Washington CE Requirements

Dentists

Licensed Washington dentists must complete 63 hours of continuing education every three years.

For Dentists Licensed Before 2019: Verification of completion of CE hours was due on the dentist’s annual license renewal date in 2022, and every three years thereafter.
For Dentists Licensed 2019 or Later: The three-year CE reporting period begins upon date of licensure and is due every three years thereafter.

2025 is a CE reporting year for Washington dentists licensed before 2019. Prepare for your reporting deadline by earning 20+ CE credits in just three days at PNDC!

Hygienists

Licensed Washington dental hygienists must complete 15 hours of continuing education per year. Hygienists can complete an entire year of CE in just three days at PNDC!

Additional CE Requirements

PNDC 2025 offers CE sessions to meet several more specific continuing education requirements for Washington dentists, hygienists, and other members of the dental team.

CE Requirement: Administration of Anesthetic Agents/Sedation

Licensed Washington dentists who administer anesthetic agents/sedation must complete additional CE requirements based on sedation level. Dentists who administer minimal sedation must complete seven hours of eligible CE every five years, dentists who administer moderate sedation with enteral agents must complete seven hours of eligible CE every three years, and higher-level permitholders are subject to more intensive requirements. Review specific requirements at
wsda.org/anesthesia.

PNDC 2025 Sessions Eligible Toward Requirement for All Sedation Levels*:

1.5 CE Credits - Common Oral Lesions Part 1 (Briody)
1.5 CE Credits - Common Oral Lesions Part 2 (Briody)
1.5 CE Credits - Radiographic Pathology (Briody)
1.5 CE Credits - Interesting Clinical Cases of Oral Pathology (Briody)
1.5 CE Credits - Anesthesia & Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office (Aghaloo)
1.5 CE Credits - Radiographic Pathology: Interpreting Images in 2 & 3 Dimensions (Klingman)

*Additional sessions offered at PNDC 2025 may count toward requirement for some, but not all, sedation levels.

CE Requirement: Health Equity

Licensed Washington dentists and dental anesthesia assistants must complete two hours of health equity CE every three years. Licensed Washington dental hygienists must complete two hours of health equity CE every four years. For dentists and hygienists, the two hours can count toward the 63- and 15-hour renewal requirements, respectively. For dental anesthesia assistants, the two hours must be completed in addition to the 12 hours currently required for renewal, raising the total number of required CE hours to 14.

PNDC 2025 Sessions Eligible Toward Requirement:

2 CE Credits - Menopause in the Workplace: Manager Session (Haberman)
2 CE Credits - Let’s Talk About Menopause: Employee Session (Haberman)

CE Requirement: Basic Life Support (BLS)

Dental staff providing direct patient care in an in-office or outpatient setting must hold a current and valid healthcare provider basic life support (BLS) certification. Training must include both didactic and hand-on components. Certification is good for two years.

PNDC 2025 Sessions Eligible Toward Requirement:

3 CE Credits - Basic Life Support Training for Healthcare Providers | Hands-On Workshop (Cole)

CE Requirement: DEA MATE Act

Prescribers of controlled substances, including dentists, must complete eight hours of one-time training on safely prescribing controlled substances (Schedules II, III, IV, and/or V) in order to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

PNDC 2025 Sessions Eligible Toward Requirement:

2 CE Credits - MATE Course Part 1: The Opioid Epidemic & Its Impact on Dental Patients and Dentists (Jeske)
2 CE Credits - MATE Course Part 2: Using Opioids & Non-Opioids to Control Acute Pain (Jeske)
2 CE Credits - MATE Course Part 3: Recognizing & Minimizing Drug Abuse & Diversion (Jeske)
2 CE Credits - MATE Course Part 4: Dental Management of Patients with Substance Use Disorder & Management of Opioid Overdose (Jeske)