Loading...
Loading...
Dentist — DDS / DMD
Dental licensing requires a DDS or DMD degree from a CODA-accredited program and passing the INBDE. Most states also require a regional clinical exam and may require a jurisprudence exam. Sedation permits, CE requirements, and fees vary significantly by state.
51
Total States
51
INBDE Required
51
Regional Exam
39.1 hrs
Avg CE Hours
Dental licensing involves earning a DDS or DMD degree, passing the INBDE, completing a regional clinical exam, and meeting state-specific requirements for sedation permits and continuing education.
All dentists must pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE), a comprehensive one-day exam that replaced the former NBDE Part I and Part II. The exam covers biomedical sciences, dental anatomy, and clinical dentistry.
Most states require a regional clinical examination such as the ADEX, CDCA (formerly NERB), WREB, or CRDTS. These exams test clinical competency through live patient or manikin-based procedures.
States require separate permits for administering sedation, ranging from minimal sedation to general anesthesia. Sedation permits typically require additional training, facility inspections, and equipment standards.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Separate permits for nitrous oxide, moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 32 | $2,040 | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for all levels of sedation; additional training hours required per level | 63 | $1,790 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with monitoring course | 50 | $1,690 | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; minimal sedation with nitrous course | 30 | $1,951 | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 25 | $2,130 | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate and deep sedation/general anesthesia | 30 | $1,890 | Mar 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 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide training required | 40 | $1,865 | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / DLOSCE (Direct Live Observation of Simulated Clinical Exam) | Permits required for sedation beyond nitrous oxide; general anesthesia permit separate | 38 | $1,940 | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,940 | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for sedation levels I (moderate), II (deep), and III (general anesthesia) | 48 | $1,890 | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with monitoring course | 20 | $1,640 | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,715 | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 30 | $2,090 | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide authorization | 40 | $1,790 | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide with separate permit | 30 | $2,015 | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / CDCA (Commission on Dental Competency Assessments) | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,890 | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide certification | 60 | $1,887 | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 50 | $1,840 | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,640 | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 50 | $1,715 | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 40 | $2,840 | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,760 | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation and general anesthesia; separate permit categories | 40 | $1,840 | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 60 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | DDS | Yes | 1-Year CODA Dental Residency (replaces clinical exam; ADEX/CRDTS/SRTA not accepted as substitute) | Permits for sedation and general anesthesia; separate certification pathways | 60 | $2,117 | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 15 | $2,790 | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 32 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation (adult and pediatric) and general anesthesia | 40 | $2,069 | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,715 | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia; nitrous oxide permit | 40 | $2,085 | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | DMD | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,850 | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 28 | $1,815 | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 100 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 40 | $1,840 | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation (Level 1-3) and general anesthesia (Level 4) | 24 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,790 | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,875 | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia | 15 | $1,965 | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 63 | $2,140 | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for conscious sedation and general anesthesia | 35 | $1,715 | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 30 | $1,765 | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | DDS | Yes | ADEX / CRDTS / SRTA | Permits required for moderate sedation and general anesthesia | 16 | $1,665 | Mar 2026 |
Dentists often work alongside other licensed healthcare and dental professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
INBDE prep tips, regional exam comparison, sedation permit requirements, CE tracking strategies, and practice startup guidance — delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your privacy.