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Dentist
Dentist licensure requires a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from a CODA-accredited program, passing the INBDE written exam, and a regional clinical examination. Sedation permits, jurisprudence exams, and CE requirements vary by state.
51
States Covered
51
Require INBDE
51
Regional Exam
11
Jurisprudence Exam
Dentist licensure is administered by individual state dental boards, with national standardization through the INBDE written exam and regional clinical examination organizations.
All dentists must complete a 4-year DDS or DMD program from a CODA-accredited dental school. The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) replaced the NBDHE in 2020 and is required in virtually all states. The exam tests foundational and clinical dental sciences over two days.
In addition to the INBDE, most states require passing a regional clinical examination administered by CITA, ADEX, CRDTS, or WREB. These hands-on exams evaluate clinical competency. Some states have moved toward portfolio or OSCE-based alternatives to live-patient exams.
Dentists wishing to administer moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia must obtain separate sedation permits, which require additional training and facility inspections. Dental specialists (orthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists) often require specialty certification and additional state endorsements.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
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| State | Credential | INBDE | Regional Exam | Sedation Permit | CE Hours | Fees | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | DMD | Yes | ADEX (American Dental Examining Board) / CRDTS / SRTA | Separate permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide requires additional training | 20 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Separate permits for nitrous oxide, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 32 | $2,040 | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for all levels of sedation; additional training hours required per level | 63 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with monitoring course | 50 | $1,690 | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX (American Dental Examining Board) or Portfolio Evaluation | Oral conscious sedation permit, general anesthesia permit, and pediatric endorsement required separately | 50 | $2,240 | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; minimal sedation with nitrous course | 30 | $1,951 | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 25 | $2,130 | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | DDS | Yes | Delaware Practical Board Exam (state-specific; ADEX/CRDTS/SRTA not accepted) | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 50 | $1,892 | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate and deep sedation/general anesthesia | 30 | $1,890 | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | DDS | Yes | ADLEX (American Dental Licensing Examination, administered by ADEX/CDCA) ONLY — CRDTS and SRTA not accepted | Separate permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia; pediatric sedation endorsement | 30 | $1,690 | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide training required | 40 | $1,865 | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / DLOSCE (Direct Live Observation of Simulated Clinical Exam) | Anesthesia privilege permit exists; dentists with anesthesia privilege must submit hard copy renewals only and submit a facility inspection form | 38 | $1,940 | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,940 | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for sedation levels I (moderate), II (deep), and III (general anesthesia) | 48 | $1,890 | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with monitoring course | 20 | $1,640 | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,715 | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 30 | $2,090 | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Board issues sedation permits to qualified licensees | 40 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with separate permit | 30 | $2,015 | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / CDCA (Commission on Dental Competency Assessments) | Individual anesthesia/sedation permits and facility anesthesia/sedation permits are issued by the Board. | 40 | $1,890 | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide certification | 60 | $1,887 | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 50 | $1,840 | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,640 | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 50 | $1,715 | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 40 | $2,840 | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,760 | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; separate permit categories | 40 | $1,840 | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | DDS | Yes | Approved dental residency program of at least one year's duration, accredited by an acceptable national accrediting body (CODA). No clinical examination accepted for initial licensure after December 31, 2006. | Permits for sedation and general anesthesia; separate certification pathways | 60 | $2,117 | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 15 | $2,790 | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 32 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation (adult and pediatric) and general anesthesia | 40 | $2,069 | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,715 | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide permit | 40 | $2,085 | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required; the board regulates sedation permits under PA Code (referenced in § 33.3 fee schedule); specific permit tiers confirmed as regulated | 30 | $1,850 | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 28 | $1,815 | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 100 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,840 | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation (Level 1-3) and general anesthesia (Level 4) | 24 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,875 | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 15 | $1,965 | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 63 | $2,140 | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 35 | $1,715 | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,765 | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 16 | $1,665 | March 2026 |
Dentists work alongside dental hygienists and dental assistants. Explore licensing requirements for the full dental team.
Licensed in the U.S. and considering practicing abroad? Our international guide covers credential evaluation, exam equivalencies, and country-specific requirements.
See international dentist licensing requirements →INBDE prep tips, regional clinical exam comparison (CITA vs. ADEX vs. CRDTS vs. WREB), sedation permit requirements by state, jurisprudence exam details, and CE requirements — all in one guide.
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