Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) · DDS/DMD

63 hours. Every three years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from WSDQAC(~4 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 9, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 63 hours is the total CME requirement. Washington also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 63-hour total.

Suicide Prevention[1]
3 hrs
One-time
One-time 3-hour suicide prevention CE per RCW 43.70.442. Counts toward the 63-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“three-hour trainings for pharmacists or dentists include content related to the assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means”
RCW 43.70.442(5)(a)(ix), (5)(c), (6)(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid/Substance Use[2]
3 hrs
One-time
One-time 3-hour opioid education requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“| **Credential Type** Dentist opioid prescribing education | **Yearly** | **Every three years** | **Every five years** | **One-time only** Three hours |”
WA DOH Dentist CE (opioid prescribing education — one-time, three hours)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Cultural Competency & Health Equity[3]
2 hrs
Triennial
Health equity CE required 2 hours every three years (per triennium), per WAC 246-817-440: 'A licensed dentist must complete a minimum of two hours of commission approved health equity training every three years.'
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensed dentist must complete a minimum of two hours of commission approved health equity training every three years.”
WAC 246-817-440See source [3] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries & Conduct[2]
1 hr
Triennial
Dental jurisprudence CE — 1 hour every 3 years (free, open-book online exam).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“| **Credential Type** Dental Jurisprudence Examination | **Yearly** | **Every three years** One hour | **Every five years** | **One-time only** |”
WA DOH Dentist CE (Dental Jurisprudence Examination — every three years, one hour)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Infectious Disease[2]
1 hr
Annual
1 hour CE on current infection control standards, required annually (not triennially).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“| **Credential Type** **Dental Infection Control**<br> Current infection prevention standards | **Yearly** One hour | **Every three years** | **Every five years** | **One-time only** |”
WA DOH Dentist CE (Dental Infection Control — Current infection prevention standards — yearly, one hour)See source [2] in Primary Sources
CPR / BLS[2]
0 hrs
Ongoing
Current Basic Life Support certification required.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“| **Credential Type** Healthcare provider basic life support (BLS) | **Yearly** Current certification required”
WA DOH Dentist CE (BLS — current certification required)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Washington 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.

ConditionalSedation & Anesthesia[4]
7 hrs
Quinquennial

Minimal sedation or nitrous oxide permit holders

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Minimal sedation with nitrous oxide - 7 hours”
WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (minimal sedation with nitrous oxide — 7 hours, five-year reporting period)See source [4] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation & Anesthesia[2]
14 hrs
Triennial

Moderate sedation (parenteral agents) permit holders

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Moderate sedation with parenteral agents - 14 hours”
WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (moderate sedation with parenteral agents — 14 hours, three-year reporting period)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation & Anesthesia[2]
18 hrs
Triennial

General anesthesia permit holders

View sourceVerbatim from source
“General anesthesia and deep sedation - 18 hours”
WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (general anesthesia and deep sedation — 18 hours, three-year reporting period)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation & Anesthesia[2]
14 hrs
Triennial

Pediatric sedation endorsement holders

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Pediatric sedation endorsement - 14 hours”
WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (pediatric sedation endorsement — 14 hours, three-year reporting period)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Washington 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
Online self-study (50% credit)
Online self-study earns half credit (30 min counted per 1 hr completed).Sourcehttps://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education[2]
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted.Sourcehttps://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education[2]
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers accepted.Sourcehttps://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education[2]
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 licensed dentist may be excused from, or granted an extension of, the continuing education requirement due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the Dental Quality Assurance Commission.

FAQ
Does Washington treat DDS and DMD differently for CE purposes?
No. DDS and DMD are equivalent dental degrees, and DQAC applies identical CE rules to both.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Washington?
Yes. ADA CERP-recognized and AGD PACE-approved providers are accepted under DQAC's general approved-provider framework. Online self-study from these providers still earns only half credit.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Washington?
Yes — one-time 3-hour suicide prevention CE (RCW 43.70.442), one-time 3-hour opioid CE, 2 hours health equity CE per triennium (WAC 246-817-440), 1 hour triennial jurisprudence CE, 1 hour annual infection control CE, plus continuous BLS. Sedation permit holders add 7-18 hours per triennium based on permit tier (minimal/nitrous 7 hrs, moderate parenteral 14 hrs, general anesthesia 18 hrs, pediatric endorsement 14 hrs).
Where can I check my Washington dental license renewal date?
The Washington DOH maintains license records at doh.wa.gov, with the Dental Quality Assurance Commission overseeing renewal. The triennial cycle began January 1, 2019 for dentists licensed before that year.

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Other roles in Washington

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. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.70.442
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “three-hour trainings for pharmacists or dentists include content related to the assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means”RCW 43.70.442(5)(a)(ix), (5)(c), (6)(c)
  2. Washington DOH — Dentist Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “| **Credential Type** Dentist opioid prescribing education | **Yearly** | **Every three years** | **Every five years** | **One-time only** Three hours |”WA DOH Dentist CE (opioid prescribing education — one-time, three hours)
    “| **Credential Type** Dental Jurisprudence Examination | **Yearly** | **Every three years** One hour | **Every five years** | **One-time only** |”WA DOH Dentist CE (Dental Jurisprudence Examination — every three years, one hour)
    “| **Credential Type** **Dental Infection Control**<br> Current infection prevention standards | **Yearly** One hour | **Every three years** | **Every five years** | **One-time only** |”WA DOH Dentist CE (Dental Infection Control — Current infection prevention standards — yearly, one hour)
    “| **Credential Type** Healthcare provider basic life support (BLS) | **Yearly** Current certification required”WA DOH Dentist CE (BLS — current certification required)
    “Moderate sedation with parenteral agents - 14 hours”WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (moderate sedation with parenteral agents — 14 hours, three-year reporting period)
    “General anesthesia and deep sedation - 18 hours”WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (general anesthesia and deep sedation — 18 hours, three-year reporting period)
    “Pediatric sedation endorsement - 14 hours”WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (pediatric sedation endorsement — 14 hours, three-year reporting period)
  3. https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-817-440
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “A licensed dentist must complete a minimum of two hours of commission approved health equity training every three years.”WAC 246-817-440
  4. https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-817-773
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “Minimal sedation with nitrous oxide - 7 hours”WAC 246-817-773 Table 1 (minimal sedation with nitrous oxide — 7 hours, five-year reporting period)

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 Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), 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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