To practice dentistry in Quebec, continuing education is not only recommended: it is obligatory. It aims to maintain the clinical skills of dentists, ensure patient safety and guarantee practice consistent with professional standards.
But one question often arises:
How many hours of continuing education should a dentist really do each year?
The official requirements of the Order of Dentists of Quebec
The continuing education obligations of dentists are defined by the Order of Dentists of Quebec (ODQ), in the Regulation on compulsory continuing education of dentists.
Overall requirement
90 continuing education units (CEUs)to be completed over a reference period of 3 years
Minimum annual requirement
A minimum of 15 CEUs per year
👉 This means that a dentist cannot postpone all his training until the end of the cycle: a minimum annual threshold must be respected.
CEUs and hours of training: what is the difference?
The ODQ speaks in continuing education units (CEUs) rather than in hours.
Generally speaking :
1 hour of theoretical training = 1 CEU
1 hour of practical training = 2 CEU
It is therefore important to refer to the official description of the training to find out the exact number of CEUs awarded.
Are there specific mandatory training courses?
Yes.
Among the 90 CEUs required over three years, certain categories are regulated:
At least 30 CEUs must come from activities offered by organizations or establishments recognized by the ODQ
A minimum of 3 CEUmust be completed in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), with a certified trainer
A minimum of 3 CEU must relate to ethics and professional conduct, in connection with the practice of the profession
These Requirements are intended to ensure that dentists maintain essential skills, both clinical and regulatory.
Are online training courses recognized?
Yes, online dental training courses may be eligible, but they are not automatically recognized.
For online training to count:
it must be relevant to dental practice
it must be offered by a recognized organization or meet the criteria established by the Order
a clear certificate indicating the number of hours of theoretical and/or practical training must be provided
The format (online or face-to-face) is therefore secondary; it is the quality, the traceability and the recognition of the supplier that count.
What is does it pass in the event of an audit?
The ODQ may ask a dentist to demonstrate that he respects his continuing education obligations.
It is therefore essential to:
keep his certificates
keep a clear register of his CEUs
be able to justify the relevance of the training followed
Poor management of training can lead to administrative procedures, or even sanctions.
Centralize your dental training for better monitoring of continuing training
Managing dental continuing education can quickly become complex: multiple providers, varied formats (online, face-to-face, webinars), scattered certificates, and compliance requirements from the Order. Centralizing your training on a specialized platform helps simplify this entire process.
Platforms like Dentoflow, dedicated to dental professionals, offer an effective solution for:
easily access training eligible for CEUs for dentists
follow additional professional development training (dental clinic management, human resources, leadership, organization)
keep all your certificates of participation and proof of training in the same place
have a clear vision of your continuing education path
This type of platform does not replace the requirements of the Order of Dentists of Quebec, but acts as a real continuing education management tool.
It facilitates administrative monitoring, improves regulatory compliance and allows more strategic planning of their long-term professional development.
By centralizing their dental training on a platform like Dentoflow, the dentist gains in efficiency, peace of mind and control over their professional path.
In summary
90 CEUs mandatory over 3 years
Minimum of 15 CEUs per year
Certain categories are mandatory (CPR, ethics, recognized organizations)
Online training may be eligible under conditions
Good management of certificates is essential
For dentists, continuing education is both a regulatory obligation and a lever for developing their practice, both on both clinical and organizational.