Texas Dental Continuing Education

Mandatory Subjects:

• 3 hours -  Clinical continuing education.
• Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (this may included as part of the 24-hour CE requirement).

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

NEW! DEA MATE ACT:
Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required to complete 8 hours of one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

Mandatory Subjects:

• 16 hours - Technical or scientific as related to clinical care.
  • At least 16 hours of coursework must be in one of these subjects.
  • The terms "technical" and "scientific" as applied to continuing education shall mean that courses have significant intellectual or practical content and are designed to directly enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skill in providing clinical care to the individual patient.
• 4 hours - Safe and effective pain management related to the prescription of opioids and other controlled substances (2 hours must be completed during each year of the biennial license period).
• # of hours not specified - Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (this may included as part of the 24-hour CE requirement).

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

Additional Requirements:

• Jurisprudence Assessment: 
  • Each licensee shall complete the jurisprudence assessment every four (4) years. This requirement is in addition to the twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education required biennially for the renewal of a license.

Subject Limitations:

• Risk Management:
  • Up to 8 hours of coursework may be in risk-management courses. 
  • Acceptable "risk management" courses include courses in risk management, record-keeping, and ethics.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): 
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Basic Life Support:
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.
• Practice Finance:
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.

Mandatory Subjects:

• 16 hours - Technical or scientific as related to clinical care.
  • At least 16 hours of coursework must be in one of these subjects.
  • The terms "technical" and "scientific" as applied to continuing education shall mean that courses have significant intellectual or practical content and are designed to directly enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skill in providing clinical care to the individual patient.
• # of hours not specified - Human Trafficking Prevention, approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (this may included as part of the 24-hour CE requirement).

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: The Texas Requirement is approved by the HHSC as of October 16, 2025. 

Additional Requirements:

• Jurisprudence Assessment: 
  • Each licensee shall complete the jurisprudence assessment every four (4) years. This requirement is in addition to the twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education required biennially for the renewal of a license.

Subject Limitations:

• Risk Management:
  • Up to 8 hours of coursework may be in risk-management courses. 
  • Acceptable "risk management" courses include courses in risk management, record-keeping, and ethics.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): 
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Basic Life Support:
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.
• Practice Finance:
  • Courses in this subject may not be considered in the 24-hour requirement.