Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817
Washington dentist CE requirements
The published continuing-education requirements for a Washington dental license, laid out clearly so you can see the whole picture before your renewal.
What the board requires
- 63 hrsTotal per triennial (63 CE hours per rolling 3-year CE reporting period; note the license itself renews annually per WAC 246-817-990) cycle.
- 2 hrsHealth equity training, counted within the total.
- 1 hrsDental jurisprudence examination, counted within the total.
- 3 hrsOne-time opioid prescribing best-practices training (if one-time requirement for dentists who prescribe opioids; complete by end of first full ce reporting period after jan 1, 2019, or after initial licensure, whichever is later), counted within the total.
- 3 hrsOne-time suicide assessment/prevention training (DISPUTED - Extractor A only), counted within the total.
- Up to 21 hrsTeaching or presenting (max 21 hrs/3 yrs).
- Up to 30 hrsPublishing (max 30 hrs/3 yrs) - DISPUTED, Extractor A only.
- Up to 6 hrsBook reading and synopsis (max 6 hrs/3 yrs) - DISPUTED, Extractor B only.
- RequiredCurrent and valid healthcare-provider Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification for dentists providing direct patient care (does not count toward CE hours).
Common questions
How many CE hours do Washington dentists need?
63 hours per triennial (63 CE hours per rolling 3-year CE reporting period; note the license itself renews annually per WAC 246-817-990) renewal cycle. That is what CEChart has on file from the source cited on this page, not a figure confirmed against Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817, so check it with the board before you rely on it.
Which specific topics does Washington require?
2 hours health equity training; 1 hour dental jurisprudence examination; 3 hours one-time opioid prescribing best-practices training (one-time requirement for dentists who prescribe opioids; complete by end of first full CE reporting period after Jan 1, 2019, or after initial licensure, whichever is later); 3 hours one-time suicide assessment/prevention training (DISPUTED - Extractor A only). These count inside the total, not on top of it. Not confirmed against Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817 yet.
Are there limits on how Washington dentists can earn CE hours?
Yes: teaching or presenting (max 21 hrs/3 yrs) (up to 21 hours); publishing (max 30 hrs/3 yrs) - DISPUTED, Extractor A only (up to 30 hours); book reading and synopsis (max 6 hrs/3 yrs) - DISPUTED, Extractor B only (up to 6 hours). Not confirmed against Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817 yet.
Does Washington require anything besides CE hours?
Yes: current and valid healthcare-provider Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification for dentists providing direct patient care. That is a credential you hold, not CE hours you count. Not confirmed against Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817 yet.
Can CEChart track my Washington CE automatically?
Not yet. We show the Washington requirements and their sources, but we do not run an automatic Washington calculator until every number is confirmed against Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817.
Source: Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817 (https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/continuing-education). These are the published requirements as we read them, not legal or board advice, and CEChart does not certify compliance. Confirm your requirements with Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC), Washington State Department of Health - rules in WAC ch. 246-817 before you rely on them.
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