Nebraska Dentist Continuing Education Requirements

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the official source for dental licensing and continuing education requirements, and dentists should refer to DHHS for the most current information.

NEBRASKA DHHS DENTIST LICENSING

Nebraska dentists are required to complete continuing education as part of their biennial license renewal. We know the requirements can sometimes be difficult to navigate, so we've put together this overview to help you understand what you need and where to find the official information.

Quick answer: Nebraska dentists need 30 hours of acceptable continuing education during each 24-month renewal period.

What Do I Need?

30 Total CE Hours

Dentists must complete 30 hours of acceptable continuing education during the 24 months immediately preceding license renewal.

Within those 30 hours:

At least 2 hours must be in infection control.
If you prescribe controlled substances, additional continuing education requirements apply.
If you hold a sedation permit, additional continuing education requirements apply.

Important: An annual OSHA continuing education course does not, by itself, satisfy the two-hour infection control requirement.

What Counts Toward My 30 Hours?

Nebraska allows several types of continuing education to count toward your 30-hour requirement, but limits apply to certain categories. Hours earned beyond the required 30 hours do not carry over to the next renewal period.

Type of CE	Hours That May Count
Infection control	Minimum of 2 hours required
Home study	Up to 10 hours
Initial CPR certification	Up to 10 hours
CPR recertification	Up to 4 hours
Practice management	Up to 4 hours
Table clinician, lecturer or direct clinical observation	Up to 2 hours
Faculty overseeing dental clinic education	Up to 5 hours
Qualifying volunteer activities, such as Mission of Mercy	Up to 5 hours

Do I Need Controlled Substance CE?

If you prescribe controlled substances, yes.

Nebraska has additional continuing education requirements for health care professionals who prescribe controlled substances. Dentists who prescribe controlled substances should review the current requirements through Nebraska DHHS to make sure the appropriate training is completed.

Nebraska Controlled Substance Continuing Competency Requirements

Do I Need Additional CE for My Sedation Permit?

Yes. If you hold a Nebraska sedation permit, additional continuing education requirements apply.

Sedation permit renewal: Dentists holding a sedation permit must complete 6 hours of continuing education related to the administration and management of anesthesia/sedation during each renewal period. The education should correspond to the type of sedation permit you hold.

Additional requirements apply depending on the permit:

Minimal sedation: 6 hours of continuing education related to the administration and management of minimal sedation.
Moderate sedation: 6 hours of continuing education related to the administration and management of moderate sedation, including applicable hands-on requirements.
General anesthesia/deep sedation: 6 hours of continuing education related to the administration and management of general anesthesia/deep sedation, including applicable hands-on requirements.

These requirements are separate from the one-time, 8-hour federal MATE training requirement that applies to DEA registration.

How Do I Know if a Sedation Course Qualifies?

We know this can be one of the more confusing parts of Nebraska's continuing education requirements. Before taking a course specifically to satisfy your sedation permit requirement, make sure the course meets the requirements for the type of sedation permit you hold.

If you're unsure whether a specific course qualifies, contact the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit before completing the course:

Phone: (402) 471-2118
Email: DHHS.MedicalOffice@nebraska.gov

Nebraska Sedation Permit Requirements

Can I Complete CE Online?

Nebraska allows up to 10 hours of home study to count toward the 30-hour continuing education requirement during each 24-month renewal period. An acceptable home study program must meet Nebraska's requirements, including a post-test or other method of verifying completion.

Because the regulations do not clearly address how all types of virtual continuing education — such as live, interactive webinars — are classified, dentists with questions about whether a specific online course qualifies as home study or another acceptable form of continuing education should contact the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit before relying on the course for license renewal.

DHHS Licensure Unit: (402) 471-2118 | DHHS.MedicalOffice@nebraska.gov

What Should I Keep in Case I'm Audited?

You do not need to send your CE certificates to DHHS when you renew unless DHHS asks you to provide them.

DHHS conducts continuing education audits after license renewal. If you are randomly selected, you will be notified and asked to provide documentation.

Keep documentation of your completed continuing education for at least four years.

A good practice is to keep your CE certificates and records together so they're easy to access if you're selected for an audit.

When Do Nebraska Dental Licenses Renew?

Nebraska dental licenses are renewable March 1 of odd-numbered years.

Questions About Your License or CE?

For questions about Nebraska dental licensure, license renewal, continuing education requirements, or whether a specific course meets Nebraska requirements, contact the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit – Office of Medical & Specialized Health.