# Hawaii dentist CE requirements

> Role-specific continuing education summary for dentists renewing in Hawaii.

URL: https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/hawaii/dentist

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 Hawaii dental board before filing a renewal.

## Direct answer

Dentists in Hawaii: 32 hours / 2 years (biennium; renewal by Dec 31 of odd years). Renewal-cycle notes: Biennial, renewal not later than Dec 31 of each odd-numbered year (HAR 16-79-144). Newly licensed in first year of biennium: dentists owe 16 hrs; licensed in second year: 0 hrs. Clinical courses must comprise MORE than one-half of required hours for both dentists and hygienists (HAR 16-79-141(a)(1)). Ethics: dentists 3 hrs/year (6 hrs/biennium), hygienists at least 2 hrs/biennium. BLS/CPR (AHA or ARC, hands-on) must be continuously current; BLS counts for a max of 4 CE hrs/biennium and cannot count toward the clinical requirement. Various category caps: volunteer 4 hrs, instructor 2 hrs, convention attendance 2 hrs per biennium. No explicit opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate found in board rules (federal DEA MATE Act may apply to registrants). Confirm current role-specific requirements with the Hawaii dental board before renewing.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory topics

Biennial, renewal not later than Dec 31 of each odd-numbered year (HAR 16-79-144). Newly licensed in first year of biennium: dentists owe 16 hrs; licensed in second year: 0 hrs. Clinical courses must comprise MORE than one-half of required hours for both dentists and hygienists (HAR 16-79-141(a)(1)). Ethics: dentists 3 hrs/year (6 hrs/biennium), hygienists at least 2 hrs/biennium. BLS/CPR (AHA or ARC, hands-on) must be continuously current; BLS counts for a max of 4 CE hrs/biennium and cannot count toward the clinical requirement. Various category caps: volunteer 4 hrs, instructor 2 hrs, convention attendance 2 hrs per biennium. No explicit opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate found in board rules (federal DEA MATE Act may apply to registrants).

## Official board source

- <https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/dentist/>

## References

- <https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/dentist/>
- <https://cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Dental-Renewal-FAQs_2024-2025_Rev.-11-04-25.pdf>
- <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Hawaii_Licensure>

## Related

- [Dentist CE Requirements by State](https://dentovio.com/dentist-ce-requirements/index.html.md)
- [Hawaii dental CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/hawaii/index.html.md)
- [Hawaii online dental CE](https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/hawaii/index.html.md)
- [Hawaii dental license renewal CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/hawaii/license-renewal/index.html.md)
- [All dental CE requirements by state](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/index.html.md)
- [Dental CE hours tracker](https://dentovio.com/tools/ce-tracker)