Colorado dental CE requirements at a glance
If you hold a dental license in Colorado, continuing education is a mandatory part of your license renewal. Whether you are a general dentist, specialist, or dental hygienist, understanding exactly what is required — and what counts — will save you time, money, and stress when your renewal deadline arrives.
Here is a quick summary before we go deeper:
- Dentists: 30 hours of CE per 2-year renewal cycle
- Dental hygienists: 30 hours of CE per 2-year renewal cycle
- Dental assistants: No mandatory CE requirement in Colorado
- Renewal cycle: Every 2 years — licenses expire on your birthday month
- Licensing body: Colorado Dental Board (DORA)
- CE record retention: Minimum 4 years
Who regulates dental CE in Colorado?
Dental licensing in Colorado is overseen by the Colorado Dental Board, which operates under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The Board sets CE requirements, handles license renewals, and conducts audits to verify compliance.
You can access your license, check renewal status, and submit renewals through the DORA online portal at dora.colorado.gov. The Colorado Dental Board can be reached directly at (303) 894-7800 or via the DORA website if you have specific questions about your CE obligations.
How many CE hours do Colorado dentists need?
Colorado dentists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The clock starts from the date your license was issued and renews on your birthday month every two years.
There is no requirement to complete a minimum number of hours per year — you could technically complete all 30 hours in the final month of your renewal cycle, though this is not recommended. Spreading your CE throughout the cycle is better for learning retention and far less stressful.
Of the 30 required hours:
- 2 hours must cover infection control — specifically OSHA standards and infection prevention protocols relevant to dental practice
- The remaining 28 hours are elective — you choose topics that are most relevant to your clinical practice and career goals
How many CE hours do Colorado dental hygienists need?
Dental hygienists in Colorado are held to the same standard as dentists: 30 hours of CE per 2-year renewal cycle. The same infection control requirement applies — at least 2 of those hours must address OSHA standards and infection control.
Hygienists often ask whether CE earned through employer-sponsored training counts toward the requirement. The answer is yes, provided the course is offered by an ADA CERP or AGD PACE-approved provider and documentation of completion is available.
What CE topics are required in Colorado?
Colorado gives dental professionals significant flexibility in choosing their CE topics — only one topic area is mandated for all licensees:
- Infection control (2 hours required): Must cover OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards, sterilization protocols, and infection prevention as it applies to the dental setting
Additionally, dentists who are new to practicing in Colorado must complete a one-time Colorado jurisprudence requirement — a self-study exam covering Colorado dental law, the Colorado Dental Practice Act, and the rules of the Colorado Dental Board. This is a one-time requirement, not a recurring one.
Beyond these, your remaining CE hours can cover any topic relevant to dentistry — clinical skills, practice management, technology, patient communication, occlusion, implants, esthetics, or any other area where you want to grow.
What counts as acceptable CE in Colorado?
Colorado accepts CE from any course offered by an ADA CERP-recognized or AGD PACE-approved provider. These are the two nationally recognized dental CE accreditation standards, and they are the benchmark the Colorado Dental Board uses to determine whether a course qualifies.
Accepted formats include:
- In-person seminars, workshops, and conferences
- Live webinars with verifiable attendance tracking
- On-demand online courses from accredited providers
- University and dental school programs
- Hands-on clinical skills workshops
- Study clubs with structured, documented curricula
- Journal-based CE with post-reading assessments
Before registering for any CE course — especially online — confirm that the provider holds ADA CERP or AGD PACE accreditation. Non-accredited courses will not count toward your Colorado renewal requirement, regardless of the subject matter or the time invested.
ADA CERP vs AGD PACE — what is the difference?
Both are widely accepted by state dental boards including Colorado, but they are issued by different organizations:
- ADA CERP (Continuing Education Recognition Program) is administered by the American Dental Association. Providers who carry ADA CERP recognition have met the ADA’s standards for quality CE content.
- AGD PACE (Program Approval for Continuing Education) is administered by the Academy of General Dentistry. AGD PACE approval is required for CE to count toward the AGD Fellowship and Mastership awards.
