# Rhode Island dental CE requirements

> Continuing education requirements in Rhode Island: dentists 40 hours / 2 years, hygienists 20 hours / 2 years, assistants No specific CE hour total for dental assistants, but all dental assistants practicing in a dental setting must maintain: current hands-on BLS certification and at least 1 hour/year of CDC Infection Control Guidelines training. N/A for a numeric CE total..

URL: https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/rhode-island

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not compliance advice. CE rules change; confirm current requirements, approved providers, and deadlines with the Rhode Island board before renewing.

## Role requirements

- Dentist: 40 hours / 2 years
- Dental hygienist: 20 hours / 2 years
- Dental assistant: No specific CE hour total for dental assistants, but all dental assistants practicing in a dental setting must maintain: current hands-on BLS certification and at least 1 hour/year of CDC Infection Control Guidelines training. N/A for a numeric CE total.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory topics

2-year cycle; licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years, renewal due by May 1 of even-numbered years. MANDATORY: minimum of 1 hour PER YEAR (i.e., part of each cycle) of training on the CDC Infection Control Guidelines for all dentists, hygienists, and assistants; current Basic Life Support (BLS/BCLS) Healthcare-Provider certificate with a hands-on component per American Heart Association guidelines; annual OSHA training for those in a dental setting. Controlled-substance (21 CFR) and OSHA (29 CFR 1910) standards are incorporated by reference but no separate opioid/controlled-substance CE hour minimum is itemized in the dental CE rule. No explicit live-vs-self-study cap stated. Records retained ~5 years; subject to random audit. Regulation: RI 216-RICR-40-05-2.

## Official board source

- <https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-2>

## References

- Source 1: <https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-2>
- Source 2: <https://www.ridental.org/CE>

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