Illinois Dentist CE

How many CE hours do Illinois dentists need?

Illinois dentist CE totals 48 hours every 3 years, due September 30 of the renewal year. Every dentist shares that fixed statewide date rather than an individual birth month cycle, and your next renewal is September 30, 2027 ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440 ). No more than 50 percent of the hours, which is 24, may come from correspondence or self-study courses. At least 24 hours must be live, in person or by interactive teleconference. Start with the Illinois dentist CE package , which covers the self-study portion, then add live webinars . Looking for a different license? See Illinois dental hygienist CE .

Which CE topics are required for Illinois dentists?

Every renewal you need 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training and 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training , plus 1 hour of cultural competency training once every other renewal. IDFPR requires all three for covered healthcare licenses ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400 ; 1130.500 ; 1130.525 ). Current BLS certification is a separate standing condition of licensure ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440 ).

Several items apply by scope of practice. A dentist holding an Illinois Controlled Substance Registration completes 1 hour of safe opioid prescribing each renewal ( 720 ILCS 570/315.5 ). A dentist holding a Moderate Sedation, Deep Sedation or General Anesthesia permit completes 9 hours of sedation and anesthesia CE on top of the 48 ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.510 ; 1220.520 ). Our local anesthetics and sedation pharmacology course and sedation and anesthesia protocols course are 4 and 2 hours, so together they cover 6 of the 9. A dentist who provides care to children completes DCFS-approved mandated reporter training within 3 months of first doing so and then every 6 years ( 325 ILCS 5/4 ). A dentist holding a DEA registration completes a one-time 8 hour DEA MATE training under the federal MATE Act ( DEA MATE Act FAQ ).

Does Illinois accept AGD PACE credit?

The rule sets its own CE requirements and we found no named sponsor list in the sources we reviewed ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440 ). AchieveCE is an AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503). Keep your certificate of completion, which lists the course, date, hours and sponsor, with your records.

Does Illinois audit dentist CE?

Yes. Illinois dentists self-attest to CE completion on the renewal application and IDFPR verifies compliance by audit, so you must be able to produce documentation on request. Keep your records for at least 5 years ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440 ; IDFPR continuing education ). Illinois does not route dentist CE through CE Broker. AchieveCE reports your completions to AGD PACE within 24 business hours, and your certificate is available the moment you finish a course. Our support team is on live chat, email, and phone, 7 days a week.

Do Illinois dentists need live CE?

Yes. At least 24 of your 48 hours must be live, in person or by interactive teleconference, because self-study is capped at 50 percent ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440 ). Our online package covers the self-study portion. Add live CE through our live webinars and the Dentistry Advanced membership .

Do newly licensed Illinois dentists need CE for their first renewal?

No. Illinois exempts a dentist from CE for the first renewal after initial licensure, no matter how early or late in the 3 year cycle the license was issued ( 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440(a) ).

Other Illinois dental licenses: Illinois dental hygienist CE . Try Free dental CE before you buy, and browse every state and license in our CE course finder .

Last verified: October 25, 2026

Sources

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.440, Continuing Education

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.510, Moderate Sedation in the Dental Office

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220.520, Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia in the Dental Office

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.400, Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.500, Implicit Bias Awareness Training

• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.525, Cultural Competency Training

• 720 ILCS 570/315.5, Safe Opioid Prescribing CE

• 325 ILCS 5/4, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act

• IDFPR, Dental Professions

• IDFPR, Continuing Education

• DEA Diversion Control Division, MATE Act Training FAQ