Last updated July 2026 · requirements verified against regulator publications 20 July 2026 · all courses free at the point of access
Written by Dr Sam — practising dentist, Australia, and the clinician behind this directory. About the author →
Alberta dentists are regulated by the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA). The Continuing Competence Program requires 60 credits over each 2-year cycle, running from 1 January of an even-numbered year to 31 December of the following odd-numbered year. One hour generally equals one credit, and excess credits do not carry forward.
Alongside the headline requirement, keep these on your radar:
- Annual hands-on BLS/HCP-CPR including AED (worth four credits annually)
- The regulator's three-credit Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct course once per cycle
- Excess credits do not carry forward into the next cycle
Where free online CE fits: Free online webinars fit Alberta's one-hour-one-credit model cleanly. The fixed commitments do real arithmetic here: annual hands-on BLS/HCP-CPR is worth four credits a year (eight per cycle) and the regulator's sexual abuse and misconduct course three, which accounts for eleven of the sixty — leaving roughly forty-nine discretionary credits across two years that certificated online CE can carry. Log each course the day you finish it with the free CE tracker (pick your province from the Canada presets — cycle dates and targets are preloaded), and see the Canada CE guide for the national picture.
Planning a cycle in Alberta
Two-year cycles come around fast. Averaging about 25 discretionary credits a year alongside the mandatory components keeps the cycle comfortable, and because excess credits do not carry forward, there is no benefit in finishing a cycle far over 60 — bank anything extra as a head start on habits, not credits.
Browse certificated courses for your CE record →
Alberta CE at a glance
- CE required: 60 credits per 2-year cycle
- Regulator: College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA)
- Cycle: 2-year cycle (1 Jan even year – 31 Dec odd year)
- Online learning: One hour generally equals one credit — see the CCP Manual for category detail
A starting sample across clinical areas
- Single-Visit Crowns: A Chairside Digital Approach to Single-Unit Restorations
- Treating the Mandibular Arch in the Deep Bite Patient with Ceramic Brackets
- Appropriate Analgesic Prescribing: Keeping Patients Comfortable as the Local Anesthesia Wanes
- Why Are Sterilization Indicators and Integrators So Important for Patient Safety?
- Yoganomics: Postural Health & Ergonomic Considerations for the Dental Professional
- Managing Dental Caries in Children
- Healthier Supra-gingival, Biocompatible Dentistry
- Practice Management and Treatment Planning for Complex Full Arch Cases
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Frequently asked questions
How much CE do dentists need in Alberta?
60 credits per 2-year cycle. Key conditions: Annual hands-on BLS/HCP-CPR including AED (worth four credits annually). Requirements change — always confirm the current rules with the CDSA.
Do free online courses count toward CE in Alberta?
Most listed providers hold ADA CERP or AGD PACE recognition, widely accepted across Canadian regulation. The Alberta-specific point: one hour generally equals one credit — see the CCP Manual for category detail.
Who regulates dentists in Alberta?
College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA). It sets the CE requirement, audits compliance and publishes the current rules — treat its website as the primary source.
How should I keep records?
Download the certificate for every completed course the day you finish it, and log it in a tracker against your cycle target. The free CE tracker on this site has a preset for each Canadian province and territory with the verified target and cycle preloaded.