CPR for Dental Offices: BLS Requirements in Colorado

The Colorado Dental Board (3 CCR 709-1, Section G.7) requires all licensees, including dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists, to hold current BLS for Healthcare Providers certification with a mandatory hands-on component. This is not optional and is a condition of license renewal.

If you manage a dental practice or work as a dental professional in Colorado, here is exactly what you need to know about BLS compliance.

Schedule BLS certification for your dental team.

What the Colorado Dental Board Requires

Who must be certified: All licensees holding active Colorado dental licenses, including dentists (DDS/DMD), dental therapists, and dental hygienists. Academic dentists are included.

Required certification: BLS for Healthcare Providers from AHA, Red Cross, or an ADA CERP/AGD PACE-approved provider. The certification MUST include a hands-on skills component. Online-only courses are explicitly not accepted.

Initial training duration: Minimum 3 hours.

Renewal training duration: Minimum 2 hours, aligned with the biennial license renewal cycle. All Colorado dental licenses expire February 28 of even-numbered years.

Sedation practitioners: Dentists with general anesthesia/deep sedation permits or moderate sedation permits must hold current ACLS or PALS in addition to BLS.

Why BLS Specifically (Not Just CPR)

The Dental Board requires BLS for Healthcare Providers, not the Heartsaver-level CPR course. BLS includes multi-rescuer scenarios, bag-mask ventilation, team dynamics, and advanced content appropriate for healthcare professionals. A Heartsaver card will not satisfy this requirement.

This distinction matters: make sure you enroll in BLS, not Heartsaver CPR/AED, when certifying for dental licensure.

Understand the specific differences between BLS and CPR.

Non-Compliance Consequences

Failure to maintain current BLS certification means you cannot renew your Colorado dental license. Without a current license, you cannot practice. There is no grace period for expired BLS when your license renewal is due.

Group Training for Your Practice

Most dental offices have 4 to 10 staff members who need BLS. CPR-Professionals offers on-site group training for practices of six or more, bringing all equipment to your office and certifying your entire team in a single session. This eliminates the scheduling challenge of sending staff to individual classes on different days.

Request Group BLS Training for Your Dental Practice

We also offer open-enrollment BLS classes at our Denver training center for individual dental professionals.

Keep Your Dental License Current - Book BLS Certification Today