Quick facts
- Board Name
- Alaska Board of Dental Examiners
- Renewal Cycle
- 2 Years (Biennial)
- Rule Citation
- 12 AAC 28.400 et seq.
- Hour Requirement
- 28 hours
- State-Mandated Topics
- Pain Management/Opioids (2 hrs); current CPR certification required.
- Records Retention
- 4 Years (per 12 AAC 28.420)
Governing authority and what the rule requires
In Alaska, the dental profession is governed by the Board of Dental Examiners. The board’s authority is established by the state’s Dental Practice Act, found in Alaska Statutes Title 8, Chapter 36 (AS 08.36). The specific rules for continuing education and audits are detailed in the Alaska Administrative Code, Title 12, Chapter 28, Sections 400 through 425 (12 AAC 28.400-425).
How Alaska dental CE audits typically work
After a renewal cycle the board reviews a sample of attestations. If selected, you will receive a notice through the email or address on file with a defined response window. Most audits close quietly when records match what was attested. The steps below are typical for Alaska.
- After each renewal period, the Board randomly selects a percentage of licensed dentists for a CE audit.
- An official audit notice is sent to your mailing address or email address on file with the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
- You are typically given 30 days to respond by submitting copies of your CE certificates and any other requested documentation.
- Board staff review your submitted records to verify compliance with the 28-hour requirement and mandated topic rules.
- The Board will notify you in writing once the audit is complete, informing you whether you met the requirements or if further action is needed.
- All renewals and official interactions are managed through the state's MyAlaska portal.
Documentation commonly requested
Audit notices are usually specific about what they want. Read the notice slowly and make a checklist directly from it. The most common items requested for dentists include:
- Certificates of completion for each course.
- Documentation must clearly show the licensee’s name, course title, date of completion, provider’s name, and the number of credit hours awarded.
- Proof of current CPR/BLS certification.
- A log or spreadsheet of completed courses, while helpful for personal tracking, is not a substitute for official certificates.
- Evidence of provider accreditation if the provider is not a pre-approved entity under 12 AAC 28.410.
Alaska-specific mandated topics
Beyond a total hour count, Alaska requires specific subject-matter CE within the cycle. Make sure each mandated topic is covered by a certificate that names the topic explicitly.
- **Pain Management and Opioids:** Dentists must complete at least two hours of CE in pain management, opioid use, and addiction. This is a specific statutory requirement found in AS 08.36.115 and is restated in the board’s rules.
- **Clinical vs. Non-Clinical Hours:** At least 21 of the 28 required hours must be in dental clinical subjects. No more than 7 hours can be earned in non-clinical areas like practice management or personal financial planning (see 12 AAC 28.400 for a list of accepted subjects).
- **CPR/BLS Certification:** While you must maintain current CPR certification, you can claim up to four of your CE hours for this training course per renewal cycle, per 12 AAC 28.400(a)(3).
Common pitfalls dentists run into
- **Miscalculating Clinical Hours:** Failing to ensure that at least 21 of your 28 hours are in clinical subjects is a frequent error.
- **Forgetting the Opioid Mandate:** The 2-hour pain management and opioid course is a specific requirement that is easily missed if you are not tracking it.
- **Losing Certificates:** You are responsible for keeping complete and accurate records for four years. Inadequate documentation is the same as not having the hours.
- **Exceeding Carry-Over Limits:** Alaska allows you to carry over a maximum of 14 excess CE hours to the next biennium (see 12 AAC 28.400(e)). Claiming more than this will result in a deficiency.
- **Using Unapproved Providers:** Ensure your CE provider is approved by the Board under the criteria listed in 12 AAC 28.410, which includes ADA CERP and AGD PACE providers.
How to assemble a clean response
Gather your records in one place. A folder on your desktop, a printed binder, or a shared drive all work. You don't need a complicated system. You just need to be able to find things.
