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: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — official site. Requirements on this page are summarised from the Board's published rules — always confirm the current rules at the source.
Illinois's rulebook comes from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and the number that matters is 48 hours per 3-year cycle. Averaged across the cycle it works out near 16 hours per year; at webinar pace that is 1 courses a month. The detail that matters most for readers of this directory is the delivery rule: up to 24 of the 48 may be self-study/online. 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.
Beyond the raw number, Illinois names specific obligations worth diarising:
- 1 hour of cultural competency CE from 2026 renewals onward
- IDFPR-wide mandates (e.g. sexual harassment prevention training) apply — check the current IDFPR list at renewal
Where this directory helps: the Board recognises approved sponsors; ADA CERP and AGD PACE providers are the practical route for online hours, which covers most providers in this directory — so a certificated free webinar is creditable CE with a proper paper trail. Compliance is attestation-based: attestation with random audit; keep certificates. 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
- Depth to Detail: The Changing Role of Composites in the Future of Dentistry
- Prosthetic Freedom in Full-Arch and Multi-Implant Cases, Versatile Solutions with Neoss4+
- Endodontic-Periodontic Lesions
- Do These Gums Make Me Look Fat? A Systematic Approach to Periodontal Therapy
- Non-Fluoride Demin or Non-Fluoride Demon
- CAD/CAM Fabricated Complete Dentures: A New Paradigm in Removable Prosthodontics
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
- IV Sedation Dentistry: What It Can Do to Elevate Your Practice
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Illinois dentists need?
48 hours per 3-year cycle, under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Cycle timing and category rules are set by the Board — always work from the current renewal guide.
Do free online courses count in Illinois?
Yes, within the delivery rules: up to 24 of the 48 may be self-study/online. Courses from approved sponsors; ADA CERP and AGD PACE providers are the practical route for online hours give you a certificate with your name, provider, date and hours — the evidence that matters at audit.
What topics are mandatory?
Currently: 1 hour of cultural competency CE from 2026 renewals onward; iDFPR-wide mandates (e.g. sexual harassment prevention training) apply — check the current IDFPR list at renewal. 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 — attestation with random audit; keep certificates. 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
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