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: Health Professions Council of South Africa — CPD programme. Requirements on this page are summarised from the regulator's published standards — always confirm the current rules at the source.
South African dentists and dental therapists answer to the HPCSA’s Medical and Dental Professions Board, and the arithmetic is simple: 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per twelve-month period, of which at least 5 must cover ethics, human rights and health law — the remaining 25 are clinical. As a rule of thumb one CEU corresponds to about an hour of accredited learning, with structured online activities that include an assessment able to earn more.
Two cautions specific to South Africa. First, CEUs expire — each unit has a limited shelf life from the date of the activity, so compliance is about maintaining a rolling balance, not a one-off sprint (the validity rules have been revised in recent guidance, so check the current HPCSA position). Second, the Board has moved from sampling to active enforcement: practitioners who fall non-compliant risk suspension from practice, and compliance rates across the register have historically been low — don’t be part of that statistic.
Where this directory helps most is the clinical 25: international webinars attended by South African practitioners can be recognised when accredited appropriately (an SA-approved accreditor can assess international activities that aren’t already recognised), and the certificates give you the paper trail. Be realistic about the ethics 5 — those units generally need locally accredited ethics/medico-legal content, which is a smaller, more specific pool than general clinical CPD.
Log everything as you go with the free CPD tracker (it includes an HPCSA preset counting CEUs year-by-year), and see the CPD requirements guide for the wider international picture.
Because CEUs age out, the worst strategy is the December sprint. A steadier pattern — two or three accredited activities a month — keeps your rolling balance above the line all year and survives an audit without drama. Front-load the ethics units early in the year while the good local courses have places, keep the clinical 25 ticking over with free certificated webinars, and download every certificate the day you earn it: platforms change, and reconstructing evidence later is far harder than filing it now.
Browse certificated courses for your CPD record →A starting sample across clinical areas
- The Magic of Air for Managing Dysbiotic Biofilms Around Implants & Teeth
- The Esthetic-Driven Patient: From Whitening to Restorative
- Clinical Tips and Tricks for an Enjoyable and Predictable Endodontic Treatment
- Part II: A Quality Hygiene Oriented Practice Equates to Recession Proof Dentistry
- Evidence-Based Prevention: Implementing Caries Risk Assessment Protocols Into Your Practice
- Incorporating Intraoral Scanning Into Your Practice – Is it a Positive Disruption
- Oral Wellness from Bump to Baby: A Guide to Maternal and Infant Oral Health
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Frequently asked questions
How many CEUs do South African dentists need?
The HPCSA requires 30 CEUs per twelve-month period, of which at least 5 must cover ethics, human rights and health law; the remaining 25 are general/clinical. As a rule of thumb one CEU equates to about an hour of accredited learning, and structured activities with an assessment can earn more.
Do CEUs expire?
Yes — CEUs have a limited shelf life from the date of the activity, so compliance is a rolling balance rather than a one-off sprint. The validity rules have been revised in recent HPCSA guidance, so check the current position rather than relying on older summaries.
Do free international online courses earn CEUs?
They can help most with the clinical 25. International activities that aren’t already recognised can be assessed by an HPCSA-accredited South African accreditor, and the certificate gives you the paper trail. Be more careful with the ethics 5: those units generally need locally accredited ethics or medico-legal content, which is a smaller pool than general clinical CPD.
What happens if I fall short?
The Board has moved from light-touch sampling to active enforcement — non-compliant practitioners risk being suspended from practice until they catch up. Compliance rates across the register have historically been low, which is exactly why a simple monthly habit (one or two certificated webinars) is worth building.
How should I track my CEU balance?
Keep every certificate and log the date, activity and units as you go — the free CPDCE tracker includes an HPCSA preset that counts year-by-year, and its PDF export gives you a dated record if you’re ever audited.