For the purposes of Colorado license renewal, both are equally valid. CPS seminars and events are AGD PACE-approved, meaning every CE credit you earn at a CPS event counts directly toward your Colorado Dental Board renewal requirement.
How CPS helps Colorado dentists meet their CE requirement
The Colorado Prosthodontic Society exists to make high-quality, clinically relevant CE accessible and affordable for every Colorado dental professional — regardless of career stage or practice setting.
Here is what a CPS membership gives you:
- Full-day seminars: Each all-day CPS educational event awards 6 AGD CE credits. With 5 to 6 seminars per season, members can earn their entire 30-hour requirement in a single membership year
- Elevate events: 2-hour evening networking events that award 2 CE credits each — flexible and social
- No travel required: All CPS events are held in the Denver metro area. No flights, no hotels, no time away from your family
- One low annual fee: Starting at just 00/year for dentists in their first 5 years of practice — a fraction of the cost of purchasing individual CE courses
For context: a single-day CE course from a major dental education provider typically costs 00–00. A CPS membership at 00–00/year covers your entire CE requirement for the year, plus networking and community.
Colorado dental license renewal — step by step
When your renewal period approaches, the Colorado Dental Board will send a renewal notice to the email address on file with DORA. Here is how the process works:
- Log in to the DORA portal at dora.colorado.gov using your license number and password
- Complete the CE attestation — you will certify under penalty of perjury that you have completed the required 30 hours, including the 2 hours of infection control CE
- Pay the renewal fee — currently 0 for dentists and 0 for dental hygienists (fees are subject to change; verify current fees on the DORA website)
- Retain your CE certificates for at least 4 years after your renewal date in case the Board selects your license for audit
Colorado operates on an honor system for CE — you attest to your compliance at renewal but do not submit certificates. However, the Board does conduct random audits, and failure to produce documentation can result in fines or license suspension.
What to do if you miss your renewal deadline
If your license lapses due to a missed renewal, you are not automatically required to retake board exams or start over — but you will need to:
- Pay a reinstatement fee in addition to the standard renewal fee
- Certify that you have completed all required CE for the lapsed period
- Submit the reinstatement application through the DORA portal
Practicing dentistry in Colorado with a lapsed license is a violation of state law and can result in disciplinary action. If you realize your license has lapsed, contact the Colorado Dental Board promptly to begin the reinstatement process.
Frequently asked questions about Colorado dental CE
Can I carry over CE hours to the next renewal cycle in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not allow CE hours to carry over between renewal cycles. All 30 hours must be completed within the current 2-year period.
Do CPS events count toward Colorado dental CE requirements?
Yes. All CPS seminars and Elevate events are AGD PACE-approved, which is one of the two nationally recognized accreditation standards accepted by the Colorado Dental Board.
Are online dental CE courses accepted in Colorado?
Yes, provided the course is offered by an ADA CERP or AGD PACE-approved provider and includes a mechanism to verify attendance or completion.
Do I need to notify the Colorado Dental Board when I complete CE?
No. You simply attest to your CE completion at the time of license renewal. You do not submit certificates unless audited.
What happens if I am audited and cannot produce CE certificates?
Failure to produce documentation during an audit can result in disciplinary action, including fines and potential license suspension. Always retain CE certificates for at least 4 years.
Does volunteering count as CE in Colorado?
Clinical volunteering does not typically count as CE unless it is structured as a formal educational program offered by an accredited provider. Check with the Colorado Dental Board if you are unsure about a specific volunteer program.
I am a new dentist in Colorado. Is there anything extra I need to do?
Yes — new Colorado licensees must complete a one-time Colorado jurisprudence self-study exam covering the Colorado Dental Practice Act and Board rules. This is separate from your ongoing 30-hour CE requirement and only needs to be completed once.
How do I find out when my Colorado dental license expires?
Log in to the DORA online portal at dora.colorado.gov to view your license status, expiration date, and renewal history.
