Continuing Education

This year, the first three-year continuing education reporting period for dentists ends. The first three-year continuing education reporting period for a dentist licensed in Washington before 2019 began on January 1, 2019. Dentists must verify they’ve completed their continuing education hours on the dentist's annual license renewal date in 2022 and every three years thereafter.

The three-year continuing education reporting period for a dentist initially licensed in Washington in 2019 or later begins upon their date of licensure and every three years thereafter.

The commission will accept appropriate continuing education completed during the old reporting period of 2018-2019. To clarify, appropriate continuing education completed after a dentist's birthdate in 2018 through December 31, 2018, may be counted for the new three-year reporting period that ends in 2022.

Dentists need 63 hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license. Here is a link to the rule detailing continuing education requirements for dentists. WAC 246-817-440.

You can find the answer to many specific questions about continuing education by clicking on the following link Continuing Education | Washington State Department of Health