How to Become a Licensed Dentist

NOTICE: After an application is reviewed and deemed complete, applicants will receive an email with instructions on issuance of the license number. Payment of a pro–rated fee will be required at the time of license issuance and the fee amount will be determined by the applicant's date of birth.

Dentist Permits Available in California

Application Processing Time Frame

Once the Board receives and deposits the application payment, applications are processed in the date order they are received. The Board’s goal is to process completed applications within 30 days of receipt.

However, applications that are missing required information are considered deficient. Deficient applications will result in longer processing times. Applicants with deficiencies will be notified by email requesting the additional information needed, and all documents submitted in response to the deficiency requests are also processed in the date order received.

Note: It is important to review the application requirements prior to submission to avoid any delays in your application process.

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.

Dentist Licensure Examination Eligibility for Graduates of Foreign Dental Schools

As part of the requirements to apply to take the examination for a dentist license issued by the Dental Board of California (Board), the applicant must submit evidence of having graduated from a dental college approved by the Board or by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association. (Business and Professions Code (BPC), § 1628.)

An examination applicant who graduated from a foreign dental school can use one of the following pathways to satisfy the dental school graduation requirement:

  1. Graduates of a CODA-Accredited Foreign Dental School. Complete a resident course of professional instruction in dentistry at a CODA-accredited foreign dental school for the full number of academic years of undergraduate courses required for graduation. (BPC, §§ 1628, subds. (b), (d), 1636.4, subd. (b).) Submit evidence of the dental diploma or dental degree issued by the CODA-accredited foreign dental school as successful completion of the course of dental instruction.
  2. Graduates of a foreign dental school that does not have CODA accreditation or prior Board approval. Submit evidence of the dental degree or diploma issued by the foreign dental school; and complete a two-academic year international studies program at a Board-approved dental college and submit evidence of receiving a degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Dental Surgery or its equivalent. (BPC, § 1628, subd. (e).) Can apply for either the Licensure by ADEX or Licensure by Residency pathway.
  3. Out of State License. Foreign trained dentists who have obtained an active and unrestricted license in another state of the U.S. can apply for a California dentist license if they qualify through one of the available pathways under the Licensure by Credential pathway.

    NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2024, a school seeking approval as a foreign dental school is required to be CODA accredited. (BPC, § 1636.4, subd. (b).)

    4. Prior Board Approved Foreign Dental Schools

  4. Graduates of University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry (Mexico). Students who attended the University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry are eligible to apply for dentist license examination in California as follows:
    1. Students who graduate from the University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry by May 31, 2026, are eligible to apply for dentist license examination in California. (BPC, §§ 1628, subd. (e), 1636.4, subd. (b), 1636.5.) Students must submit evidence of their dental degree or diploma issued by University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry and evidence of graduation from that program by May 31, 2026.
    2. If the above pathway does not apply, the student would apply for examination using the pathway for Graduates of a foreign dental school that does not have CODA accreditation or prior Board approval (List Item 2 above).

      3. The Board approval of University De La Salle Bajio School of Dentistry expired May 31, 2026.

  5. Graduates of “Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova (USMF) – Faculty of Dentistry. Students who attended the USMF Faculty of Dentistry are eligible to apply for dentist license examination in California as follows:
    1. The student graduated from the USMF Faculty of Dentistry on or before December 31, 2023 (this includes students who enrolled in that program after January 1, 2020). (BPC, §§ 1628, subd. (e), 1636.4, subd. (b).) Submit evidence of the dental degree or diploma issued by USMF Faculty of Dentistry and evidence of graduation from that program on or before December 31, 2023.
    2. The student enrolled in USMF Faculty of Dentistry prior to January 1, 2020 (this includes students who graduated after the expiration of Board approval on December 16, 2023). (BPC, § 1636.6.) Submit evidence of the dental degree or diploma issued by USMF Faculty of Dentistry and evidence of enrollment in that program prior to January 1, 2020.
    3. If neither of the above pathways in a. or b. apply, the student would apply for examination using the pathway for Graduates of a foreign dental school that does not have CODA accreditation or prior Board approval (List Item 2 above).

      4. The Board approval of USMF Faculty of Dentistry expired December 16, 2023.