Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board (DSPS) · DDS/DMD

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board (DSPS) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from WDEB(~4 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Dentists, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Wisconsin also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 hours of CE on prescribing of controlled substances for treatment of dental pain. Universal mandate within the 30-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“The 30 credit hours of continuing education shall include 2 hours in the topic of prescribing of controlled substances for the treatment of dental pain.”
Wis. Admin. Code DE 13.03See source [1] in Primary Sources
General CME[1]
25 hrs
Biennial
Minimum 25 of 30 credit hours must be clinical dentistry or clinical medicine instruction.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“not less than 25 credit hours of instruction in clinical dentistry or clinical medicine”
Wis. Admin. Code DE 13.03See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Wisconsin cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Wisconsin 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
Teaching/preparing (max 4 hrs)
max 4 hrs
Teaching or preparing programs counts as CE up to 4 hours per biennium.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/wisconsin/Wis-Admin-Code-SS-DE-13-03[1]
College courses (6 CE per credit)
College-level dentistry/medicine course earns 6 CE hours each.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/wisconsin/Wis-Admin-Code-SS-DE-13-03[1]
ADA CERP
ADA CERP-recognized providers accepted.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/wisconsin/Wis-Admin-Code-SS-DE-13-03[1]
AGD PACE
AGD PACE-approved providers accepted.Sourcehttps://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/wisconsin/Wis-Admin-Code-SS-DE-13-03[1]
Documentation & audit

Records retained 6 years (longer audit window than most states).

Waivers & exemptions

New licensees exempt from CE requirements before their first renewal.

Active enrollment in CODA-accredited post-doctoral residency program for 12+ months during the licensure cycle satisfies the entire CE requirement.

FAQ
Does Wisconsin treat DDS and DMD differently for CE purposes?
No. DDS and DMD are equivalent dental degrees, and the Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board applies identical CE rules to both.
Are ADA CERP credits accepted in Wisconsin?
Yes. ADA CERP-recognized and AGD PACE-approved providers are accepted under the Board's general approved-provider framework. Distance education, internet, and correspondence programs all qualify.
Are there mandatory CE topics for dentist renewal in Wisconsin?
Yes — every dentist must complete 2 hours of CE on prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of dental pain each biennium. This is universal, not limited to DEA registrants. The 25-hour clinical floor (within the 30-hour total) is a structural mandate. CPR and AED certification are required to practice dentistry separately.
Where can I check my Wisconsin dental license renewal date?
The Wisconsin DSPS maintains license records at dsps.wi.gov. Renewal aligns with the biennial license cycle. Records must be retained for 6 years given the Board's extended audit window.

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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. Wis. Admin. Code DE 13.03 — Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “The 30 credit hours of continuing education shall include 2 hours in the topic of prescribing of controlled substances for the treatment of dental pain.”Wis. Admin. Code DE 13.03
    “not less than 25 credit hours of instruction in clinical dentistry or clinical medicine”Wis. Admin. Code DE 13.03
  2. Wisconsin DSPS — Dentist
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30

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 Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board (DSPS), 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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