Requirement summary
20 hours / 2 years (Registered Dental Assistants)
Last verified 2026-07-08. Research confidence: high.
Role-specific CE reference
Iowa dental assistant CE requirements
Dental assistants in Iowa: 20 hours / 2 years (Registered Dental Assistants). Renewal-cycle notes: Biennial. Mandatory (min 1 hr each unless noted): infection control; Iowa jurisprudence; CPR/BLS with hands-on clinical component (may claim up to 3 hrs); opioid training for dentists who prescribe; mandatory reporter (child & dependent adult abuse) training, renewed every 3 years; sedation permit holders 6 hrs; RDAs with radiography 2 hrs radiography. Self-study capped at 12 hours per renewal period for all licensees/registrants. Carryover from prior period: up to 15 hrs (dentists/hygienists/faculty), up to 10 hrs (RDAs); carryover cannot apply to CPR, infection control, jurisprudence, radiography, or opioid categories. Governed by IAC 481-Chapter 573. Confirm current role-specific requirements with the Iowa dental board before renewing.
Renewal cycle and mandatory topics
Biennial. Mandatory (min 1 hr each unless noted): infection control; Iowa jurisprudence; CPR/BLS with hands-on clinical component (may claim up to 3 hrs); opioid training for dentists who prescribe; mandatory reporter (child & dependent adult abuse) training, renewed every 3 years; sedation permit holders 6 hrs; RDAs with radiography 2 hrs radiography. Self-study capped at 12 hours per renewal period for all licensees/registrants. Carryover from prior period: up to 15 hrs (dentists/hygienists/faculty), up to 10 hrs (RDAs); carryover cannot apply to CPR, infection control, jurisprudence, radiography, or opioid categories. Governed by IAC 481-Chapter 573.
Official source
Use the state board source before filing a renewal or choosing CE courses. Dentovio is an educational summary, not the licensing authority.
Open Iowa board source