DC Municipal Regulations for Dentistry
The practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in the District is regulated by the DC Board of Dentistry. The Board issues licenses, receives and reviews complaints, requests investigations, conducts hearings, and issues an annual report.
DC Municipal Regulations for Dentistry [PDF]
DC Municipal Regulations for Dental Hygienists [PDF]
DC Municipal Regulations for Dental Assistants [PDF] - note that the Board of Dentistry finalized an update to the regulations for dental assistants in March 2024. A summary of those changes is available on our page "Summary of Changes to DC Regulations on the Scope of Practice for Dental Assistants."
License/Registration Applications and Renewals
All applications for a new or renewed license or registration to practice dentistry in DC must be submitted through the DC Health Licensing Portal. The portal is open for new applications from dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants.
All currently valid licenses should have an expiration date of 12/31/2025. The license/registration renewal process will begin in the fall of 2025.
For any questions regarding application requirements, please review materials provided on the Board of Dentistry website or contact the Board of Dentistry by email or by calling 202-724-8801.
Licensing Portal Link
To access the DC Health Licensing Portal, visit https://doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.
Board of Dentistry License Renewal Information Session
The Board of Dentistry staff recorded a video on the license renewal process in 2023 (Watch recording on license renewal process).
DC Continuing Education Requirements for Licensure Renewal Period Ending December 31, 2023
The DC Board of Dentistry allows all CE requirements, including CPR certification, to be satisfied through online courses. Exams may be conducted using non-patient based exams. See links to relevant DC regulations below.
|
Course Category |
Required for Dentists |
Required for |
Required for |
|
Minimum CE Hours |
30 hours |
15 hours |
10 hours |
|
Infection Control |
2 hours |
2 hours |
2 hours |
|
LGBTQ Cultural Competency* |
2 hours |
2 hours |
2 hours |
|
Ethics* |
1 hours |
1 hour |
1 hour |
|
Abuse and Misuse of Prescription Drugs/Opioids* |
2 hours for |
Not Required |
Not Required |
|
CPR |
CPR |
Basic Level CPR |
2 hours in Basic Life Support |
* Course is counted towards DC requirement to complete 3 hours (10% of continuing education hours) in topics designated as public health priorities. The full list of topics designated as public health priorities is available on the DC Health website.
Links to DC Regulations on Continuing Education Requirements
Link to CE requirements for Dentists
Amendment of CE requirements to allow non-patient based exam and eliminate limit on online courses
Link to CE requirements for Dental Hygienists
Amendment of CE requirements allow non-patient based exams and eliminate limit on online courses
Link to CE requirements for Dental Assistants
Link to Dental Assistant registration requirement
OSHA, HIPAA, and the ACA
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) mandates that employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace by setting and enforcing standards. Employers must provide training, outreach, education, assistance and comply with all applicable OSHA standards. Employers must also comply with the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which requires employers to keep their workplace free of serious recognized hazards.
OSHA FAQs
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, more commonly known as HIPAA, is a set of national standards for electronic health care transactions and electronic security. It was created to protect individually identifiable health information. Dentists are required to be HIPAA compliant.
HIPAA requires that all staff that come into contact with patient healthcare records are required to undergo “HIPAA” training. Though training is required the regulations offer suggestions without mandating specific timeframes. According to the Privacy Rule, HIPAA training is required for “each new member of the workforce within a reasonable period of time after the person joins the Covered Entity´s workforce” and also when “functions are affected by a material change in polies or procedures” – again within a reasonable period of time.
According to Security Rule, HIPAA training is required “periodically”. Many businesses interpret “periodically” as annually, which is not necessarily accurate. HIPAA training should be provided whenever there is a change in working practices or technology, or whenever new rules or guidelines are issued by the Department for Health and Human Services.
There have been no meaningful changes to HIPAA rules since 2013.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 1557
On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act to protect individuals from discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping. Section 1557 is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights, the federal agency that enforces HIPAA.Section 1577 FAQs from HHS
