Virginia Board of Dentistry (Department of Health Professions)
Virginia dentist CE requirements
The published continuing-education requirements for a Virginia dental license, laid out clearly so you can see the whole picture before your renewal.
What the board requires
- 15 hrsTotal per annual cycle.
- 4 hrsAnesthesia/sedation administration and monitoring (if applies only to dentists who administer or monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation; measured as 4 hours every 2 years), counted within the total.
- 2 hrsPain management for Schedule II-IV controlled-substance prescribers (if applies only to dentists who prescribe schedule ii, iii, and iv controlled substances; measured as 2 hours every 2 years), counted within the total.
- RequiredCurrent CPR/BLS certification (basic CPR with hands-on airway training for health care providers, or basic life support; advanced life support required if the dentist holds a sedation/anesthesia permit under 18VAC60-21-290 or -300) (does not count toward CE hours).
Common questions
How many CE hours do Virginia dentists need?
15 hours per annual renewal cycle, according to Virginia Board of Dentistry (Department of Health Professions).
Which specific topics does Virginia require?
4 hours anesthesia/sedation administration and monitoring (applies only to dentists who administer or monitor patients under general anesthesia, deep sedation, or moderate sedation; measured as 4 hours every 2 years); 2 hours pain management for Schedule II-IV controlled-substance prescribers (applies only to dentists who prescribe Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances; measured as 2 hours every 2 years). These count inside the total, not on top of it.
Does Virginia require anything besides CE hours?
Yes: current CPR/BLS certification (basic CPR with hands-on airway training for health care providers, or basic life support; advanced life support required if the dentist holds a sedation/anesthesia permit under 18VAC60-21-290 or -300). That is a credential you hold, not CE hours you count.
Can Virginia CE hours carry over to the next cycle?
Up to 15 hours may carry into the next cycle. CEChart does not model carryover, so no progress figure here includes it.
Can CEChart track my Virginia CE automatically?
Yes. CEChart counts your Virginia CE hours against the published requirement and shows how many hours are left before your renewal.
Source: Virginia Board of Dentistry (Department of Health Professions) (https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/Dentists/). Virginia dentists complete 15 hours of continuing education each annual renewal cycle, and may carry up to 15 unused hours into the next one. Two further requirements apply only to some dentists and are measured over two years rather than one: 4 hours on administering and monitoring anesthesia and sedation, for permit holders, and 2 hours on pain management, for prescribers of Schedule II to IV controlled substances. Both count inside the 15, not on top of it. Current CPR or BLS certification is required separately and does not count toward the hours. These are the published requirements as we read them, not legal or board advice, and CEChart does not certify compliance. Confirm your requirements with Virginia Board of Dentistry (Department of Health Professions) before you rely on them.