Please note: TSBDE will accept sim/manikin based examinations. As long as an applicant has passed an examination administered by one of the designated regional examining boards listed in Rule 101.2, TSBDE will accept those examination results.
License Requirements
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Has graduated and received either the DDS or DMD degree from a dental school accredited by CODA;
- Has taken and passed Part I and II or the INBDE of the American Dental Association Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations;
- Has taken and passed a clinical examination administered by a regional examining board designated by the Board within the last seven (7) years.
In addition to the general qualifications for licensure by examination, an applicant who is a graduate of a non-accredited school must present proof that the applicant;
- Has graduated from dental school that is not CODA-accredited;
- Has successfully completed training in an ADA-approved specialty in a CODA-accredited education program that consists of at least two full time academic years of training as specified by the Council on Dental Education.
- Recognized Specialties: Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Public Health, or Prosthodontics.
- Beginning October 1, 2021, applicants applying for licensure or registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) must complete a course in human trafficking prevention approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and submit proof of completion with their application. This will be in addition to all required documentation that needs to be submitted to the TSBDE. For information on where to find approved courses, please click here.
Apply Online
Online Application System Requirements
- Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
- User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
- Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
- Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password
- From the Quick Start Menu, Under Start a New Application ⇢ Choose Board → Texas State Board of Dental Examiners → Choose Application →Initial Dentist by Exam from the left hand side of page.
- Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Application and payment summaries will be emailed to you along with the required fingerprint information session. Please note this does not complete your application process, you are still required to mail in all documents listed below.
Application & Supplemental Documents
*Must be mailed to TSBDE
- Copy of your online application and payment summary receipt. If you are applying by using your foreign education or military credentials, you will need to submit a paper application. Do not apply online, you will only further delay your processing time.
- 1- 2×2 passport photo
- Your head must face the camera directly with full face in view
- You must have a neutral facial expression or a natural smile, with both eyes open.
- Use a plain white or off-white background.
- Be sized correctly
- Copy of driver’s license, naturalization papers, or passport.
- Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, must include hands on demonstration of skills.
- Official school transcript showing proof of graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited (CODA) dental school. Transcripts must remain in the original, sealed and unopened envelope.
- Completion of National Boards Parts I and II or the INBDE. TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas. The applicant will need to contact ADA’s department of testing services to ensure Texas will be able to access your results.
- Proof of completion of a general dentistry clinical examination administered by a regional clinical examining board dated within seven (7) years from the date of examination. TSBDE will electronically validate scores that have been made available to Texas. Score reports must remain in the original sealed envelope if they are mailed in. Click here for a list of regional clinical examining boards recognized by the TSBDE. TSBDE currently validates scores from ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, and SRTA.
- Pursuant to TSBDE Rule 101.2(e), an applicant who takes an examination after January 1, 2019, must also successfully complete the periodontics and prosthodontics sections of an exam approved by a designated regional examining board. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most regional examining boards did not offer a clinical periodontics section due to COVID-19 restrictions. During that time TSBDE accepted the CTP and DSE OSCE, because it included a perio component.
- Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, most regional boards now offer a periodontics section that may be taken on a manikin/simulation. TSBDE will accept regional examining board results based on what was offered by the examining board at the time of the exam. Moving forward, if a periodontics/prosthodontic portion is offered, TSBDE would require the applicant to complete that section for licensure.
- Proof of completion of TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment for dentists without sedation dated within one year immediately prior to application submission.
- National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query. Report results must remain in the original sealed envelope. NPDB self-query reports are valid for 60 days. Contact the NPDB at telephone number (800) 767-6732, or website http://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/pract/howToGetStarted.jsp.
- For applicants who have held a license in another state/jurisdiction: A verification of licensure with imprint of state seal issued from a state board of dentistry in which the applicant has ever held a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene. This is not a copy of your license. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable.
- Proof of the Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Human Trafficking Course completion certificate.
Please note that you MUST self report your previously issued dental assistant registration even if it was issued by TSBDE. Failure to do so will result in licensure processing delays.
If the RDA registration has been canceled, you MUST answer, “Yes” on the license history question #2 on the application and submit a signed and notarized affidavit explained in detail. Failure to disclose any of the requested information may result in the denial of your application or other appropriate action.
Foreign Graduate Licensure: May not apply online. Submit a paper application and select your method of licensure. All of the above supplemental documents are required along with the official final transcript of an American Dental Association-approved specialty in a CODA-accredited education program that consists of at least two (2) full time academic years of training as specified by the Council on Dental Education and copy of the diploma of the non accredited dental school (translated, if not in English).
Military Applicants: U.S. Military Active Duty, Veterans, and U.S. Military Active Duty Spouses may not apply online. Submit a paper application and select your method of licensure. All of the above supplemental documents are required along with a a copy of your Military Change of Station Orders, Identification Card or a document showing proof of Honorable or General Discharge.
Please allow 3 – 4 weeks for processing once TSBDE has received a completed application. Incomplete applications will delay the process. Please do not contact the Licensing Division to check the status of your application unless it has been longer than 4 weeks and you have not been contacted via mail. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an approval letter via the U.S. mail advising you of the license activation process.
Dentist Temporary Licensure for Charitable Purpose
Initial Renewal (License Activation) Process
The status of your license will be Expired after it is first issued. You will receive a letter in the mail with instructions for paying your prorated initial renewal (activation) fee online. This fee will activate your license and change the status to Active. This letter will authorize you to practice for 30 days. Once you pay your fee online you should receive your new license in the mail approximately 7-10 days later. Exception: Military applicants are not required to pay to activate their license. The license will be issued and mailed to the applicant after the application has been approved.
- Register for a secure online account. If account exists, simply log-in.
- User ID (email) – use a personal email address (not assigned by college)
- Receive a temporary password from donotreply@hpc.state.tx.us
- Log-in with temporary password and choose a permanent password (write down the user id and password)
Be sure you have your license number before proceeding to the next step. If you have not received your approval letter in the mail, you may also verify your license from the board’s website under Search Licensees.
- From the Quick Start Menu, select ⇢ Update Profile →Add Licenses
- Complete the application; submit fees with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express. Application and payment summaries will be emailed to you along with the required fingerprint information session.
Your first license may be valid anywhere between 18- 30 months. A renewal postcard reminder will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the TSBDE approximately 60 days prior to your license expiration date.
Designation of Records
This form is to be used by the licensed Texas dentist to designate a custodian of records upon initial licensure and at each renewal period. Dental records are the sole property of the dentist who performs the dental service, unless otherwise designated per Board rules. Please provide the following information to appropriately designate ownership of records and appointment of a custodian, if necessary. Upon completion of the form, you may email it to licensinghelp@tsbde.texas.gov.
Additional Information
- Anesthesia Permits. Dentists must hold an active Texas Dental License before an application for an anesthesia permit can be processed.
- Change of Address. Licensees are required to notify the Board within 60 days of a change in address.
- CPR Requirement. CPR Courses must include a hands-on demonstration of skills by the applicant on a manikin and a written assessment of skills.
- Foreign Language Documents. All documents issued in a foreign language must be translated to English.