Name each PDF clearly with the date, course title, and number of hours. Group certificates by category that maps to the board's request: mandated topics, general dental CE, CPR/BLS. Add a one-page cover sheet that summarizes total hours and points the reviewer to the matching documents.
If your hours fall short
First-time shortfalls are usually handled administratively. Boards generally allow a defined window to complete makeup hours and submit updated documentation. Honest, prompt communication is far better than silence.
If the shortfall is significant or repeated, the board may move toward formal action. At that point, calm documentation of how you are coming into compliance, plus a written plan to prevent recurrence, makes a meaningful difference.
Possible outcomes
- **Compliance & Closure:** If your records are complete and accurate, you will receive a letter confirming the audit is closed with no further action.
- **Request for More Information:** If a certificate is missing details, the board may request clarification before closing the audit.
- **Corrective Action Plan:** For minor deficiencies, the board may allow you a specific timeframe to earn the missing hours and submit proof.
- **Disciplinary Action:** Under AS 08.36.315, significant non-compliance, incomplete records, or falsifying CE can result in formal discipline. This can range from a monetary penalty and public reprimand to license suspension or revocation in the most serious cases.
- Failure to respond to an audit notice is a violation and will likely lead to disciplinary action.
- Generally, the board seeks to achieve compliance and may offer a consent agreement to resolve the matter before initiating formal proceedings.
A simple audit-response checklist
- 1Read the audit notice slowly. Note the deadline and exact list of documents requested.
- 2Make a simple folder labeled with the cycle dates being audited.
- 3Pull certificates of completion for every CE activity in that cycle.
- 4Match each certificate to the topic area or category your board requires.
- 5Save proof of license renewal and any required attestations.
- 6If a certificate is missing, contact the provider for a duplicate before the deadline.
- 7Scan everything as clean PDFs, named with date and course title.
- 8Submit through the channel the board requests. Keep a copy and a confirmation.
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Frequently asked questions
Real Outcomes Reported by BoardWise Users
BoardWise users have reported outcomes including:
- Complaint dismissals
- Successful responses to board inquiries
- Passing continuing education audits
- Early probation termination
- Improved understanding of licensing board procedures
Individual outcomes vary and depend on the facts of each case.
Optional Attorney Document Review
Before you send anything to the board, BoardWise can match dentist in Alaska with an independent, state-licensed attorney for an optional limited-scope review of the document you prepared:
- We match you with an independent attorney licensed in your state
- They review and suggest revisions to your document before you submit it to the board
- Focused, limited-scope review at a fixed fee rather than a full retainer
- A second set of eyes on wording, tone, and anything that may need a closer look
What does the attorney review cost? Pricing depends on the complexity of your matter and the scope of review, but most BoardWise lawyer reviews are approximately $250–$500. You’ll see the specific fee before deciding whether to proceed.
Optional limited-scope attorney review may be available for an additional fixed fee. Attorney availability, conflicts review, eligibility requirements, and additional terms apply. If an attorney accepts the matter, the client will contract with and pay the independent attorney directly.
Print & FedEx Overnight Delivery
Finishing the document is only part of the job. BoardWise Document Delivery lets dentist in Alaska send the finished packet straight to the board without a trip to the post office:
- FedEx Overnight delivery for street addresses when your deadline is close
- USPS Priority Express and USPS Certified Mail for P.O. Box board addresses
- Printing, packaging, and postage handled for you, with tracking on every order
- Confirmation and tracking details emailed to you as your package moves
What does it cost? $150 for FedEx Overnight and $99 for USPS Priority Express or Certified Mail. You see the exact price and the full address details before you authorize the order.
Printing and mailing are fulfilled by Mailform. You are responsible for meeting your own deadline, so keep an electronic copy and watch the tracking information.
What Professionals Are Saying
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BoardWise is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. This guide is educational only and reflects general practice in the United States. Your state licensing board is the official source for current requirements. If your situation involves formal discipline or a hearing, consider consulting a licensed attorney in your state.