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License renewal · Colorado

Dental Hygienist License Renewal in Colorado

The Colorado Dental Board (Division of Professions and Occupations, Department of Regulatory Agencies) sets the rules. Renewal: every 2 years; deadline: February 28 of even-numbered years (February 29 during leap years). Continuing education: 30 hours of continuing education per two-year license period. Each fact below is quoted from an official state source, linked beside it, and was checked on 2026-10-12. Confirm with the board before you rely on it: rules change.

Renewal cycle and deadline

every 2 years — February 28 of even-numbered years (February 29 during leap years)

Source: sos.state.co.us · dpo.colorado.gov · dpo.colorado.gov

Continuing education

30 hours of continuing education per two-year license period.

  • At least 2 hours of infection control-related education covering the CDC Guidelines listed in Board Rule, each license period
  • OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training must be completed by all licensees as detailed in Board Rule (can count toward CE if it meets Board CE requirements)
  • At least 16 of the 30 hours must be clinical or science-based
  • At least 50% of the hours must be live and interactive (may include web-based courses with real-time Q&A)

Basic Life Support (BLS) training earns a maximum of 2 hours of CE credit

Source: dpo.colorado.gov

CPR / BLS

Maintaining current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers is required for all dental licenses.

Source: dpo.colorado.gov · sos.state.co.us

Late renewal and lapse

No late-fee amount is stated on the pages read. A license not renewed by its expiration date is expired: the licensee may not provide dental hygiene services while expired, and a licensee expired less than two years must submit proof of the 30 CE hours for the prior period before reinstating (3 CCR 709-1).

Source: sos.state.co.us

Verify a license

The board's public lookup: apps2.colorado.gov

For the office manager

The renewal is the hygienist's to complete, but a lapsed license is the practice's problem on the schedule. Keep each hygienist's expiry date where an alert reaches both of you well before it, long enough for any CE still owed. The free renewal calendar makes reminders for your own calendar; LVL Up Performance keeps the dates on each staff record and alerts ahead. Neither tracks CE hours or checks anything with the board.

Sources, quoted

  • “is required to renew the license to practice dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene in Colorado every two years” — sos.state.co.us
  • “All Dentist, Academic Dentist, Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist licenses expire on February 28 of even-numbered years (February 29 during leap years).” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “renewals open approximately 4-5 weeks prior to the expiration date” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “must complete at least 30 hours of Continuing Education (CE) during each two-year license period.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “At least 2 hours of infection control-related education covering the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Guidelines” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “At least 16 of the required 30 CE hours must be clinical or science-based” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “At least 50% of the required CE hours must be live and interactive.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training: Must be completed by all licensees as detailed in Board Rule .” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “they are only required to complete 15 CE hours for their first license renewal.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “Maintaining current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers is required for all dental licenses.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers is required of all licensees” — sos.state.co.us
  • “Licensees will receive a maximum of 2 hours of CE credit for successful completion.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “Every Dentist and Academic Dentist, regardless of the date of licensure, is required to complete at least 1 hour of training each license period” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “with an expired license shall not provide dental, dental therapy, or dental hygiene services in this state” — sos.state.co.us
  • “A licensee with an expired license of less than two years” — sos.state.co.us
  • “Use the search options below to search for a Licensed Professional/Business with the Division of Professions and Occupations.” — apps2.colorado.gov
  • “Compliance audits are conducted after each license period.” — dpo.colorado.gov
  • “they are not required to complete CE for their first license renewal.” — dpo.colorado.gov

Checked 2026-10-12. Something out of date? Write to mauricio@lvlupperformance.com and we will fix it. This page is information, not legal advice.

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