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

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 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
“one-time, three-hour, suicide prevention continuing education training”
RCW 43.70.442 / WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] in Primary Sources
Cultural competency[2]
2 hrs
Triennial
Health equity CE required 2 hours every three years (per triennium). WAC 246-817-440 verbatim: '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 [2] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
1 hr
Triennial
Dental jurisprudence CE — 1 hour every 3 years (free, open-book online exam).
View detailsEditorial summary
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] in Primary Sources
Infectious disease[1]
1 hr
Triennial
1 hour CE on current infection control standards, plus annual review of office policies.
View detailsEditorial summary
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] 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[1]
7 hrs
Triennial

Minimal sedation or nitrous oxide permit holders

View detailsEditorial summary
7 hours sedation CE per triennium for minimal sedation or nitrous oxide permits.
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[1]
14 hrs
Triennial

Moderate sedation (parenteral agents) permit holders

View detailsEditorial summary
14 hours sedation CE per triennium for moderate sedation with parenteral agents permit.
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[1]
18 hrs
Triennial

General anesthesia permit holders

View detailsEditorial summary
18 hours sedation CE per triennium for general anesthesia permit.
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalSedation[1]
14 hrs
Triennial

Pediatric sedation endorsement holders

View detailsEditorial summary
14 hours sedation CE per triennium for pediatric sedation endorsement.
WA DOH Dentist CESee source [1] 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[1]
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted.Sourcehttps://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education[1]
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers accepted.Sourcehttps://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education[1]
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

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Washington.

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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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. Washington DOH — Dentist Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “one-time, three-hour, suicide prevention continuing education training”RCW 43.70.442 / WA DOH Dentist CE
  2. 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

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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