Getting a Virginia Dental License

Virginia licenses dentists through the Board of Dentistry, part of the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP). The requirements are set by statute (Va. Code § 54.1-2709), by Board regulations in 18VAC60-21, and by Board guidance documents. This guide summarizes them for new graduates and dentists moving to Virginia, as of October 2026. Requirements and fees change, so confirm every step on the Board of Dentistry application page before you apply.

The core requirements

Under Va. Code § 54.1-2709(B), an applicant must show that they:

1. Are of good moral character.
2. Graduated from an accredited dental school. The regulation (18VAC60-21-200) requires a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
3. Passed all parts of the examination given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). For current graduates that is the INBDE.
4. Passed a clinical examination acceptable to the Board.
5. Meet any other qualifications in Board regulations.

The clinical exam: ADEX only, by component

This is the requirement most likely to trip up students who plan to move. Per the Board’s Guidance Document 60-25, effective January 1, 2023 the Board accepts only the ADEX exam from applicants for licensure by examination. Each component must be scored conjunctively (each passed on its own, not averaged) with a minimum of 75%:

The ADEX dental exam is administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA. Check the ADEX site for current formats and dates. If you fail a section three times, the regulations require at least 14 hours of additional clinical training in that section before a fourth attempt (18VAC60-21-210).

The 2026 ADEX changes

The component list above is how the Board’s guidance describes the exam. The exam itself has changed since. The ADEX dental page now lists five hand-skill components (periodontal, endodontic, prosthodontic, anterior restorative and posterior restorative) plus the ADA’s computer-based Dental Licensure OSCE (DLOSCE), and says the periodontal exam became a required component on August 1, 2026. The page names the American Board of Dental Examiners as the administering body. If your exam results combine components taken before and after that date, or you are unsure whether the DLOSCE satisfies the diagnostic component on the Board’s list, ask the Board before you apply.

What you send with the application

18VAC60-21-190 and the Board’s guidance list the documents the Board expects:

• A final certified transcript from your dental school (and any post-doctoral program).
• Verification of passing all JCNDE exams.
• A current National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) report on yourself. The Board’s FAQ says it must be the original and dated within six months.
• An original, detailed score report from the testing agency, or results made available to the Board through the agency’s online portal. Candidate score cards are not accepted.
• Score reports for every clinical exam attempt, including failures. The Board will not combine components from different testing agencies.
• The application itself and fee, submitted online through DHP.

Read the Board’s current application instructions for any additional items, such as background questions or a law and ethics component. We have not listed items we could not confirm in the regulations or on the Board’s pages.

A few points from the Board’s licensure FAQ and application page that applicants often ask about:

• National Board passing scores from any year are accepted.
• Past actions on an NPDB report, or a criminal history, do not automatically disqualify you; the Board reviews each case.
• Online applicants can check their status by logging in; others can contact the Board by email or phone.
• An application stays on file for one year from the date the Board receives it. If no license issues in that year, you must reapply.
• Graduates of programs outside the United States need a degree from a program accredited by CODA or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.

What it costs

Fees are set in 18VAC60-21-40. As listed in October 2026:

These are Board fees only. Add the clinical exam fee, NPDB self-query fee, transcript fees and, after licensure, DEA registration. Fees change through regulation, so check the current schedule before you pay.

How long does it take?

The Board does not publish a standard processing time. In practice, the timeline depends on how quickly third parties send your documents: the school’s final transcript, JCNDE results, the testing agency’s score report and your NPDB report. An application cannot be completed until all of them arrive. For a new graduate, the final transcript usually cannot be sent until the degree is posted, so start everything else early and plan your start date with a buffer. If you have a job offer with a fixed start date, tell the employer the license is pending and agree on what happens if it is late.

The five-year rule

If you passed your clinical exam five or more years before the Board receives your application, the Board may require you to retake an exam or complete clinical continuing education. That requirement can be avoided by showing clinical practice in another U.S. jurisdiction or federal civil or military service for 48 of the 60 months before applying. Residents who finish a long specialty program should check this before they apply.

