How to Verify a Dental License

Dentist vs. dental hygienist vs. dental assistant: different verification paths

Verification requirements differ significantly by role:

• Dentists (DDS / DMD) — require a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from a CODA-accredited program, passage of the NBDE (now INBDE for recent graduates) and a state clinical exam, and an active state dental license. Specialists must complete an accredited postgraduate residency and typically hold specialty board certification.
• Dental Hygienists — require an associate's or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from a CODA-accredited program, passage of the NBDHE national board exam, and an active state dental hygiene license. Some states also require a state clinical exam or jurisprudence exam.
• Dental Assistants — licensing and certification requirements vary widely by state. Some states require licensure or certification (e.g., Registered Dental Assistant); others have no state requirement. The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) offers the CDA certification, which some states recognize or require.

Step 1: Verify with the state dental board

State dental boards are the licensing authorities for dentists and dental hygienists. Each state board maintains a public license verification portal that is the authoritative source for current license status — more current than any aggregator or credentialing database.

Finding your state dental board

The American Dental Association maintains a state dental board directory at ada.org/en/education-careers/licensure/state-dental-boards. Alternatively, search "[state name] dental board license verification" to reach the state portal directly. Most state boards offer free public license searches by name or license number.

What to confirm in the state dental board lookup

1. License is active, not expired, suspended, or revoked
2. License type is appropriate (dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant if applicable)
3. License expiration date is current
4. No conditions, practice restrictions, or probation attached to the license
5. License number matches documentation provided by the candidate
6. For specialists: specialty endorsement or designation appears on the license record where applicable

Step 2: Verify dental school CODA accreditation

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) — part of the American Dental Association — is the recognized accreditor for all dental and dental hygiene education programs in the United States. Graduation from a CODA-accredited program is required for NBDE/INBDE eligibility and state dental licensure.

Checking CODA program accreditation

Search the CODA program database at coda.ada.org/en/find-a-program. Programs with full accreditation, accreditation with reporting, or accreditation with probation are all recognized — probation means the program is under scrutiny but graduates remain eligible. Programs with withdrawn or revoked accreditation do not qualify graduates for national boards or state licensure.

Verifying the dental degree itself

Confirm degree conferral via the National Student Clearinghouse DegreeVerify or directly with the dental school's registrar. For degrees from Canadian dental schools (which also qualify graduates for US licensure via the NBDE), contact the school directly. For graduates of international dental schools, see Step 4 below.

Step 3: Verify specialty board certification (if applicable)

The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties. Dentists who hold themselves out as specialists must have completed a CODA-accredited advanced education program in that specialty and, in many cases, hold board certification from the relevant specialty board:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). Verify at aboms.org.
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics — American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). Verify at americanboardortho.com/public/verify-certification.
• Endodontics — American Board of Endodontics (ABE). Verify at aae.org/abe.
• Periodontics — American Board of Periodontology (ABPeriodontology). Verify at abperio.org.
• Prosthodontics — American Board of Prosthodontics (ABP). Verify at abprosthodontics.org.
• Pediatric Dentistry — American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD). Verify at abpd.org.
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Pathology, and Public Health — each has a dedicated specialty board. Contact the relevant ADA specialty organization for verification details.

Board certification is not required to practice a specialty in most states — completing the CODA-accredited residency is typically the state licensing requirement. However, claiming board certification without it is fraud. Verify certification claims directly with the specialty board.

Step 4: Verifying international dental graduates

International dental graduates (IDGs) who wish to practice in the US must complete an additional pathway. The primary routes are:

• CODA-accredited advanced standing program — a 2-3 year DDS/DMD completion program at a US dental school. Graduates are then eligible for NBDE/INBDE and state licensure through normal channels. Verify the advanced standing program's CODA accreditation and degree conferral.
• State-specific credentials pathway — a small number of states (e.g., California historically) have allowed IDGs to apply for licensure through alternative pathways. Requirements vary; verify with the specific state dental board.

An international dental degree alone — regardless of reputation of the foreign institution — does not qualify a dentist to practice in the US. If a candidate claims US licensure based on a foreign degree with no US training, verify the state board record carefully for the specific pathway that was used.

Step 5: Verify dental assistant certification (if applicable)

For dental assistants in states that require or where employers expect national certification, the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) administers the primary credentials:

• CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) — the standard DANB national credential. Requires passing three component exams (RHS, ICE, GC) and active CPR certification. Verify at danb.org/verify-certification.
• COA, CDPMA, CPFDA, CRFDA — specialty DANB credentials for orthodontic assisting, dental practice management, and dental radiography. Each verifiable through the DANB portal.

DANB certifications require continuing education for renewal. Confirm that the certification is currently active, not just that it was obtained at some point in the past.

7 red flags in dental credentials

1. License not found in state dental board lookup — active dental licenses are publicly searchable in every state. A name mismatch, "no record found," or a license number that belongs to someone else should stop the credentialing process until resolved.
2. License is expired, suspended, or revoked — dental practices that employ providers with lapsed or revoked licenses face regulatory action, insurance complications, and patient safety liability. Verify expiration date from the state board, not from the CV.
3. Dental school not in CODA's accredited program list — CODA accreditation is required for NBDE/INBDE eligibility and state licensure. A school not in CODA's database is either a foreign institution or an unaccredited program. Verify the path to US licensure was legitimate.
4. Specialty claimed but no CODA residency or board certification documented — dentists who market themselves as oral surgeons, orthodontists, or other specialists without completing a CODA-accredited residency may be practicing outside their scope. Verify both the residency program and specialty board certification.
5. International dental degree with no US advanced standing documentation — foreign dental degrees do not confer US practice rights. A candidate who graduated from a foreign dental school and claims direct US licensure without documenting an advanced standing program or state-specific pathway should be scrutinized carefully.
6. DEA registration issues for controlled substances — dentists prescribing controlled substances require DEA registration. For roles with prescribing authority, verify DEA registration at deadiversion.usdoj.gov. A revoked or suspended DEA registration is a serious red flag regardless of active dental license status.
7. Prior disciplinary actions not disclosed on application — state dental boards publish disciplinary actions publicly. Search for the candidate by name on the board's disciplinary action or newsletter pages, not only in the license lookup. Actions in prior states may not appear in the current state record.

Verification resources at a glance

Dental credential verification checklist