Quick facts
- Board Name
- Florida Board of Dentistry
- Renewal Cycle
- 2 years (biennium)
- Rule Citation
- Rule 64B5-12, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)
- Hour Requirement
- 30 credit hours per biennium
- State-Mandated Topics
- 2 hrs Medical Errors, 2 hrs Opioid Prescribing, 2 hrs Domestic Violence (every 3rd biennium), 1 hr HIV/AIDS (first renewal only), CPR/BLS certification.
- Records Retention
- 4 years from the end of the biennium when the CE was completed (Rule 64B5-12.020, F.A.C.)
Governing authority and what the rule requires
In Florida, the practice of dentistry is governed by the Florida Board of Dentistry, which operates under the authority of the Florida Department of Health. The relevant laws are established in the Florida Dental Practice Act, found in Chapter 466 of the Florida Statutes. The specific rules regarding continuing education requirements and audits are detailed in Chapter 64B5-12 of the Florida Administrative Code.
How Florida 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 Florida.
- The Florida Department of Health (DOH) randomly selects a percentage of licensed dentists for a CE audit after each renewal period.
- You will receive a notification letter or email with instructions and a deadline, usually directing you to verify your CE records.
- Licensees must use the state's official CE tracking system, CE Broker, to record and report course completion.
- The board audits the records you have posted in CE Broker to verify compliance with all requirements.
- Following the review, the board will issue a notice of compliance or, if deficiencies are found, a notice of non-compliance detailing the next steps.
- You typically have a set timeframe, such as 21 or 30 days, to respond to the audit notice.
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, showing the course title, date, provider name, and number of hours.
- Proof of current CPR/Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification.
- Documentation for the mandatory courses, such as Prevention of Medical Errors and Prescribing Controlled Substances.
- While CE Broker is the official system, it is highly recommended to keep your own organized digital or physical copies of all certificates as a personal backup.
- Any materials requested by the board to clarify course content or attendance.
Florida-specific mandated topics
Beyond a total hour count, Florida requires specific subject-matter CE within the cycle. Make sure each mandated topic is covered by a certificate that names the topic explicitly.
- **Prescribing Controlled Substances:** A 2-hour course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances is required each biennium for dentists holding a DEA number. See Rule 64B5-12.013(3), F.A.C.
- **Prevention of Medical Errors:** A 2-hour course relating to the prevention of medical errors is required each biennium. See Rule 64B5-12.013(4), F.A.C.
- **Domestic Violence:** A 2-hour course on domestic violence is required every third biennial renewal (approximately every six years). See Rule 64B5-12.019, F.A.C.
- **HIV/AIDS:** A 1-hour course on HIV and AIDS is required for the first renewal of your license only. See Rule 64B5-12.019, F.A.C.
- **CPR/BLS:** All dentists must maintain certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
Common pitfalls dentists run into
- Failing to log all completed courses in the CE Broker system before the renewal deadline.
- Not completing the specific state-mandated topics, especially the 2-hour controlled substance prescribing and 2-hour medical errors courses.
- Forgetting the 2-hour domestic violence course requirement, which is due every third renewal, not every renewal.
- Taking courses from providers not approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry.
- Assuming a course covers a mandated topic without verifying its specific board approval for that topic.
- Not retaining personal records of CE certificates for at least four years, as required by Rule 64B5-12.020, F.A.C.
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
- **No Action:** If all CE requirements are met and documented, the audit is closed with a notice of compliance.
- **Notice of Non-Compliance:** For minor deficiencies, the board may issue a citation and require you to complete make-up hours, often with penalty hours added (e.g., one additional hour for each hour missed). A fine may also be assessed, as authorized under Fla. Stat. § 456.073.
- **Formal Complaint:** Significant deficiencies, failure to respond to an audit, or submitting fraudulent documentation can result in a formal complaint and investigation. This may lead to disciplinary action, including more substantial fines, license probation, suspension, or, in the most severe cases, revocation.
- The board may require an appearance to discuss the deficiencies before the full Board of Dentistry at a public meeting.'], faqs=[{
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- How many CE hours do Florida dentists need to renew their license?
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.
Save $106 on MedBridge CEU plans
Continuing education is part of protecting your license. BoardWise has partnered with MedBridge to help dentists access high-quality CEU courses at a lower cost. Use code BOARDWISE to save $106 on an individual MedBridge CEU plan.
Explore MedBridge CEU coursesMedBridge is a separate service. BoardWise may receive a referral benefit. The discount code is subject to MedBridge terms.
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 Florida 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 Florida 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.