Dentist Licensure Requirements

Before applying for licensure, please familiarize yourself with the general licensing policies.

 

An applicant for licensure who graduated from dental school in the United States must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below:

 

Graduate from a dental school accredited or recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA);

 

Successfully complete the National Board of Dental Examiners (NBDE) examinations; and

 

Successfully complete an acceptable Regional Board Examination approved by the Connecticut State Dental Commission and Department of Public Health.  The following regional examinations are approved:

 

The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (formerly NERB)

 

Council of Interstate Testing Agencies

 

Southern Regional Testing Agency

 

Central Regional Dental Testing Service

 

Western Regional Examining Board

 

Candidates must successfully complete all components of a regional board examination; an overall passing score is not acceptable.  Candidates who have successfully completed a clinical performance examination offered by the Central Regional Testing Service, the Southern Regional Testing Agency or the Western Regional Examining Board must also pass the diagnostics component of the clinical performance test offered by the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (formerly NERB) or the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies.

 

Applicants who earned the dental degree from an ADA accredited or recognized program who have not completed a regional examination as outlined above, may be exempt from the regional examination provided the applicant completed not less than one year of graduate dental training as a resident dentist in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA), provided that the supervising dentist attests to the resident dentist’s competency in all areas tested on the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (formerly NERB).   This exemption does not apply to foreign educated dentists.

 

Documentation Requirements

 

The following documents shall be forwarded directly to this office from the source: 

 

An official transcript of dental education verifying the award of a degree in dentistry sent directly from the school to this office;

 

An official report of National Board scores sent directly to this office;

 

An official report of successful completion of an acceptable clinical performance examination as outlined above.  (The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (formerly NERB) scores are sent to this office routinely.  If the applicant's involvement with this documentation requirement is necessary, he or she will be contacted);

 

Applicants applying for exemption from taking the regional board examination must arrange for submission of a Verification of Dental Residency Training form.   

 

Verification of all licenses ever held by the applicant (current or expired)from each state or territory in which the applicant is or has ever been licensed.   Most states charge a fee for completion of the form.  Please contact each state or territory for fee information.

 

A completed application and fee of $569.75.  Please note that $4.75 of the fee covers the Department's cost to query the National Practitioner Data Bank.  Applications are only accepted online.  Please select this link to apply online.

 

All supporting documentation should be mailed directly from the source to:

 

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Dental Licensing

410 Capitol Ave., MS# 12 APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134

Phone: (860) 509-7603

Fax: (860) 707-1929

Email: dph.dentalteam@ct.gov