Already licensed elsewhere? Licensure by credentials

Dentists licensed in another state may apply by credentials. The regulations require:

• Passing all parts of the national board exam.
• A clinical competency exam substantially equivalent to Virginia’s, taken from a single testing agency (Canadian exams and certificates are not accepted).
• A current, unrestricted license in another U.S. jurisdiction, in good standing everywhere you have been licensed.
• Continuous clinical practice for five of the six years before applying, with a year meaning at least 600 hours. Residency, public health volunteering or internships in another U.S. jurisdiction may count.

A practical timeline for D4 students

This fits inside the broader fourth-year career roadmap.

Keeping your license: CE and CPR

Virginia dental licenses renew annually. Under 18VAC60-21-250, dentists must complete at least 15 hours of continuing education for each renewal and keep current training in basic CPR (with hands-on airway training) or basic life support. Dentists who administer or monitor moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia have additional requirements. The 15-hour CE requirement does not apply to the first renewal after initial licensure. Keep certificates; the Board can audit.

CE details that trip people up

• What counts: courses must relate to patient care, either clinical or nonclinical topics that support it (patient management, legal and ethical duties, stress management). Business management, marketing, financial planning and personal health courses do not count.
• Approved sponsors only: credit must come from a sponsor the regulation recognizes.
• Online courses: the Board’s FAQ says there is no limit on online hours, except that CPR training must include hands-on practice.
• Carryover: extra hours can carry to the next renewal year, up to 15 hours.
• Sedation: dentists who administer or monitor moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia need 4 hours every two years on those topics, counted within the 15.
• Volunteer care: up to 3 hours can come from uncompensated care for low-income patients at a qualifying clinic or health department.
• Records: keep CE documentation for four years after the renewal.

Renewal timing: your birth month

Under 18VAC60-21-240, Virginia dental licenses renew every year in your birth month. The Board sends renewal notices by email or mail 30 to 60 days ahead, and renewal is online. If you miss the deadline, you can generally renew within one year by paying the late fee. After more than a year, you need a reinstatement application and evidence of continuing clinical competence. Printed licenses are no longer issued; employers and insurers verify status through the DHP License Lookup.

License types beyond the general license

Virginia does not issue separate specialty licenses. Specialists hold a general or restricted dental license; oral and maxillofacial surgeons register their practice with the Board, and certain cosmetic procedures require separate certification.

Common causes of delay

• Score reports sent by the candidate instead of directly by the testing agency.
• Missing reports for earlier failed attempts at a clinical exam.
• Clinical exam components from more than one testing agency.
• The final transcript requested before the degree was posted.
• Answers on the application that need a follow-up explanation, such as past disciplinary or legal matters.

Most delays are about documents arriving from third parties, not about the application itself. Track each item (transcript, JCNDE results, ADEX report, NPDB report) on a simple checklist with the date you requested it and the date the Board confirmed receipt.

If any of these apply to you, contact the Board early rather than waiting for a deficiency letter. The Board’s contact details are on its website.

Moving to Virginia from another state

Dentists licensed elsewhere usually apply by credentials and need five years of recent practice. A dentist with less experience, or whose clinical exam was not ADEX, should read Guidance Document 60-25 closely before applying, because the examination route is ADEX-only. If you are still in school and might practice in Virginia and another state, check each state’s current list of accepted exams before you register.

After the license issues

Your license is the first step, not the last. Most new dentists also need an NPI number, a DEA registration if they will prescribe controlled substances, malpractice coverage and credentialing with the insurance plans their office accepts. Credentialing in particular can take weeks or months, so start it as soon as you have a license number. If you are joining a practice, see our guide to your first year as a dental associate.

How Cisor can help

Licensing is between you and the Board, and the Board is the authority on every requirement. Where we help is the plan around it: timing the exam, application and job search so your start date holds. That is part of our Career Development for Dental Students and Dental Associate Careers work. Call (703) 345-0606 if you would like help mapping it out.