Last reviewed: August 2026 · For dentists & dental hygienists licensed in Texas
Quick answer
Texas dentists and dental hygienists need 24 hours of CE every 2 years. But how those 24 hours have to be earned is where people get confused! See below.
Texas CE requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Dentists & Hygienists |
|---|---|
| Total CE hours | 24 hours |
| Renewal cycle | Every 2 years (biennial) |
| Self-study allowed | Up to 8 hours |
| Technical/scientific (live or approved) | Minimum 16 hours |
| CPR/BLS | Current certification required |
The parts most Texas pros miss
The 24-hour number is the easy part. These are what actually stall renewals:
- You can't do all 24 online. Only 8 hours count as self-study — the other 16 must be live or board-approved.
- 16 hours must be technical/scientific. A practice-management or motivational course won't fill that bucket.
- The jurisprudence assessment is separate. It's required every renewal and doesn't count toward your hours.
- One-time requirements sneak up: human trafficking prevention, and — for DEA registrants — an 8-hour opioid/substance-use course.
Miss one and your renewal stalls. This is exactly the part worth not tracking by hand.
We track the rules you don't even know to look for.
CE Zoom checks every credit against your Texas requirements — self-study caps, live-hour minimums, one-time courses, all of it — and keeps your certificates and renewal date in one place. You're never the one caught short. CE tracking is just $9/month. Want every course you need included too? Elite is $27/month — all your CE plus tracking, and live events like the Aug 21 conference free.
Can I earn Texas CE online?
Partly. Up to 8 of your 24 hours can be self-study/online; the other 16 need to be live or board-approved. Live interactive webinars count as live CE, so an online live CE event is a fast, board-friendly way to knock out your live hours from home.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Texas dentists need?
24 hours every two years — up to 8 self-study, at least 16 technical/scientific.
How often do Texas dental licenses renew?
On a two-year (biennial) cycle.
Can all of my Texas CE be online?
No, only 8 of the 24 hours may be self-study. The other 16 must be live or board-approved. Live interactive webinars count as live CE.
What do most people get wrong about Texas CE?
Assuming all 24 can be online, forgetting the jurisprudence assessment, and not realizing what courses have to be board approved or live.
Does CE Zoom track my Texas CE for me?
Yes! It logs every credit against your Texas requirement, flags the nuances above, stores your certificates, and tracks your renewal date automatically.
Verify before you rely on this. CE requirements change and include license-specific nuances. This summary is current as of August 2026; always confirm with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners before renewal. CE Zoom keeps your in-app requirement data current for you.
Sources: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners; Spear Education — Texas Dental CE Requirements.