Continuing Education and License Maintenance
CE requirements
Michigan dental hygienists must complete continuing education each two-year renewal cycle. The standard requirement is 36 hours, including Board-specified topics such as infection control and pain management. Current basic life support certification is also required. Courses must be Board-approved or from approved providers; keep certificates and syllabi for audit. CE is attested at renewal, not submitted with the application unless requested.
License maintenance
Maintain a current address with BPL, renew before the expiration date, and check the public license lookup for accuracy. If a license lapses, the licensee may not practice until reinstated. A licensee who is audited must produce documentation; failure to complete CE or falsifying certificates can result in discipline.
Worked example
A hygienist has 34 CE hours and a current CPR card at renewal. She cannot truthfully attest to 36 hours. She should complete the missing hours before renewing or apply for the appropriate status; practicing on an expired license is a violation.
Traps
Do not count courses that are not approved or that repeat the same content beyond the allowed limit. Do not assume CPR certification counts as CE unless the Board rule says so. Do not wait until an audit to reconstruct records. Do not let a lapsed license go unnoticed while working.