Requirement summary
15 hours / year (annual; ~30 per 2 years)
Last verified 2026-07-08. Research confidence: medium.
Role-specific CE reference
Dentists in North Carolina: 15 hours / year (annual; ~30 per 2 years). Renewal-cycle notes: Annual renewal (license year ends March 31; CE measured per calendar year). Hygienists: 6 clock hrs/year; per rule 21 NCAC 16I .0102 ALL 6 hrs may be self-study if a post-course test and certificate are obtained, and courses must relate to clinical patient care from a Board-approved sponsor; current CPR certification required IN ADDITION to the 6 hrs (CPR hours do NOT count toward the 6). Hygienists administering local anesthetics: maintain CPR plus 2 hrs/year covering local-anesthetic technique, contraindications, complications, and dental office emergencies. Dentists: 15 hrs/year (secondary sources indicate at least ~8 must be live/interactive and cite a ~1 hr jurisprudence and opioid-prescribing component for DEA registrants). Dentist-specific self-study cap and mandatory-topic detail are set in dentist rule 21 NCAC 16B .0102, which could not be retrieved from a primary source in this pass (board/OAH PDFs returned TLS/connection errors) — hence medium confidence on dentist caps and mandatory topics; hour totals are high-confidence. Confirm current role-specific requirements with the North Carolina dental board before renewing.
Requirement summary
Last verified 2026-07-08. Research confidence: medium.
Annual renewal (license year ends March 31; CE measured per calendar year). Hygienists: 6 clock hrs/year; per rule 21 NCAC 16I .0102 ALL 6 hrs may be self-study if a post-course test and certificate are obtained, and courses must relate to clinical patient care from a Board-approved sponsor; current CPR certification required IN ADDITION to the 6 hrs (CPR hours do NOT count toward the 6). Hygienists administering local anesthetics: maintain CPR plus 2 hrs/year covering local-anesthetic technique, contraindications, complications, and dental office emergencies. Dentists: 15 hrs/year (secondary sources indicate at least ~8 must be live/interactive and cite a ~1 hr jurisprudence and opioid-prescribing component for DEA registrants). Dentist-specific self-study cap and mandatory-topic detail are set in dentist rule 21 NCAC 16B .0102, which could not be retrieved from a primary source in this pass (board/OAH PDFs returned TLS/connection errors) — hence medium confidence on dentist caps and mandatory topics; hour totals are high-confidence.
Use the state board source before filing a renewal or choosing CE courses. Dentovio is an educational summary, not the licensing authority.
Open North Carolina board source