With the new rules signed effective December 9, 2019, the new two year CE period will commence January 1, 2020. CE for this period will be due December 31, 2021. Thereafter, CE will be due every two years on odd years. The CE periods will be as follows:

• January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021

• January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023

• January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025

• January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027

With the practice act changes effective in 2021, licenses are now renewed every two years instead of annually. 

Sixteen (16) hours are due every two years. If you are a dentist, 3 of those 16 hours MUST be related to the responsible prescribing of controlled substances. This is a requirement from legislature that the Board cannot waive or alter.

 If you take more than 16 hours, great! But you can’t use those hours toward your next CE period. 

You can earn the 16 hours at any time during the two year cycle - perhaps at once, perhaps 8 each year, etc. You just have to document a total of 16 hours on your renewal that meet the criteria in rule. 

• Your CE course must be clinical in nature. Acceptable subjects include oral surgery, operative dentistry, oral pathology, preventive dentistry, orthodontics, clinical patient management, pediatric dentistry, oral biology, periodontics, prosthodontics, dental materials, implantology, radiology, infection control, endodontics, management of medical emergencies, dental anesthesiology, professional ethics, and pharmacology.

•  You can take other subjects, but you must be able to justify that it is related to the practice of dentistry and is clinical in nature. 

•  The Board will not accept CE where the content is regarding practice building and business management courses. Staff’s rule of thumb for all boards is - if you aren’t sure it applies, don’t count it.

•  You can take your CE in person or online. There is no limit regarding how many CE you may take online. 

• The required BLS is in addition to your 16 hour requirement. BLS hours cannot count toward your 16 hour requirement. 

Hygienists - If your license is issued in an even year, such as 2022, you’ll only need to submit 8 hours CE for 2023. If your license is issued in 2023, no CE is required when you renew. After 2023, you’ll be completing 16 hours in the two year CE period defined above.

 Dentists - If your license is issued in an even year, such as 2022, you’ll only need to submit 8 hours CE for 2023. However, that 8 hours must include 3 hours related to the responsible prescribing of controlled substances. If your license is issued in 2023, no CE is required when you renew. After 2023, you’ll be completing 16 hours in the two year CE period defined above. 

When licensees renew, they will only attest to the completion of their continuing education on their renewal. Actual evidence is not required unless the licensee is randomly selected for audit (see Audit section below). 

This process may change if the Board becomes informed licensees are not compliant with the requirements. 

The Board of Dental Examiners does not pre-approve or pre-review continuing education. Licensees are responsible for ensuring courses they complete meet the requirements in Chapter 3 of the Rules. 

Board Staff will conduct a random audit of 5% of licensees that renewed. Those selected for audit must:

• Keep CE records for a minimum of four (4) years after the renewal period where the course was submitted.  

• Be able to provide CE records within thirty (30) days of the audit notice, or you may face disciplinary action.

In limited circumstances, the Board may approve a CE waiver to licensees that request a waiver and can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Ideally, these extenuating circumstances would prohibit a licensee from both practicing and obtaining CE.  Generally, a licensee that can practice is a licensee that can obtain CE.

If you still have questions, please direct them to Board Staff at dentalboard@wyo.gov.