It is your responsibility to review the rules and determine for which license you are qualified BEFORE submitting an application. Submission of an incorrect application may result in loss of fees.

• If you are a new graduate or have ADEX scores less than 5 years old, you should apply for Licensure by Examination.  Must have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental program.  Cost of license: $395.00
• If your ADEX scores are over 5 years old, you should apply for Licensure by Credentials, if qualified.  To qualify:  You must have been licensed in another state via clinical exam for at least 5 years, you must have 5,000 hours of patient care within the last 5 years (excluding residency or internship hours), and you must never have been disciplined by another licensing board.  Must have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental program.  Cost of license: $2,000.00
  
• If you are short practice hours for credentials or have a long wait before you can take ADEX, you may apply for a Provisional License.  This does not apply to new graduates, as you must have been licensed in another state for at least two years.  This is NOT a temporary license while waiting for a different license; you do not get it any faster.  This license is restricted to practice under supervision of an NC dentist at their offices only.  Letter from supervising dentist is required. License is good for one year only and cannot be renewed or extended.  Cost of license: $100.00
  
• If you are on the faculty of an NC Dental School, you may apply for an Instructor’s License.  Practice under this license is restricted to the Dental School where you are employed.  Must hold a current license in another state or country.  Cost of license: $140.00
  
• If you serve or have served as a dentist in the military or are married to an active member of the military, you may apply for Licensure by Military Endorsement/Military Spouse, if qualified.  To qualify:  You must have 1,000 hours of patient care per year for at least 2 of the last 5 years.  Cost of initial license: $0.00.
  
• Click here for information on becoming permitted to practice under the Military Relief Act. This is not a license.
  
• Internationally trained dentists may click here for licensure options in NC.

Applicants for licensure by examination, credentials and provisional must pass written examinations.

Written examinations are offered on-line in two subject areas: infection control/sterilization and North Carolina jurisprudence. 

The only acceptable clinical exam for licensure by examination is the ADEX exam.  The optional perio scaling portion of ADEX is required in NC. ADEX is administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA.

Both written and clinical exams must be passed before a license will be issued.  Passing either the written or clinical exam alone does not fulfill requirements for licensure.  No candidate may engage in the practice of dentistry until the license is issued and properly displayed as required by NC Gen Stat §90-33.

The NC Board currently accepts the ADEX examination scores less than 5 years old. The ADEX exam is currently administered by the American Board of Dental Examiners.  For more information & schedule please visit their website at:

https://adextesting.org/

To apply for a license you must first create an account in our Gateway System. Once logged in, you may access and complete the appropriate application.

To access Licensure Gateway and create a Gateway Account, click here:

Licensure Gateway