Last updated 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 →
Primary source: Dental Board of California — official site. Requirements on this page are summarised from the Board's published rules — always confirm the current rules at the source.
The Dental Board of California sets California's requirement — 50 units per 2-year renewal. Spread out, that is about 25 units a year — roughly 2 certificated webinars a month keeps the cycle comfortable. The detail that matters most for readers of this directory is the delivery rule: no more than 25 units via self-instruction (home study); a maximum of 8 units may be earned in one day. The figures here reflect commonly published summaries of the rules; requirements change, so verify against the Board’s current guidance before you plan a full cycle.
The board attaches named requirements beyond the total — these are the ones that catch people at audit:
- 2 units in the California Dental Practice Act each cycle
- 2 units in California-specific infection control each cycle
- Current Basic Life Support certification maintained
Where this directory helps: the Board recognises Board-registered providers; ADA CERP and AGD PACE recognition is widely used, which covers most providers in this directory — so a certificated free webinar is creditable CE with a proper paper trail. Compliance is attestation-based: keep certificates; the Board audits renewals. Log each course the day you finish it with the free CE tracker (set the US preset to your cycle), and see the US CE guide for the national picture.
Browse certificated courses for your CE record →A starting sample across clinical areas
- Use of a Cellular Bone Matrix and Custom Titanium Mesh Scaffold for Vertical Bone Augmentation of the Posterior Mandible: A Case Report
- Achieving Implant Success: Comprehensive Guide to Bone Regeneration Techniques
- Mastering reciprocation shaping: Innovations in modern endodontics
- New Guidelines for the Treatment of Periodontitis
- CBCT in the Modern Dental Practice: A Pathway to Enhanced Diagnostics and Treatment Planning
- Instrumental Insight: Mastering Techniques to Mitigate the Damage
- Analgesics: Opioid and Non-Opioid
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do California dentists need?
50 units per 2-year renewal, under the Dental Board of California. Cycle timing and category rules are set by the Board — always work from the current renewal guide.
Do free online courses count in California?
Yes, within the delivery rules: no more than 25 units via self-instruction (home study); a maximum of 8 units may be earned in one day. Courses from Board-registered providers; ADA CERP and AGD PACE recognition is widely used give you a certificate with your name, provider, date and hours — the evidence that matters at audit.
What topics are mandatory?
Currently: 2 units in the California Dental Practice Act each cycle; 2 units in California-specific infection control each cycle; current Basic Life Support certification maintained. Mandates are the part of state CE that changes most often, so re-check the Board’s list each cycle.
Do I submit certificates at renewal?
Generally no — keep certificates; the Board audits renewals. A tidy dated log plus the certificates themselves is the whole game; the free CE tracker’s PDF export exists for exactly that conversation.
Related guides
Browse free dental CE by state
Get new free CPDCE courses weekly
Maximum one email a week with the newest certificated courses. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.