Alabama Dental Hygienist CE

How many CE hours do Alabama dental hygienists need?

Alabama dental hygienist CE totals 12 CEUs of continuing education for each 12-month period of your renewal cycle ( Ala. Admin. Code r. 270-X-4-.04 ; Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama ). The current rule took effect October 15, 2026 and applies to the renewal cycle that began October 1, 2026. Alabama dental hygiene licenses renew on September 30. Start with the Alabama dental hygienist CE package . The rule caps some categories within your 12: up to 3 CEUs for insurance, governmental regulations, risk management, tort liability or practice management, up to 4 CEUs for pro bono dental service (1 CEU per 2 hours), up to 4 CEUs for teaching approved CE, and up to 2 CEUs for attending a Board meeting in person. You can earn at most 8 CEUs per calendar day.

Which CE topics are required for Alabama dental hygienists?

Each renewal cycle you need at least 1 CEU of ethics and 1 CEU of infectious disease control , both counted within the 12 ( r. 270-X-4-.04 ). You must also maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or an equivalent program with a hands-on portion, and completing BLS every 2 years earns 2 CEUs. Hygienists seeking a Local Infiltration Anesthesia Permit complete a one-time 32-hour training course, and the permit adds no recurring CE ( Board permit information ). The other 10 CEUs are general CE.

Can Alabama dental hygienists complete all CE online?

Yes. The rule that took effect October 15, 2026 sets no in-person minimum for hygienists, so all 12 CEUs can be earned online. Training in an entirely self-study format must include a post-course assessment or competency evaluation ( r. 270-X-4-.04 ), and AchieveCE courses end with a post-test with unlimited attempts. The only hands-on item is your BLS certification.

Does Alabama accept AGD PACE credit?

Alabama approves training from national, state, district and local dental and dental hygiene associations, accredited schools and Board-approved sponsors, and courses outside those categories can be submitted to the Board for approval ( r. 270-X-4-.04 ). The rule does not name AGD PACE. AchieveCE is an AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503). AGD PACE approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. Your completions are reported to CE Broker, where the Board tracks your CE.

Does Alabama use CE Broker?

Yes. The Board requires every licensee to have an account on its approved online CE platform and to upload proof of completion there ( r. 270-X-4-.04 ; Board CE page ), and Alabama is one of the boards that works with CE Broker . AchieveCE reports your completions to CE Broker within 24 business hours, and your certificate is available the moment you finish a course. Keep your CE records for the current renewal cycle and the previous 5 years. Our support team is on live chat, email, and phone, 7 days a week.

What records does Alabama require, and what happens in an audit?

Keep your CE records for your current renewal cycle and the previous 5 years, and produce any documentation the Board requests within 14 days of a written request or audit. The Board may randomly audit licensees for the immediately preceding cycle and sends written results within 30 days of completing the audit. A licensee who does not comply may face disciplinary action or a non-disciplinary administrative penalty under Rule 270-X-5-.09 ( r. 270-X-4-.04 ). A hygienist enrolled full time in an academic program directly related to dental hygiene for at least 6 months of the cycle is exempt, and the Board can approve a written waiver or extension if the request arrives before the cycle ends. Reinstating an expired or suspended license requires showing CE for up to the last 5 years.

Learn more: Alabama Rule 270-X-4-.04 explained , our plain-English guide to what changed for dentists and hygienists. Other Alabama dental licenses: Alabama dentist CE . Try Free dental CE before you buy, and browse every state and license in our CE course finder .

Last verified: October 21, 2026

Sources

• Ala. Admin. Code r. 270-X-4-.04, Mandatory Continuing Education For Dentists And Dental Hygienists

• Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, Continuing Education

• Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, Hygiene Infiltration Anesthesia Permit Application and Information

• CE Broker, Boards and Regulating Entities