3.1 Continuing Education Hours and Mandatory Components (Den 406.01–406.03)
Key Takeaways
New Hampshire dentists must complete at least 40 CEUs per biennium, including at least 30 CEUs in clinical dental care subjects (Den 406.03(b)).
New Hampshire dental hygienists must complete at least 20 CEUs per biennium, including at least 15 CEUs in clinical dental care subjects (Den 406.03(a)).
Both dentists and hygienists need a hands-on BLS-HCP course, at least 2 CEUs in infection control covering CDC guidelines, and at least 2 CEUs in medical emergency training each biennium.
Licensees registered with the PDMP who hold a DEA number must complete 3 CEUs in pain management or addiction disorder, or an online exam in those areas, for each biennial renewal (Den 406.03(c)).
Excess CEUs do not carry forward, and first-time licensees are exempt from CE for their first biennial renewal after graduation (Den 406.03(f), (h)).
Continuing Education Requirements
Continuing education (CE) is a condition of renewal. RSA 317-A:12, XI directs the Board to adopt CE rules, and Den 406.01 says the purpose of Part Den 406 is to set the minimum CE requirements.
Definitions — Den 406.02
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Dental education designed to maintain professional competence, improve skills, and preserve dental standards to protect the public |
| Continuing education unit (CEU) | One hour of attendance at lectures, seminars, and meetings, or 20 minutes as the presenter of an original paper, essay, or formal lecture to a group of professionals. Certification in a specialty does not count |
| Clinical dental care or dental hygiene care subjects | Study dealing with performing dental or dental hygiene services for patients |
| Non-clinical subjects | Personal development or practice management related to dentistry or dental hygiene |
| Certificate of CEU credit | A provider-issued document certifying that a named licensee completed a program |
The biennial requirement — Den 406.03
| Component | Dentist (406.03(b)) | Dental hygienist (406.03(a)) |
|---|---|---|
| Total CEUs per biennium | 40 | 20 |
| Minimum clinical CEUs | 30 | 15 |
| Maximum non-clinical, by arithmetic | 10 | 5 |
| BLS-HCP course with a hands-on component | Required | Required |
| Infection control (course syllabus must include CDC Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines and Recommendations) | At least 2 CEUs | At least 2 CEUs |
| Medical emergency training | At least 2 CEUs | At least 2 CEUs |
| EFDA-qualified | — | At least 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry, in addition to the 20 |
The rule sets a clinical minimum, not a non-clinical cap. The "maximum 10 non-clinical" figure for dentists is simply 40 minus the 30 clinical hours. A dentist may earn all 40 hours in clinical subjects.
Den 302.07(b)(6) repeats the EFDA requirement: every EFDA, whether a hygienist or a certified or graduate dental assistant, completes 10 CEUs each biennium in restorative dentistry.
Opioid and pain-management CE — Den 406.03(c)
Licensees who must register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and who hold a valid DEA number must show, as part of each biennial renewal (implementing RSA 318-B:41, VI), either:
- 3 CEUs in pain management, addiction disorder, or a combination of both; or
- an online examination in pain management, addiction disorder, or a combination.
This applies because of the DEA registration, not because of prescribing volume. A dentist who holds a DEA number but rarely prescribes opioids still needs it.
How credit is counted — Den 406.03(d)–(h)
- One CEU per hour of attendance, or per 20 minutes as a presenter of original work. A 1-hour original lecture therefore earns 3 CEUs for the presenter.
- Whole courses only: credit requires completing the entire course or course segment.
- Record retention: keep certificates or documents for 3 years from the program date. Verifying attendance is the licensee's responsibility, and records must be produced on Board request for random audit (Den 406.03(e)).
- No carry-forward: excess CEUs from one renewal period cannot count toward the next (Den 406.03(f)).
- Specialty courses: up to 3 CEUs for courses taken when first obtaining a specialty (Den 406.03(g)).
- First-renewal exemption: dentists and hygienists who obtained their first license after graduating from an accredited college or university are exempt for the first biennial renewal after licensure (Den 406.03(h)).
BLS-HCP counts toward the clinical minimum
Under Den 406.06(c), a qualifying BLS-HCP course earns 3 CEUs per biennium and is a clinical care subject. All BLS-HCP, ACLS, and PALS courses must include a hands-on component. A dentist's BLS renewal therefore supplies 3 of the 30 clinical CEUs.
Other CE-style obligations
- Volunteer licensees: BLS-HCP plus 2 CEUs in infection control each biennium, with no other CE (Den 301.05(g)).
- Activation and reinstatement: CE proof is required to return to active status (Den 301.04, 301.08, 401.06).
- Sedation permit holders: RSA 317-A:20, II(c) directs the Board to require CE as a condition of issuing or reissuing a sedation permit. The current renewal rules require current ACLS and/or PALS certificates (Den 401.02(a)(3)).
Worked example: auditing a dentist's biennium
Dr. Ortiz reports 40 CEUs:
| Course | CEUs | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Endodontic retreatment lecture series | 14 | Clinical |
| Implant restorative hands-on | 8 | Clinical |
| BLS-HCP renewal (AHA, hands-on) | 3 | Clinical (Den 406.06(c)) |
| Infection control with CDC guidelines | 2 | Clinical |
| Medical emergencies in the dental office | 2 | Clinical |
| Practice marketing and scheduling | 11 | Non-clinical |
Clinical total: 14 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 29 CEUs. The total is 40, but the dentist is 1 clinical CEU short of the 30-CEU minimum. One of the 11 practice-management hours cannot substitute. If Dr. Ortiz holds a DEA number, the 3 pain-management CEUs (or the online exam) are an additional required element.
A dentist delivers a 60-minute original lecture on endodontic diagnosis to a study club of dental professionals. How many CEUs may the presenter claim under the Den 406.02(d) definition?
1 CEU, because credit is based on clock hours regardless of role
0 CEUs, because presenting a lecture never counts toward continuing education
6 CEUs, because presenters receive double the attendee credit for preparation time
3 CEUs, because each 20 minutes as a presenter of an original formal lecture equals one CEU
A dental hygienist is qualified as an expanded function dental auxiliary. How many CEUs must she complete in a biennium, and with what restorative content?
At least 30 CEUs: the standard 20, plus at least 10 CEUs in restorative dentistry required in addition to the 20
20 CEUs, of which at least 10 must be in restorative dentistry
40 CEUs, the same as a dentist, because EFDAs place restorations
25 CEUs, of which at least 5 must be in restorative dentistry
A dentist was first licensed after graduating from an accredited dental school and is completing her first biennial renewal. What does Den 406.03(h) provide?
She must complete a prorated 20 CEUs, half the normal requirement
She is exempt from the continuing education requirement for the first biennial renewal after her initial license
She must complete 40 CEUs, but may count dental school coursework from her final year
She is exempt from CE but must complete 3 CEUs of jurisprudence before renewal
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.