Illinois Dental CE Requirements for License Renewal: Complete 2025 Guide

Staying compliant with Illinois dental license renewal requirements is essential for protecting your license and providing safe, high-quality patient care. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to complete continuing education (CE) every renewal cycle.

This guide explains the Illinois dental CE requirements for license renewal—including required hours, mandatory topics, deadlines, and best practices—so you can renew with confidence.

CE Hour Requirements for Illinois Dentists

• 48 hours of CE every three years

• At least 24 hours must be live, interactive, or clinical participation

• Remaining hours may be completed online or self-study from approved providers

• CE must directly support the practice of dentistry, patient care, or public health

CE Hour Requirements for Illinois Dental Hygienists

• 36 hours of CE every three years

• At least 18 hours must be live or interactive

• CE must support clinical dental hygiene, prevention, and patient safety

CE Hour Requirements for Illinois Dental Assistants

• No general CE requirement for basic dental assistants

• Expanded function or coronal polishing/radiology-certified assistants must complete CE as required to maintain their permits

• Must maintain current CPR certification at all times

Mandatory CE Topics for Illinois License Renewal

Illinois requires or strongly encourages the following CE topics during each renewal cycle:

• Infection Control – Must be current and regularly updated

• CPR/BLS Certification – Must be current at all times

• Illinois Jurisprudence (Laws & Ethics) – Recommended periodically

• Opioid Prescribing and Safe Controlled Substance Use – 3 hours every renewal period for DEA-registered dentists

• Implicit Bias Training – 1 hour every renewal period (required for all licensees)

• Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – 1 hour every renewal period (required for all licensees)

CE Reporting, Deadlines, and Audits

• Illinois dental licenses renew every three years (by September 30)

• CE completion is attested during license renewal

• Licensees must retain CE documentation for at least five years

• The IDFPR conducts random CE audits, so accurate recordkeeping is essential

CE Courses and Certificate Tracking

You can complete Illinois-compliant CE courses at ToothNerd.com, including Illinois Jurisprudence, OSHA, Infection Control, Implicit Bias, and Opioid CE.

While CE providers issue completion certificates, practices also need centralized documentation for compliance. Done Desk allows dental organizations to track CE completions, license renewals, and documentation for the entire team in one platform—helping practices stay audit-ready and compliant.

Best Practices for Illinois CE Compliance

• Plan ahead: Spread CE hours across your three-year renewal cycle

• Prioritize required topics: Complete opioid, implicit bias, and harassment prevention CE early

• Verify providers: Choose only IDFPR-approved, ADA CERP, or AGD PACE CE

• Keep detailed records: Maintain both digital and physical proof of CE completion

Accreditation Statement

Tooth Nerd LLC is an approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit and AGD Approved Courses. Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. Provider ID# 389654.

Bottom Line

Meeting Illinois dental continuing education requirements is essential for keeping your license active and your patients safe. By completing the required hours, covering all mandated topics, and tracking documentation through Done Desk, you can renew on time and with confidence.