All dentists and dental hygienists licensed in Kentucky are required to earn 30 hours of continuing education during their two-year license period. At least twenty of these hours must focus on clinical skills and knowledge that will improve your abilities as a practitioner, whereas the remaining ten hours can be in business operations and practice management, volunteer clinical work at a charitable event, or dental association and society meetings. At least ten of the 30 hours must be taken in a live interactive format, which is either an in-person meeting or a live videoconference event in which participants can interact with each other and ask questions of the presenter(s). Continuing education hours must be completed by Dec. 31 of odd-numbered years for dentists and even-numbered years for dental hygienists. CPR certification should also be maintained and does not count toward the 30 hours. See Section 9 of
201 KAR 8:533 (dentists) and Section 5 of
201 KAR 8:563 (hygienists) for more details.
Please be aware that certain types of licensees will have additional or alternative CE requirements. See these categories below or view the
CE Requirements Chart.
Special Continuing Education Requirements
Recent Graduates
Students who graduate from dental or dental hygiene school during a license renewal year (odd-numbered years for dentists, even-numbered years for hygienists) are not required to complete additional education before their first renewal. Students who graduate and obtain a license during a non-renewal year are only required to complete 15 hours of CE before their first renewal.
Prescribing Dentists
All dentists authorized by the DEA to administer and prescribe controlled substances in Kentucky must obtain three hours of continuing education related to
KASPER, pain management, or addiction disorders before renewing their license. These may be included in the 30 required hours and are not additional hours.
Sedation/Anesthesia Permit Holders
Like dental licenses, sedation permits in Kentucky must be renewed by Dec. 31 of every odd-numbered year. On top of the 30 hours of CE needed for license renewal, Moderate Sedation and Deep Sedation/General Anesthesia permit holders must also complete at least four hours of clinical continuing education related to sedation or anesthesia in a classroom setting during the two-year term of the permit. Further, certification in ACLS (for adult sedation) and/or PALS (for pediatric sedation) must be maintained. See Section 8 of
201 KAR 8:550 for complete requirements.
General Supervision Registered Hygienists
Dental hygiene licenses, along with any special registrations held by hygienists, must be renewed by Dec. 31 of even-numbered years. Most registrations (local anesthesia, laser debridement, and IV access lines) do not have additional CE requirements for renewal. However, general supervision registered dental hygienists must complete a three-hour board-approved course on medical emergencies every two years. These hours may be included as part of the 30 required hours and are not additional hours.
Public Health Registered Hygienists
Dental hygiene licenses, along with any special registrations held by hygienists, must be renewed by Dec. 31 of even-numbered years. Most registrations (general supervision, local anesthesia, laser debridement, and IV access lines) do not have additional CE requirements for renewal. However, public health registered dental hygienists must complete five hours of CE in the area of public health as well as a three-hour board-approved course on medical emergencies. Both requirements may be included as part of the 30 required hours and are not additional hours.