# Virginia dental assistant CE requirements

> Role-specific continuing education summary for dental assistants renewing in Virginia.

URL: https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/virginia/dental-assistant

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 Virginia dental board before filing a renewal.

## Direct answer

Dental assistants in Virginia: No CE hour count set by the board for Dental Assistant II; renewal requires maintaining current DANB (or ADA-recognized) certification plus a current hands-on healthcare-provider CPR course. (DANB certification renewal itself requires 12 CE/year.). Renewal-cycle notes: ANNUAL renewal for both dentists (18VAC60-21-250) and dental hygienists (18VAC60-25-190): minimum 15 hrs of approved CE each year (no CE required for the first renewal after initial licensure). Excess hours may be carried to the next renewal year up to 15 hrs. CPR/BLS: both must MAINTAIN current hands-on healthcare-provider CPR/BLS certification (not counted as CE hours). SEDATION: a dentist (or hygienist) who administers/monitors general anesthesia, deep or moderate sedation must complete 4 hrs every 2 yrs of related CE. Up to 3 hrs/yr may be earned via uncompensated volunteer dental/hygiene services. Audio/video presentations are permitted with NO explicit live-vs-self-study cap. No dedicated infection-control, opioid, or jurisprudence hour mandate is set in the CE regulation (VA satisfies jurisprudence via a required exam at initial licensure, not ongoing CE). Confirm current role-specific requirements with the Virginia dental board before renewing.

## Renewal cycle and mandatory topics

ANNUAL renewal for both dentists (18VAC60-21-250) and dental hygienists (18VAC60-25-190): minimum 15 hrs of approved CE each year (no CE required for the first renewal after initial licensure). Excess hours may be carried to the next renewal year up to 15 hrs. CPR/BLS: both must MAINTAIN current hands-on healthcare-provider CPR/BLS certification (not counted as CE hours). SEDATION: a dentist (or hygienist) who administers/monitors general anesthesia, deep or moderate sedation must complete 4 hrs every 2 yrs of related CE. Up to 3 hrs/yr may be earned via uncompensated volunteer dental/hygiene services. Audio/video presentations are permitted with NO explicit live-vs-self-study cap. No dedicated infection-control, opioid, or jurisprudence hour mandate is set in the CE regulation (VA satisfies jurisprudence via a required exam at initial licensure, not ongoing CE).

## Official board source

- <https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/>

## References

- <https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/>
- <https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency60/chapter21/section250/>
- <https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency60/chapter25/section190/>
- <https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Dentistry/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/DentalAssistants/>

## Related

- [Dental Assistant CE Requirements by State](https://dentovio.com/dental-assistant-ce-requirements/index.html.md)
- [Virginia dental CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/virginia/index.html.md)
- [Virginia online dental CE](https://dentovio.com/online-dental-ce/virginia/index.html.md)
- [Virginia dental license renewal CE requirements](https://dentovio.com/ce-requirements/virginia/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)