How to Become a Licensed Dentist

Dentist Permits Available in California

Application Processing Time Frame

Once the Board has received and deposited the application payment, applications will be processed in 6–8 weeks if complete and submitted with all required information. Applications that are missing information are considered deficient. Processing times for deficient applications are significantly longer. Deficiency letters must be sent to applicants to obtain additional information, and all documentation received back is processed in date order.

After an application is reviewed and deemed complete, applicants will receive an email and letter with instructions on issuance of the license number.

List of California-Approved Dental Schools

Below is a current listing of California dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association for Predoctoral (DDS/DMD) Dental Education Programs:

California

For a complete listing of all dental schools accredited by CODA, please visit www.ada.org/en/coda.

Licensure Information for Foreign Trained Dentists

An applicant who was issued a dental diploma from a foreign dental school that was not, at the time of the applicant’s graduation from the school, approved by the Board, is not eligible for licensure until the applicant has successfully completed a minimum of two academic years of education at a dental college in the U.S. approved by the Board and has been issued a DMD or DDS degree or the equivalent.

Authority: Business and Professions Code (BPC) sections 1628, subdivisions (a)–(f); section 1636.4; and section 1636.5. California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, sections 1024 et seq.

After attending a 2-year international studies program at a CODA- or Board-approved dental school in general dentistry and graduating with a DMD/DDS degree, foreign trained dentists can apply for a California dentist license through one of two pathways: Licensure by ADEX or Licensure by Residency.

Foreign trained dentists who have obtained an active and unrestricted license in another state of the U.S., and qualify through one of the available pathways under Licensure by Credential, can apply for a California dentist license under this pathway.

Dental Board of California Approved Foreign Dental Schools

Below is a current listing of foreign dental schools that have been approved by the Board:

Mexico

De La Salle University School of Dentistry

Students who graduate from the University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry by May 16, 2026, are eligible to apply for dentist licensure in California.

The University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry remains Board approved through May 16, 2026. Upon expiration of the approval, to maintain Board approval, the University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry will be required to complete the international consultative and accreditation process with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA), or a comparable accrediting body approved by the Board.

Moldova

State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu” of the Republic of Moldova (SUMP) – Faculty of Dentistry

Students who enrolled in the Faculty (School) of Dentistry at State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu” of the Republic of Moldova prior to January 1, 2020, are eligible to apply for dentist licensure in California upon graduation from the school.

The Faculty (School) of Dentistry at State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu” of the Republic of Moldova, by operation of statute, is deemed Board approved through January 1, 2024. By January 1, 2024, to maintain Board approval, the Faculty (School) of Dentistry at State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemitanu” of the Republic of Moldova must complete the international consultative and accreditation process with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA), or a comparable accrediting body approved by the Board.

Approval of Foreign Dental School

Assembly Bill (AB) 1519 (Low, Chapter 865, Statutes of 2019) revised requirements for the Board’s approval of foreign dental schools beginning January 1, 2020. Beginning January 1, 2020, the Board will not accept new applications for schools seeking approval as a foreign dental school and will instead require the applicant school to successfully complete the international consultative and accreditation process with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) or a comparable accrediting body approved by the Board. An application for foreign dental school approval must be deemed a complete application pursuant to the rules promulgated by the Board prior to January 1, 2020 in order to be accepted.

Senate Bill (SB) 607 (Senator Min, Chapter 367, Statutes of 2021), which becomes effective on January 1, 2022, authorizes any foreign dental school whose program was renewed by the Board prior to January 1, 2020, through any date between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026, to maintain Board approval through that date. SB 607 also authorizes graduates of a foreign dental school whose program was approved by the Board prior to January 1, 2020, through any date before January 1, 2024, and who enrolled in the program prior to January 1, 2020, to be eligible for dentist licensure in California.