License Renewal
All dental hygienists in Colorado must renew their license by the end of February of even years.
In Colorado, Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) must renew their license every two years, with renewals due on even-numbered years (For example: February 2026). It's crucial to stay on top of this to ensure you can continue practicing dental hygiene in Colorado. 🦷✨
DORA License Portal CE Tracking Spreadsheet
What You Need to Renew: 🔄
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Local Anesthesia & Interim Therapeutic Restorations (ITR) Permits : As long as your RDH license is renewed and in good standing, your Local Anesthesia and ITR permits will remain valid.
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Continuing Education (CE) Requirements : To renew your RDH license, you must complete 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education during the two years preceding your renewal. This includes:
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Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers : All licensees are required to maintain current BLS certification. The CE requirement for BLS is capped at 2 hours per renewal cycle but is mandatory for license renewal.
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OSHA Compliance : Stay current with OSHA guidelines to ensure safety in your practice.
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Additional CE : At least 16 of the required 30 hours must be clinical or science-based, and at least 50% of the required hours must be live and interactive (virtual or in-person). These requirements ensure that your education is relevant and up-to-date.
- Colorado RDH CE tracking spreadsheet (free)
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Please Note:
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CE hours obtained as a condition of disciplinary action cannot be applied towards the renewal requirements of a license or anesthesia/sedation permit.
Make It Fun with CODHA Events!
Get your CE credits and have fun by attending CODHA’s upcoming events! Not only will you gain valuable knowledge, but you’ll also have the chance to connect with fellow dental professionals. Visit our event calendar for upcoming opportunities to learn, grow, and network! 🤝🎓
ITR - CNCC Campus (4 hours in-person hands on. 4 hours virtual didactic)
Expand your Clinical Skills and Production possibilities with an Interim Therapeutic Restoration Permit
Local Anesthesia Certification Course @ CCD
Local Anesthesia Certification Course @ CCD
When renewing your license, you will be asked verify that you have completed the 30 hours of required continuing education, and that your courses meet the requirements outlined in the Colorado Rules and Regulations.
*You do not need to submit proof of your CE courses during the renewal process. DORA and the Colorado Dental Board will complete a randomized audit of licensees. If selected in the audit, you will then need to submit proof of your CE courses at a later date. DORA requires that you keep proof of your CE for “at least two renewal cycles” (4 years).
You do NOT need to renew your local anesthesia permit or ITR permit, if you have them.
These permits are tied to your dental hygiene license and will automatically renew as long as you have an ACTIVE dental hygiene license!
🚨 Stay In The Loop - Update Your Contact Info with DORA!
Did you know? DORA no longer sends postcards or mail to licensees!
To make sure you don’t miss out on important updates—like changes to the Practice Act, rulemaking updates, and reminders for license renewal—you MUST keep your email address up to date with DORA.
Why does this matter?
CODHA uses DORA’s mailing list to send postcards to all licensed dental hygienists in Colorado, so if you haven’t been receiving mail from us, it’s likely that your Public Address in your DORA account is incorrect.
Pro Tip: Make sure to update your address when renewing your license to keep receiving vital information from both DORA and CODHA!
Stay connected, stay informed!
⚠️ Thinking of Changing Your Status? Here’s What You Need to Know! ⚠️
If you’re considering changing your RDH status to inactive or retired, please reach out to us at CODHA before making the change! 🛑
Why is this a big deal?
If you decide to reinstate your license at a later date, you may be required to retake a clinical board exam or other requirements determined by The Dental Board. That means time, effort, and extra costs just to get back into practice.
Our recommendation: It’s often better to keep your license active if there’s even the slightest chance you may want to return to an active status in the future. This will save you a lot of hassle down the road!
If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re here to help.
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Still have questions? Contact DORA at [email protected] or 303-894-7800.
