Educational requirement
Nearly all states require a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree from a university-based dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Written assessment. All U.S. licensing jurisdictions require applicants to pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE). The INBDE, developed in response to changes in educational curricula and instructional methods, was launched in August 2020 and replaced the NBDE Part I and Part II. Learn more about the INBDE.
Clinical assessment
Applicants for dental licensure in most U.S. licensing jurisdictions are subject to a clinical assessment. Most state boards of dentistry rely on third-party testing agencies to administer a clinical assessment and acceptance varies by state and territory. View clinical assessments accepted by each state and territory.
