# Texas dental CE requirements

> Continuing education requirements in Texas: dentists 24 hours / 2 years, hygienists 24 hours / 2 years, assistants Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs): 12 hours / 2 years, of which at least 6 hours must be clinical (rule expressed as 6 hours/year, at least 3 clinical). CPR/BLS must be a current hands-on course (online not accepted). Human trafficking prevention course required. Up to 6 CE hours may carry forward..

URL: https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/texas

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 Texas board before renewing.

## Role requirements

- Dentist: 24 hours / 2 years
- Dental hygienist: 24 hours / 2 years
- Dental assistant: Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs): 12 hours / 2 years, of which at least 6 hours must be clinical (rule expressed as 6 hours/year, at least 3 clinical). CPR/BLS must be a current hands-on course (online not accepted). Human trafficking prevention course required. Up to 6 CE hours may carry forward.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory topics

Biennial (2-year) renewal. For dentists and hygienists: minimum 16 of the 24 hours must be scientific/technical (clinical); up to 8 hours may be risk management (record-keeping/HIPAA/ethics). Self-study cap: up to 8 hours may be self-study (correspondence/video/audio/reading). Jurisprudence: TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment required every 4 years and does NOT count toward the 24 hours. Human trafficking prevention course (HHSC-approved) required and counts toward the 24. Opioids/controlled substances: dentists with direct patient care must complete at least 4 hours per biennium on safe/effective pain management related to prescribing opioids/controlled substances (a 2-hour DEA-related course counts toward this 4). CPR/BLS required but does not count toward the 24-hour minimum; OSHA and CPR excluded from the count. Carry-forward: up to 24 excess classroom-format hours earned in the year before renewal.

## Official board source

- <https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/dentists/dentist-continuing-education/>

## References

- Source 1: <https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/dentists/dentist-continuing-education/>
- Source 2: <https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/hygienists/hygienist-continuing-education/>
- Source 3: <https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/dental-assistants/ce-information-and-submission-for-rdas/>
- Source 4: <https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/dental-assistants/dental-assistant-renewal/>

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