US Dental License for Foreign Trained Dentists

Dental License in Texas for Foreign Trained Dentists

Texas, the Lone Star State, is the second largest US state (area & population). There are several routes to obtaining a license to practice dentistry in Texas. The following paragraphs will summarize the general requirements, and more specifics as it relates to foreign trained dentists.

General Requirements

1. All applicants should be at least 21 years old, and of good moral character.
2. All applicants must submit the following:
   a. A complete and notarized application for Texas license.
   b. Application fee.
   c. All supporting documents as indicated by the application.
   d. Jurisprudence assessment for initial licensure certificate of completion.

Texas Jurisprudence Assessment for Initial Licensure:

This assessment tool is the only way you can meet the jurisprudence requirements for the Texas Board of Dental Examiners. It is an online assessment that you do not need to study in advance for as the information needed to answer the questions are available for you to review while taking the assessment. There is no time limit for this assessment and it has a "no fail" format, and you can take it online at your convenience.

Dental License for Foreign Trained Dentists:

Everything above (general requirements) apply in this section. To apply for licensure in Texas, you must present proof that you have:

1. Graduated from a dental school (foreign dental school), and
2. Completed specialty training in a program accredited by CODA, this specialty program should be of at least two years duration. Note that AEGD and GPR programs are not recognized as specialty programs so the do not qualify under this requirement.

If you meet these two requirements then you can request the board's approval to participate in any of the following clinical license exams WREB, CRDTS, NERB, and SRTA. After successful completion of any of these exams, you will need to submit all of the following:

 1. Dental license application
 2. Application fee.
 3. Copies of document that show date of birth (birth certificate, passport, etc).
 4. Certified or notarized copy of your diploma.
 5. Proof of successful completion of NBDE parts I & II.
 6. Proof of successful completion of an ADA-approved specialty program.
 7. Proof of completion of a clinical license exam.
 8. Verification of license in other state(s), if you have a dental license from another state.
 9. Current CPR certification.
 10. Jurisprudence examination.

What if you do not have the required specialty training or you do not want to do specialty training? You can still apply for Texas dental license by examination, but you have to qualify for that by obtaining a dental degree (DDS or DMD) from a CODA-accredited dental school. This is usually achieved by completing an 2-years international program or advanced standing.

Dental License by Examination:

Once you complete your accredited program (international program or advanced standing), obtain your degree, and successfully complete a clinical license exam, you can apply for a Texas dental license by submitting the following documentation:

 1. Application for dental license.
 2. Application fee.
 3. Copies of document that show date of birth (birth certificate, passport, etc).
 4. Certified or notarized copy of your diploma from the accredited school.
 5. Proof of successful completion of NBDE parts I & II.
 6. Proof of completion of a clinical license exam.
 7. Verification of license in other state(s), if you have a dental license from another state.
 8. Current CPR certification.
 9. Jurisprudence examination.
 10. Proof of social security number.

So, in a nutshell, a foreign trained dentist can become eligible for a Texas dental license by either completing a CODA-approved specialty training program, or obtaining a DDS or DMD degree from a CODA-approved dental school.