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 →
BC dentists are regulated by the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP). From April 2026 the former fixed-credit requirement is obsolete: the Quality Assurance Program now runs an annual competency-based model built on meaningful professional learning, reflection and goal-setting, with no prescribed number of credits or hours. The first new programme year runs 13 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, then annually from 1 April.
Alongside the headline requirement, keep these on your radar:
- Engage in meaningful professional learning, reflection and goal-setting each annual period
- No set credit or hour total applies under the new model
- Keep evidence of learning activity for the QA Program
Where free online CE fits: With no fixed hours from April 2026, the question in BC is no longer "does this course count?" but "does this learning connect to my goals?". Free certificated courses slot naturally into the new model as documented learning activity — the certificate becomes evidence of engagement rather than a credit token. 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 British Columbia
Treat the annual period (1 April – 31 March) as a loop: set goals at the start of the programme year, pick courses that genuinely address them, and record a short reflection as you complete each one. The regulator's shift is from counting to demonstrating — a tidy file of certificates tied to stated goals is exactly what the new QA Program wants to see.
Browse certificated courses for your CE record →
British Columbia CE at a glance
- CE required: No fixed hours — annual competency-based model
- Regulator: British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP)
- Cycle: Annual (1 April – 31 March; first new year from 13 April 2026)
- Online learning: No fixed hours — free certificated courses fit naturally as documented learning activity
A starting sample across clinical areas
- Incorporating An All Tissue Laser in the Practice: Soft Tissue to Cavity Prep to Peri-Implantitis Treatment
- Hand Hygiene Update in Dentistry
- Risk Management for Pediatric Caries
- Flavor Vs Function: A Look at Rationale for Fluoride Varnish Product of Choice
- Soft Tissue Control for Impressions, Digital Scanning, and Delivery of Bonded Restorations
- Why Now is the Time to Explore Cloud-Based Practice Management Software
- From Diagnosis to Post Endodontic Restoration: A Journey Marked by Innovation
- Mainstreaming Dental Implant Impressions and Conditioning Edentulous Tissue
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Frequently asked questions
How much CE do dentists need in British Columbia?
No fixed hours — annual competency-based model. Key conditions: Engage in meaningful professional learning, reflection and goal-setting each annual period. Requirements change — always confirm the current rules with the BCCOHP.
Do free online courses count toward CE in British Columbia?
Most listed providers hold ADA CERP or AGD PACE recognition, widely accepted across Canadian regulation. The British Columbia-specific point: no fixed hours — free certificated courses fit naturally as documented learning activity.
Who regulates dentists in British Columbia?
British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals (BCCOHP). 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.