Texas Dentist CE

How many CE hours do Texas dentists need?

Texas dentists need 24 hours of CE every 2 years ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ; Texas Occupations Code Section 257.005 ). At least 16 hours must be technical or scientific, up to 8 may be risk management, and up to 8 may be self-study. That means at least 16 hours must be live or an interactive live webinar. Your renewal falls on your own license expiration date, not a shared statewide date, so check it in the Board's licensee search. Up to 24 hours of excess classroom credit earned in the year before a renewal period can be carried forward. Our Texas dentist and dental hygienist package gives you 8 online hours, and our live webinars cover the live portion. Looking for a different Texas license? See Texas dental hygienist CE and Texas registered dental assistant CE .

Which CE topics are required for Texas dentists?

Texas requires a human trafficking prevention course approved by the Health and Human Services Commission, counted within the 24 hours ( Texas Occupations Code Chapter 116 ). Our 2-hour human trafficking course is built for Texas health care practitioners. A dentist whose practice includes direct patient care also completes 4 hours of safe and effective pain management CE each renewal, covering standards of care, identifying drug-seeking behavior and talking with patients about opioid prescriptions. Our 4-hour pain management course matches the hours, so confirm its content meets those three topics. A dentist with a DEA permit takes a one-time 2-hour course on prescribing and monitoring controlled substances, which the Board counts toward the 4 hours ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ). Our 2-hour controlled substance prescribing in dentistry course fits that topic. Dentists without a sedation permit pass the jurisprudence assessment every 4 years, which does not count toward the 24, and every dentist keeps a current hands-on BLS card. CPR, OSHA and practice finance hours do not count. Permit holders complete 6, 8 or 12 more hours of sedation and medical emergency CE for Level 1, Levels 2 and 3, or Level 4, in addition to the 24, plus the anesthesia jurisprudence exam every 5 years ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ). Our 2-hour sedation and anesthesia course covers part of those hours, and our 4-hour pharmacology of local anesthetics and sedation course is related CE. ACLS and PALS courses cannot be used for the permit hours. DEA registrants also complete the federal DEA MATE training once ( DEA MATE Act FAQ ).

Does Texas accept AGD PACE credit?

AchieveCE is an AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503), and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners accepts AGD PACE credit. Texas takes CE from the providers in Board rules.

Does Texas audit dentist CE?

Yes. The Board audits about 5 percent of renewals each month at random. You attest to your hours at renewal and send proof only if you are selected, so keep every certificate ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ). Texas does not route dentist CE through CE Broker. Your AchieveCE certificate is available the moment you finish a course, and AchieveCE reports your completions to AGD PACE within 24 business hours. Our support team is on live chat, email, and phone, 7 days a week.

Do Texas dentists need live CE?

Yes. Up to 8 hours may be self-study, so at least 16 of the 24 hours must be earned in a classroom or lecture setting or through an interactive live webinar ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ). Add live CE through our live webinars and the Dentistry Advanced membership .

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

The Board words the rule as 24 hours collected "after your first biennial renewal and before each subsequent renewal", so your first renewal may carry no CE requirement. Confirm your exact due date and requirement with the Board before you renew ( Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ). The one-time DEA courses are due after you first hold the DEA permit or registration.

Other Texas dental licenses: Texas dental hygienist CE and Texas 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

• Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Dentist Continuing Education

• Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Anesthesia Renewal Instructions

• Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, Jurisprudence Assessment

• Texas Occupations Code Section 257.005, Continuing Education

• Texas Occupations Code Chapter 116, Human Trafficking Prevention Training

• DEA Diversion Control Division, MATE Act Training FAQ