Below is exactly what Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026
For Dentists, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Pennsylvania also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.
“All licensees and certificate holders shall complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting.”
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.
Dentist prescribers of controlled substances (under PA Act 124 of 2016)
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|
Live lecture/clinical (min 15 hrs) min 15 hrs | At least 50% (15 of 30 hours) must be lecture or clinical presentations (live).Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/49-Pa-Code-SS-33-401[1] |
ADA CERP | ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/49-Pa-Code-SS-33-401[1] |
AGD PACE | AGD PACE-approved providers accepted.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/49-Pa-Code-SS-33-401[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 Pennsylvania.
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.
“All licensees and certificate holders shall complete 2 of the required hours of continuing education in approved courses on child abuse recognition and reporting.”49 Pa. Code § 33.401(h)