Tennessee Dentist CE Courses and

How many CE hours do Tennessee dentists need?

Tennessee dentist CE totals 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years. Your license expires on the last day of your birth month, but the 40 hours must be earned within a fixed statewide block that runs January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the following even-numbered year ( Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 0460-01-.05 ; Tennessee Board of Dentistry ). The current block ends December 31, 2026. Finish all 40 online with the Tennessee dentist CE package . Looking for a different license? See Tennessee dental hygienist CE and Tennessee registered dental assistant CE .

Which CE topics are required for Tennessee dentists?

Every dentist completes 2 hours on prescribing controlled substances, including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines , within the 40-hour total ( 0460-01-.05 ). Every dentist also maintains current CPR certification and the Board's Jurisprudence Exam at every renewal. A dentist with a sedation or general anesthesia permit also completes 4 hours of anesthesia and sedation CE within the 40 hours and keeps ACLS current ( 0460-02-.07 ). A dentist with a DEA registration completes the federal DEA MATE training once ( DEA MATE Act FAQ ).

Does Tennessee accept AGD PACE credit?

Tennessee requires Board-approved continuing education ( 0460-01-.05 ). AchieveCE is an AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503). Confirm that a specific course qualifies with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry , and contact us if you need the AGD PACE details for your records.

Does Tennessee use CE Broker?

Yes. Tennessee's dental board uses CE Broker, and AchieveCE reports your completions to CE Broker and AGD PACE within 24 business hours. Your certificate is available the moment you finish a course. The Board also audits at random every month, and you keep proof of attendance for 3 years from the end of the calendar year the course was completed ( Tennessee Department of Health, Dentistry Licensure ; CE Broker ). Our support team is on live chat, email, and phone, 7 days a week.

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

No. A new dentist is exempt from the 40 hours in the first 2-year cycle, but not from CPR certification or the Jurisprudence Exam, which are required at every renewal ( 0460-01-.05(1)(d) ). Tennessee sets no live or in-person minimum for dentists, so all 40 hours can be completed online ( Tennessee Department of Health, Dentistry Licensure ).

Other Tennessee dental licenses: Tennessee dental hygienist CE and Tennessee 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 20, 2026

Sources

• Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 0460-01-.05, Continuing Education and CPR

• Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 0460-02-.07, Anesthesia and Sedation

• Tennessee Board of Dentistry

• Tennessee Department of Health, Dentistry Licensure

• DEA Diversion Control Division, MATE Act Training FAQ

• CE Broker, Boards and Regulating Entities