Below is exactly what North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 4, 2026
For Dentists, 15 hours is the total CME requirement. North Carolina also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 15-hour total.
“Current certification in CPR is required in addition to the mandatory continuing education hours.”
“(a) Every two calendar years, each dentist shall complete one clock hour of continuing education on substance abuse and mental health.”
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 who prescribe controlled substances
“For licensees who prescribe controlled substances, one hour of the total required continuing education hours shall consist of a course designed to address prescribing practices, including instruction on controlled substance prescribing practices and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|
ADA CERP | ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted.Sourcehttps://ncrules.elaws.us/code/21ncac16r.0103[4] |
AGD PACE | AGD PACE-approved providers accepted.Sourcehttps://ncrules.elaws.us/code/21ncac16r.0103[4] |
Board-approved credit | Board-approved providers per 21 NCAC 16R.Sourcehttps://ncrules.elaws.us/code/21ncac16r.0103[4] |
North Carolina uses an annual (calendar year) CE cycle — 15 hours per year, every year.
Semi-retired Class I dentist (practicing ≤250 clock hours per calendar year) is exempt from all CE requirements.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your the calendar year 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.
“Current certification in CPR is required in addition to the mandatory continuing education hours.”21 NCAC 16R .0103
“(a) Every two calendar years, each dentist shall complete one clock hour of continuing education on substance abuse and mental health.”21 NCAC 16R .0206(a) — 1 hour of substance-abuse/mental-health CE every two calendar years.
“For licensees who prescribe controlled substances, one hour of the total required continuing education hours shall consist of a course designed to address prescribing practices, including instruction on controlled substance prescribing practices and controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”21 NCAC 16R .0201(b) (eff. 2015; amended through 2018) · Effective 2018-11-01