Iowa Dentist CE

How many CE hours do Iowa dentists need?

Iowa dentist CE totals 30 hours every 2 years ( 481 IAC 573.1 ). The license is due August 31 of even-numbered years on a fixed statewide date rather than an individual birth month cycle, so your next renewal is August 31, 2028 ( 481 IAC 572 ). The compliance period runs September 1 through August 31. Up to 15 hours earned beyond the 30 can carry into the next period, but CPR, infection control, jurisprudence, radiography and opioid hours cannot ( 481 IAC 573.1(5) ). Start with the Iowa dentist CE package . Looking for a different license? See Iowa dental hygienist CE and Iowa registered dental assistant CE .

Which CE topics are required for Iowa dentists?

Every renewal you need 1 hour of infection control and 1 hour of Iowa jurisprudence ( 481 IAC 573.1 ). Current CPR certification with a hands-on component from a nationally recognized sponsor is required for renewal. It is a condition of renewal rather than a set number of hours, and you can claim up to 3 CE hours for taking a CPR course ( Iowa Dental Board, Renewal CE ).

Several items apply only to some dentists. If you prescribed opioids during the renewal period you need 1 hour of opioid CE, and our controlled substance prescriptions in dentistry course is 2 hours and covers it. A dentist holding a Moderate Sedation or General Anesthesia permit completes 6 hours of sedation related CE, counted within the 30 ( 481 IAC 572 ). Our sedation and anesthesia protocols course is 2 hours and our local anesthetics and sedation pharmacology course is 4 hours, so together they cover all 6. Mandatory reporter training applies when your work calls for it. If you regularly provide dental services to children you need 2 hours on identifying and reporting child abuse, and if you regularly provide services to adults you need 2 hours on dependent adult abuse. Each recurs every 3 years, not every renewal ( 481 IAC 573.1(1)(e) ). 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 Iowa accept AGD PACE credit?

Iowa's rule lists the activities that earn CE credit and does not name an approved-sponsor roster in the text we reviewed ( 481 IAC 573.3 ). AchieveCE is an AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503). Every AchieveCE course ends with a certificate of completion that lists the course, date, hours and sponsor.

Does Iowa audit dentist CE?

Yes. The Iowa Dental Board reserves the right to audit the CE hours reported by any licensee, and a dentist selected for audit submits certificates or other evidence of attendance. Keep that documentation for 4 years after renewal ( 481 IAC 573.2 ). Iowa 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 Iowa dentists need live CE?

Iowa sets a ceiling on self-study instead of a live minimum. No more than 12 of your 30 hours may come from self-study ( 481 IAC 573.3 ). The other 18 hours must come from other eligible activities, such as live courses and webinars, convention sessions, postgraduate study, teaching or volunteer dental services, and several of those have their own caps. The rule does not define self-study, so confirm with the Iowa Dental Board how it classes online courses. Our online package covers the 12 self-study hours, and you can add our live webinars for the rest.

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

No. Iowa fully exempts a newly licensed dentist from CE for the first renewal period after the license is issued ( 481 IAC 573.5(2)(e) ). The exemption covers CE hours only. You still keep current CPR certification and complete any mandatory reporter training your work requires.

Other Iowa dental licenses: Iowa dental hygienist CE , Iowa registered dental assistant 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

• 481 IAC Chapter 573, Dental Continuing Education

• 481 IAC 573.2, Documentation

• 481 IAC Chapter 572, Dental Licensure, Registration, and Permits

• Iowa Dental Board

• Iowa Dental Board, Renewal CE

• DEA Diversion Control Division, MATE Act Training FAQ