NV.gov
Overview
The Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners regulates continuing education under NRS 631 and NAC 631. Continuing education is a condition of renewal for licensees in dentistry, dental hygiene, dental therapy, and expanded function dental assisting. The Board’s rules govern required hours, approved subject areas, provider approval, audits, and record retention.
In addition to regular continuing education hours, new Nevada licensed dental professionals should be aware of two one-time training requirements tied to renewal processing. The first is a 4-hour bioterrorism course, required by NRS 631.342 within 2 years after initial licensure. That course must address terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, including personal protective equipment, symptoms and treatment related to chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear agents, syndromic surveillance and reporting for biological agents, and use of the Health Alert Network.
The second is a 2-hour SBIRT course. SBIRT stands for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment and is defined in NRS 631.103. Licensees are required to submit proof of SBIRT completion, if it has not earlier provided to the Board, at the time of renewal.
To renew a license, a Nevada licensee must complete the required continuing education during the applicable licensing period, maintain current CPR, and keep documentation available in case of audit. Continuing education hours do not carry over from one renewal period to the next. Courses completed through home study, online study, self-study, volunteering at non-profit or free clinics, or journal study may count for no more than 50% of the total required hours. Licensees must keep CE records for at least 3 years.
Dentists who are registered to dispense controlled substances must also complete 2 hours each licensure period on the misuse and abuse of controlled substances, opioid prescribing, or addiction. In addition, new Nevada licensees are reminded of the separate 4-hour bioterrorism course required by NRS 631.342 within 2 years after licensure.
| License Type | Total CE Required | Minimum Clinical Hours | Infection Control Minimum | Other Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist | 20 hours annually or 40 hours biennially | 15 annually or 30 biennially | 2 annually or 4 biennially | Current CPR required; additional controlled-substance training applies if registered to dispense |
| Dental Hygienist | 15 hours annually or 30 hours biennially | 12 annually or 24 biennially | 2 annually or 4 biennially | Current CPR required |
| Dental Therapist | 18 hours annually or 40 hours biennially | 15 annually or 30 biennially | 2 annually or 4 biennially | Current CPR required |
| Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
The Board distinguishes between courses that are automatically acceptable and courses that require Board approval.
Board approval is not required for:
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CPR courses
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Courses approved by the American Dental Association
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Courses approved by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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Courses approved by the Academy of General Dentistry
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Courses approved by a nationally recognized dental or medical specialty association
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Courses offered by a university, college, or community college
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Courses offered by a Joint Commission-accredited hospital
If a course does require Board approval, the provider must apply to the Board at least 45 days before the course begins. The Board’s reviewing committee must approve or disapprove the request within 30 days after receipt. Courses submitted for approval must meet appropriate educational standards, be available to all Nevada licensees within the relevant category, and include course materials for review if the course is offered by home study or correspondence.
Approved providers must:
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Issue certificates of completion
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Keep records for Nevada licensees for at least 3 years
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Comply with Board monitoring if the Board elects to review or observe the course
CE Provider Applications are assessed a fee of $150 for the first credit hour and $50 for each additional hour.
If a provider offers postgraduate continuing education that involves live patients, additional oversight applies. The facility must be properly registered, live-patient instruction must be supervised by a Nevada-licensed dentist, and the program must comply with applicable infection control, anesthesia, radiographic, and other practice requirements under NRS 631 and NAC 631. All facilities where dental services are provided must be inspected for infection control protocols.
Some education in Nevada is not ordinary continuing education for renewal. Instead, it is advanced education that leads to a new or expanded scope of practice. These pathways require separate qualifications, permits, certifications, or Board approval.
Lasers
Laser use in Nevada is governed by NAC 631.030, NAC 631.033, and NAC 631.035. A licensee who uses laser radiation in practice must complete the education and documentation required by those regulations. Laser proficiency must meet the standards adopted by Nevada, and online courses do not satisfy the laser proficiency requirement.
For dental hygienists, laser use also depends on the supervising dentist having completed a recognized laser proficiency course. Licensees who use lasers should maintain documentation of their laser training and submit it as required at renewal.
Local Anesthesia Permits for Dental Hygienists
A dental hygienist may administer local anesthesia only if the hygienist has completed the required training, obtained the Board’s permit or certification, and is otherwise acting within Nevada law. This is not general continuing education for renewal. It is a separate scope-expanding approval.
To qualify, the hygienist must provide proof of proficiency from the qualifying educational program and any additional materials required by the Board. If the training was completed after dental hygiene school, the Board may require the course syllabus or similar documentation. The hygienist may not administer local anesthesia until the Board has officially approved the permit.
Nitrous Oxide Permits for Dental Hygienists
Nitrous oxide follows the same general structure as local anesthesia. A dental hygienist must complete the required training and obtain the Board’s permit or certification before administering nitrous oxide-oxygen analgesia. This is a separate authority, not ordinary CE used only for renewal.
As with local anesthesia, the hygienist must submit proof of proficiency and any other documentation required by the Board. If the training was completed in a post-graduate course, supporting course materials may be required. Nitrous oxide may not be administered until the Board has approved the permit.
Neuromodulators and Dermal or Soft Tissue Fillers
A dentist who wishes to provide these services must first complete a Board-approved didactic and hands-on course of study. The required training must be at least 24 total hours and must include instruction in:
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the use of qualifying neuromodulators for treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder and myofascial pain syndrome
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the use of qualifying neuromodulators for dental and facial esthetics
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the use of dermal and soft tissue fillers for dental and facial esthetics
The course must include at least 4 hours of didactic instruction and at least 4 hours of hands-on instruction in each of those subject areas.
A dentist who provides these services must also submit, with the application for renewal of his or her license, proof acceptable to the Board that the required course has been successfully completed. The dentist must also certify that each neuromodulator or filler used, or intended to be used, is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in dentistry.
A dentist who has completed the required training may not inject these products into a person who is not a patient of record, and may not inject at a site that is outside the oral cavity, maxillofacial area, or the adjacent and associated structures.
Moderate Sedation
Moderate sedation is a separate permit pathway for dentists and is not satisfied by ordinary continuing education alone. Nevada regulates moderate sedation through NRS 631.265 and NAC 631.2211 through NAC 631.2256.
A dentist seeking this authority must complete the required education and training for the applicable permit category and submit a separate application. If sedation will be provided at a location that also requires site approval, the dentist must complete the site approval process as well. Because course approval matters, applicants should confirm that a program meets Board requirements before relying on it.
Once a moderate sedation permit is issued, renewal requires at least 6 hours every 2 years in study specifically related to anesthesia or sedation.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is also a separate permit pathway for dentists and is not ordinary CE. Nevada regulates this authority through NRS 631.265 and NAC 631.2211 through NAC 631.2256.
A dentist seeking general anesthesia authority must complete the required advanced education and apply for the proper permit. If anesthesia will be delivered at an additional location, that site must also be separately approved when required. Applicants should carefully review the current Board requirements, approved program information, and application materials before applying.
Like moderate sedation permit holders, general anesthesia permit holders must complete at least 6 hours every 2 years in anesthesia- or sedation-related study for permit renewal.
Important Reminder
This page is a summary of continuing education and advanced education requirements under NRS 631 and NAC 631. Licensees and providers are responsible for reviewing the current statutes, regulations, and Board materials before relying on any course, provider approval, or scope-expanding pathway.