FOR COLORADO DENTAL OFFICES
Colorado Dental Compliance
OSHA, Colorado Dental Board and HIPAA requirements for your office and team, in one place. From Dental Ed, helping dental offices with compliance since 1988.
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What Colorado dental offices are required to have
Colorado private dental offices follow federal OSHA, the Colorado Dental Board and the state health department's x-ray rules. Here are the main requirements to plan for.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Every dental office with employees must follow OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030).
- Written Exposure Control Plan, reviewed yearly
- Hepatitis B vaccine offer and sharps safety
- Annual employee training
Hazard Communication
Required when your team works with hazardous chemicals (29 CFR 1910.1200).
- Written program and chemical inventory
- Safety Data Sheets on hand
- Labels and employee training
Emergency & fire safety
Plan for evacuations, fires and medical emergencies.
- Emergency action and fire prevention plans (written once you have more than 10 employees)
- Exits, extinguishers and eyewash stations
- Required OSHA poster
Infection control
The Board expects offices to follow current CDC infection control guidelines.
- Written infection control protocols
- Sterilization and spore testing records
- 2 hours of infection control CE each license period
X-ray equipment
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulates dental x-ray machines.
- Register your x-ray facility each year (fee due April 30)
- Meet the state's quality assurance rules
- Staff who take x-rays need Board-required radiography training
Patient privacy
Colorado offices follow federal HIPAA, and Colorado's data breach law has its own notice rules.
- Privacy and security policies
- Staff training on patient information
- Breach response steps
This is a summary to help you plan, not legal advice. Regulations change, so confirm details with the agency before you act.
License renewal CE, by license and permit
Colorado dental licenses renew every two years and expire at the end of February in even-numbered years. Here is what each license needs.
Dentists
Colorado Dental Board
Hygienists & therapists
Colorado Dental Board
Dental assistants
Colorado Dental Board
Colorado doesn't license dental assistants, so there's no renewal CE. Assistants still need OSHA training, and certain duties such as x-rays require specific training.
Sedation & anesthesia permits
Colorado Dental Board
Permit hours can also count toward your 30-hour license total in the period you take them.
Required inside those 30 hours
2 hours
Infection ControlEvery licensee, every license period. Must cover CDC guidelines.1 hour
Opioid & Substance Use PreventionDentists, every license period. Exempt if you attest you don't prescribe opioids or hold an equivalent board certification.Up to 2
Basic Life Support (BLS)Keep it current. Renewal courses need hands-on skills practice and testing.16 hours
Clinical or science-basedAt least 16 of your 30 hours must be clinical or science-based.- At least half your hours must be live and interactive. Live webinars where you can ask questions count.
- OSHA bloodborne pathogens training is required for all licensees and can count as CE if it meets Board rules.
- First renewal: no CE if licensed 12 months or less; 15 hours if licensed 12 to 24 months.
- Keep your certificates for at least 4 years. The Board audits after each license period.
Source: Colorado Dental Board continuing education. Always confirm current requirements with the Board before you renew.
How we help Colorado offices
Dental Ed has run dental compliance training since 1988, and we're bringing our compliance system to Colorado.
The CALM Compliance System™
Year-round compliance management built on federal OSHA and Colorado's requirements. We train your team, write your programs and answer your questions all year.
- Annual OSHA training for your whole team
- Written programs customized for your office
- HIPAA training for every team member
- Monthly safety topics
- Call or email us anytime
Want to be one of our first Colorado offices?
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On demand. Certificates are emailed when you pass.
Dental Ed is an AGD PACE approved provider (#310218). Not sure what your office needs? Book a quick call and we'll walk you through it.
Colorado compliance questions
Quick answers for Colorado dentists and office managers.
Does Colorado have its own OSHA program?
How many CE hours do Colorado dentists and hygienists need?
Do Colorado dental assistants need a license or CE?
When do Colorado dental licenses renew?
Not sure where your office stands?
Talk with Joyce or April for 15 minutes. We'll walk through what Colorado and OSHA require for your office and the simplest way to get there.
Book a 15-Minute CallCall (760) 930-9401