course in dental jurisprudence and ethics”NYSED Dentists CE Q&A
“all dentists must achieve certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and from that point forward, continually maintain certification”NYSED Dentists CE Q&A
“a State approved infection control course every 4 years”NYSED Dentists CE Q&A
“Mandatory training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment offered by a New York State Education Department approved provider (two hours).”NYSED mandated training
“prescribers licensed under Title 8 of the Education Law in New York to treat humans and who have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances ... are required to complete at least three (3) hours”Public Health Law Section 3309-a(3)