# Arkansas dental assistant CE requirements

> Role-specific continuing education summary for dental assistants renewing in Arkansas.

URL: https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/arkansas/dental-assistant

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not compliance advice. CE hour counts, approved-provider rules, audit rules, and mandatory topics can change. Confirm current instructions with the Arkansas dental board before filing a renewal.

## Direct answer

Dental assistants in Arkansas: No general state CE requirement for dental assistants; radiography-permit holders must complete a board-approved radiography course before operating certain machines/renewing the radiography permit and hold Healthcare-Provider CPR. DANB-certified assistants follow separate DANB annual CE renewal.. Renewal-cycle notes: Two-year reporting period. Per Article XIV (038.00.08 Ark. Code R. 002): dentists 50 CEUs, hygienists 40 CEUs per 2-year period. Mandatory: at least 1 CE hour on infection control each 2-year reporting period. Opioid/controlled-substance: DEA-registered practitioners must complete an 8-hour one-time training on treating/managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders (federal MATE Act requirement, effective for DEA registrations/renewals on or after June 27, 2023). Home-study courses accepted if they include a post-test and certificate of completion. Non-clinical courses (money management, investments, org business meetings) do not qualify. Records kept 3 years. No CPR or law/ethics hour mandate found in the CE rule. Confirm current role-specific requirements with the Arkansas dental board before renewing.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory topics

Two-year reporting period. Per Article XIV (038.00.08 Ark. Code R. 002): dentists 50 CEUs, hygienists 40 CEUs per 2-year period. Mandatory: at least 1 CE hour on infection control each 2-year reporting period. Opioid/controlled-substance: DEA-registered practitioners must complete an 8-hour one-time training on treating/managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders (federal MATE Act requirement, effective for DEA registrations/renewals on or after June 27, 2023). Home-study courses accepted if they include a post-test and certificate of completion. Non-clinical courses (money management, investments, org business meetings) do not qualify. Records kept 3 years. No CPR or law/ethics hour mandate found in the CE rule.

## Official board source

- <https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/dental-examiners-arkansas-state-board/>

## References

- <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arkansas/038-00-08-Ark-Code-R-002>
- <https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/dental-examiners-arkansas-state-board/>
- <https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/arkansas-state-board-of-dental-examiners/faqs>
- <https://www.danb.org/state-requirements/detail/arkansas-state-requirements>

## Related

- [Dental Assistant CE Requirements by State](https://dentovio.com/dental-assistant-ce-requirements/index.html.md)
- [Arkansas dental CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/arkansas/index.html.md)
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