Ohio Dental Hygienist CE

HOW MANY CE HOURS DO OHIO DENTAL HYGIENISTS NEED?

Ohio dental hygienists must complete at least 20 hours of continuing dental hygiene education every two years to renew, per R.C. 4715.25 . The cycle runs individually from each hygienist's own license issuance date rather than a shared statewide date, per R.C. 4715.24 . Ohio sets no live-hour minimum — the full 20 hours may be completed through self-study or online coursework , provided each course ends with a passing score of at least 75%, per OAC 4715-8-01 . A hygienist reinstating a license from temporary retirement must instead show 24 hours of CE completed in the two years immediately before the reinstatement request, per R.C. 4715.242 .

(As of 1/1/2025, new licenses will expire two years from the date of issuance. All historical licenses will maintain 1/1/Even Year to 12/31/Odd Year cycles moving forward.)

WHICH CE TOPICS ARE REQUIRED FOR OHIO DENTAL HYGIENISTS?

Ohio sets no universal topic-specific CE mandate for hygienists, but every hygienist must hold and certify current BLS/CPR certification at renewal — a certification-maintenance condition rather than an hour-based topic — per R.C. 4715.251 . A hygienist seeking to administer local anesthesia must complete a one-time Board-approved local anesthesia course and pass the Northeast Regional Board's local anesthesia exam for hygienists, per OAC 4715-9-01.1 . A hygienist practicing under the Oral Health Access Supervision Program (OHASP) without a dentist present must first complete a one-time Board-approved course in identifying and preventing medical emergencies, per OAC 4715-9-05 .

DO NEWLY LICENSED OHIO DENTAL HYGIENISTS NEED CE FOR THEIR FIRST RENEWAL?

No. A newly licensed hygienist is fully exempt from the continuing education requirement for their first biennial registration period after completing initial dental hygiene education, per OAC 4715-8-04 .

DOES THE OHIO STATE DENTAL BOARD AUDIT CE RECORDS?

Yes. The Ohio State Dental Board may annually select biennial registration or reinstatement applications for verification that CE requirements have been met, per OAC 4715-8-04 . Hygienists must retain CE receipts, vouchers, or certificates for at least four years, per R.C. 4715.25 . Ohio does not require reporting through CE Broker, though the Board accepts CE Broker or similar tracking-company transcripts as documentation of completed hours.

SOURCES

Last verified: September 9, 2026

• Ohio Rev. Code § 4715.25 — Continuing dental hygiene education

• Ohio Rev. Code § 4715.24 — Registration; reinstatement

• Ohio Rev. Code § 4715.242 — Reinstatement from retirement

• Ohio Rev. Code § 4715.251 — Basic life-support certification

• OAC 4715-8-01 — Continuing education requirements

• OAC 4715-8-04 — Continuing education requirements for renewal or reinstatement

• OAC 4715-9-01.1 — Local anesthesia certification for dental hygienists

• OAC 4715-9-05 — Oral Health Access Supervision Program

• Ohio State Dental Board — Dental Hygienist licensing page

• Ohio State Dental Board — CE FAQs

As of 1/1/2025, new licenses will expire two years from the date of issuance.

All historical licenses will maintain 1/1/Even Year to 12/31/Odd Year cycles moving forward.