# WAC 246-815-140: WAC 246-815-140. Continuing education and renewal requirements for dental hygienists

> Washington · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_140

## Section

- **Citation:** WAC 246-815-140
- **Heading:** WAC 246-815-140. Continuing education and renewal requirements for dental hygienists
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Administrative Code / Title 246 / Chapter 246-815 / Section 246-815-140

## Text

(1) To renew a dental hygienist license, an individual must:
(a) Complete fifteen clock hours of continuing education each year following the first license renewal;
(b) Maintain a current basic life support (BLS) for health care providers certification; and
(c) Sign a declaration attesting to the completion of the required number of hours as part of the annual renewal requirement.
(2) The department will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses. Continuing education course work must contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the dental hygienist or enhance services provided to patients.
(3) Continuing education is defined as any of the following activities:
(a) Continuing education courses offered or authorized by industry recognized local, state, private, national and international organizations, agencies or institutions of higher learning. Examples of sponsors or types of continuing education courses may include, but are not limited to:
(b)(i) The Washington State Dental Association, American Dental Association, National Dental Association, Washington Dental Hygienists' Association, American Dental Hygienists' Association, National Dental Hygienists' Association, including the constituent and component/branch societies;
(ii) BLS for health care providers, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA), or emergency related training such as courses offered or authorized by the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, or any other organizations or agencies;
(iii) Self-study through study clubs, books, research materials, or other publications. The required documentation for this activity is a summary of what was learned, not to exceed five hours per year;
and Health Act (WISHA), or emergency related training such as courses offered or authorized by the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, or any other organizations or agencies;
(iii) Self-study through study clubs, books, research materials, or other publications. The required documentation for this activity is a summary of what was learned, not to exceed five hours per year;
(iv) Distance learning. Distance learning includes, but is not limited to: Correspondence course, webinar, audio/video broadcasting, audio/video teleconferencing, computer aided instruction, e-learning/online-learning, or computer broadcasting/webcasting that includes an assessment tool upon completion;
(v) A licensee who serves as an educator or who lectures in continuing education programs or courses, that contribute to the professional knowledge of a licensed dental hygienist may accumulate hours for the content preparation of the program or course, not to exceed ten hours per year;
(vi) Attendance at a continuing education program with a featured speaker(s);
(vii) Courses relating to practice organization and management, medical/dental insurance courses, or retirement, not to exceed five hours per year;
(viii) Dental hygiene examination standardization/calibration workshops and dental hygiene examination item writer workshops, not to exceed ten hours per year;
(ix) Provision of clinical dental hygiene services in a documented volunteer capacity when preceded by educational/instructional training prior to provision of services, not to exceed five hours per year. Volunteering must be without compensation and under appropriate supervision;
dization/calibration workshops and dental hygiene examination item writer workshops, not to exceed ten hours per year;
(ix) Provision of clinical dental hygiene services in a documented volunteer capacity when preceded by educational/instructional training prior to provision of services, not to exceed five hours per year. Volunteering must be without compensation and under appropriate supervision;
(x) A licensee who serves as a public health official or employee, contractor for a state or local health agency, community prevention education expert, or works in a field that relates to prevention activities in public health dentistry, may accumulate hours for the content preparation of providing services, education, or training to the underserved, rural, and at risk populations, not to exceed five hours per year; and
(xi) College courses.
(4) The department may randomly audit up to twenty-five percent of practitioners for compliance with the requirements in this section after the credential is renewed as allowed by chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.

## Nearby sections

- [WAC 246-815-010 WAC 246-815-010. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_010.md)
- [WAC 246-815-020 WAC 246-815-020. Dental hygiene licensure — Eligibility and application requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_020.md)
- [WAC 246-815-030 WAC 246-815-030. Dental hygiene and expanded functions education program requirements for licensure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_030.md)
- [WAC 246-815-050 WAC 246-815-050. Dental hygiene clinical examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_050.md)
- [WAC 246-815-100 WAC 246-815-100. Licensure by interstate endorsement of credentials](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_100.md)
- [WAC 246-815-110 WAC 246-815-110. Application procedures for approval of non-CODA accredited dental hygiene expanded functions education programs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_110.md)
- [WAC 246-815-130 WAC 246-815-130. Curriculum requirements for expanded functions dental hygiene education programs approval](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_130.md)
- [WAC 246-815-140 WAC 246-815-140. Continuing education and renewal requirements for dental hygienists](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_140.md)
- [WAC 246-815-145 WAC 246-815-145. Dental hygiene health equity training requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_145.md)
- [WAC 246-815-155 WAC 246-815-155. Dental hygienist suicide prevention education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_155.md)
- [WAC 246-815-160 WAC 246-815-160. Standards of dental hygiene practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_160.md)
- [WAC 246-815-164 WAC 246-815-164. Patient record content](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_164.md)
- [WAC 246-815-166 WAC 246-815-166. Patient record retention and accessibility requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_166.md)
- [WAC 246-815-250 WAC 246-815-250. Cooperation with investigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_250.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_ADC_246_815_140. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.