Practicing hygienists in New York State are required to take 24 credit hours every three years (license renewal is every three years). At least 14 of those hours must be live programs – those in which you are able to interact with the instructor.
Appropriate Course Subjects: The subject matter must contribute to dental hygiene professional practice as defined in Education Law Section 6601. Such subjects include:
- basic and clinical dental sciences
- behavioral science
- pharmacology of new and developing drugs
- drug interactions
- public health issues
- child abuse reporting
- infection control
- sterile procedures
- legal or regulatory issues
- patient counseling
- risk management
- other topics that contribute to the practice of your profession; and
- other matters of health care, law, and ethics that contribute to the public’s health and welfare
Recordkeeping: When you complete a continuing education program, you’ll be provided with a certificate by an approved provider which you should keep in your records in the event you are asked to produce these in the future. You’ll need to attest to fulfilling required coursework on your first licensure and on renewals.
RDHs must altake an ADDITIONAL Child Abuse Course by November 17, 2026
Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024 amended Social Services Law § 413 to require additional training to include protocols and guidance on identifying abused or maltreated children with intellectual or developmental disabilities within the New York State Mandated Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment/Neglect coursework. This law requires that mandated reporters, including those who have previously undergone the current training, complete the updated training curriculum by November 17, 2026. If you have completed an approved provider Mandated Reporter Training between 11/1/2022 and 8/31/2025 you will need additional information in order to be in full compliance with the recent changes in law.
Approved providers will begin offering updated mandated reporter training workshops to include the new requirements outlined in Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024 on September 1, 2025. In addition, if you have completed Mandated Reporter Training between 11/1/2022 and 8/31/2025, you may complete a short (15 minute) addendum on this additional topic which will be available through most approved providers.
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RDHs must take an updated Child Abuse course by April 1, 2025
Child abuse and maltreatment training to apply initially for licensure or for a limited permit (Education Law, Section 6507(3)(a)). Since September 1, 1990, programs registered by New York State that lead to such licensure or certification have been required to include the 2-hour child abuse training. A 2021 amendment to Social Services Law § 413 to requires additional training for mandated reporters, including dental hygienists and including those who have previously undergone the current training, to complete an updated training curriculum by April 1, 2025. The new coursework involves protocols to reduce implicit bias in decision-making processes, strategies for identifying adverse childhood experiences, and guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment while interacting virtuallywithin the NYS Mandated Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment/Neglect coursework. Read more. List of Approved Training Providers