General Qualifications
All applicants for reinstatement must also:
- Comply with all other applicable provisions of the Dental Practice Act and Board rules.
- Submit the prescribed application form.
- Pay all necessary fees.
- Meet the specific criteria detailed below.
Reinstating a Retired RDA – If Currently Practicing in Another State
If the applicant is currently practicing as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in another state or territory and was actively practicing within the two years immediately preceding the application date, the following must be submitted:
- Verification of registration and disciplinary history from all state board(s) of dentistry where the applicant has held a registration.
- Evidence of active practice as an RDA within the two years prior to the application date.
- Proof of successful completion of a current hands-on course in basic life support (BLS).
- Proof of passing the Texas jurisprudence assessment within one year before the application.
- Proof of completion of 6 hours of continuing education (CE), taken within the 12 months preceding the date the application is received by the Board. All CE must comply with the requirements in §114.12 (relating to Continuing Education for Certificate Holders).
- Proof of submission of fingerprints for criminal history record information retrieval.
Reinstating a Retired RDA – And has NOT actively practiced for at least two years immediately preceding the request
The applicant must submit the following:
- Verification of registration and disciplinary history from all state board(s) of dentistry where the applicant has held a registration.
- Proof of passing the Texas jurisprudence assessment within one year before the application.
- Proof of successful completion of a current hands-on course in basic life support (BLS).
- Proof of completion of 12 hours of continuing education (CE), taken within the 12 months preceding the date the application is received by the Board. All CE must comply with the requirements in §114.12.
- Proof of fingerprint submission for a criminal history record check.
Additional Conditions:
Any RDA applying to re-enter active practice must comply with all other applicable provisions of the Dental Practice Act and Board rules. The applicant must have been in compliance with or satisfied all conditions of any Board order that was in effect at the time the retired status was granted. The Board reserves the right to require compliance with other reasonable conditions as deemed necessary to safeguard public health and safety when considering a request to re-enter active practice.
Human Trafficking Prevention Course Requirement:
- Effective October 1, 2021, applicants for licensure or registration with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) must complete a course in human trafficking prevention.
- This course must be approved by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
- Proof of completion must be submitted with the application, in addition to all other required documentation.
- Information on approved courses is available here.
Military Applicants: Follow the following link for specific application information. https://tsbde.texas.gov/licensing/military-licensing/
Other Professional License, Permit, or Registration:
- Self-Reporting Prior Registration: You MUST self-report your previously issued dental assistant registration, nurse, pharmacy technician, etc. from any other state or country including the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners: Failure to do so will result in licensure processing delays. For each license you have ever held, you must obtain verification of the status of that license and list the information on the application. The verification must include the license number, the date issued, the current status, its expiration date, and whether any disciplinary action, sanction, or restriction was issued. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable. Verification must be received in its own sealed unopened envelope from the issuing entity.
- Canceled RDA Registration: If your RDA registration has been canceled, you MUST answer, “Yes” on license history question #2 on the application and submit a signed and notarized affidavit explaining the cancellation in detail.
- Disclosure Requirement: Failure to disclose any requested information may result in the denial of your application or other appropriate action.
Download Application Here
Supplemental Documents
- 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.
- A valid, unexpired driver’s license or state identification certificate issued by a state or territory of the United States that complies with the minimum document requirements and issuance standards for federal recognition under the REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, unless the driver’s license is marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”;
- a valid, unexpired driver’s license or state identification certificate that does not comply with REAL ID issued by one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming;
- a valid passport. Valid passport is defined as: (i) an unexpired passport or passport card issued by the United States government; or (ii) an unexpired passport issued by the government of another country accompanied by a current permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;
- a valid, unexpired license to carry a handgun issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety under Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H;
- a United States Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); or
- a United States Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561);
- Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, must include hands on demonstration of skills.
- Proof of completion of TSBDE Jurisprudence Assessment for dentists assistants 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.
- Proof of the Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Human Trafficking Course completion certificate.
- Proof of practice is required. This form cannot be completed by the applicant. You may download the form by clicking here: Proof of Practice.
- For applicants who hold or have every held a professional license, permit or registration (dental assistant, nurse, pharmacy technician, etc.) in Texas, or any other state including the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners: For each license you have ever held, you must obtain verification of the status of that license and list the information on the application. The verification must include the license number, the date issued, the current status, its expiration date, and whether any disciplinary action, sanction, or restriction was issued. A copy of the license alone is not acceptable. Verification must be received in its own sealed unopened envelope.
Application Status and Review Process
- Initial Review Time: Please allow a minimum of 5 business days for our staff to review your application after receipt and to email you with an update on its status. If you are unable to include any required document, please attach a note explaining its absence for the staff’s consideration.
- Checking for Deficiencies: Any missing or incomplete required documents (deficiencies) identified during the staff review will be communicated to you via the email address provided on your application.
- Approval and Next Steps: Upon approval, an official approval letter detailing the subsequent required steps will be mailed to you. You will then be required to create an online licensing account.
License Validity and Future Renewals:
Your first license may be valid for a period between 18 and 30 months. A renewal postcard reminder will be mailed to the mailing address on file with the TSBDE about 60 days before your license’s expiration date.
Additional Information
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Requirement. BLS courses must include a hands-on demonstration of skills by the applicant on a manikin and a written assessment of skills.
- Name Changes. If your name has changed since you completed any licensing exam or were licensed in another state or country, you are required to submit documentation that verifies the name on your application.
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring – You must hold an active radiology dental assistant (RDA) registration before submitting an application to monitor nitrous oxide.
- Change of Address. Licensees are required to notify the Board within 60 days of a change in address. This change is available once your online account has been established.
- Application Name must match your legal name which can be found on your driver’s license, identification card, or passport. The name must match all documents.
- Not sure if a RDA course/exam is board approved? Click HERE to view the current approved list.
- If you have completed a program approved by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) be sure you contact the program director to ensure you submit the correct document to the TSBDE for the purposes of registration.