State Licensure for International Dentists

This page is designed to provide general information likely to be of interest to a dentist, regardless of nationality, who was educated outside the United States and Canada and wishes to obtain a state dental license in the U.S. Sources for more specific information are identified, where appropriate.

Although every effort is made to have the most current information available, state licensure requirements often change. Therefore it is recommended that you check with the individual state dental board where licensure is desired to obtain the most up-to-date information.

• International Dentists—Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for a quick guide on how to start the licensure process? See the Step-by-Step summary on how an international dentist can obtain dental licensure in the United States:

• Step-by-Step to State Licensure for International Dental Graduates | PDF file/26.5k

Resource Guide Available

A Resource Guide for the International Dentist: The State Dental Licensure Process, is a comprehensive guide that will assist the internationally-trained dentist in understanding and navigating the U.S. dental education and licensure processes. The Resource Guide is available as a download through the ADA online catalog and contains information about admission to the United States, state licensure requirements, applying to a dental education program, preparing for written and clinical licensing examinations, finding employment or starting a practice, ADA membership and more.

To download and view the table of contents or to purchase the Resource Guide online:

• Go to www.adacatalog.org
• In the Search box, enter the item number P801D and click Go
• On the Search Results page, click on the product link to see product details
• Click on the link under Free Download Information to view a Table of Contents for the guide
  

Additional information that will be helpful to the international dentist is listed here:

• Accredited Dental Education Programs That Offer Advanced Standing | Microsoft Word file/70k
• Supplemental Programs for International Dentists | PDF file/99k
• Summary of State Educational Requirements for International Dentists | PDF file/68k
• Advanced Dental Education Opportunities for International Dental Graduates | PDF file/72k
• State Membership in the Regional Clinical Dental Testing Agencies | PDF file/23k
  

Contact information for state boards of dentistry is available at www.dentalboards.org.

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