Guide to Obtaining a Dental License in Alaska
Alaska offers three pathways to dental licensure, each designed for a different stage of a dentist’s career. Whether you’re entering the profession for the first time, relocating from another state, or pursuing recognition in a dental specialty, here’s what you need to know.
Pathways to Licensure
The three routes to licensure in Alaska are: Examination, License by Credentials, and Specialty License.
Pathway 1: Examination
This is the standard path for new dental graduates and the most frequently traveled route to licensure in Alaska.
To qualify, applicants must have graduated from a CODA-accredited dental school and passed either the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Parts I and II or the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE). Applicants must also have completed a regional clinical examination accepted by the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners — currently, WREB/CDCA-WREB, CDCA, CRDTS, and SRTA are all accepted — and passed the Alaska Jurisprudence Examination.
To apply, submit an application to the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners along with the required fee, official dental school transcripts, NBDE or INBDE scores, and regional clinical exam scores. Applicants must also pass the Alaska Jurisprudence Examination and complete a background check.
Pathway 2: License by Credentials
This pathway is available to dentists who hold an active license in another state and are looking to establish or continue their practice in Alaska.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a current, unrestricted license in another U.S. state, have completed at least 3,000 hours of active clinical practice within the past five years, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the Alaska Jurisprudence Examination.
The application requires submitting a credentials application and fee, providing license verification from every state where a license is or has been held, documenting active practice hours, submitting professional references, passing the Jurisprudence Examination, and completing a background check.
Pathway 3: Specialty License
Alaska offers a dedicated licensure pathway for dentists seeking to practice within a recognized dental specialty — a distinction worth noting for those who have completed advanced postgraduate training.
Eligibility requires holding a current, unrestricted general dentistry license in another state, completing a CODA-accredited postgraduate specialty program, and being board certified or board eligible in the relevant specialty. The Alaska Jurisprudence Examination is also required.
To apply, submit a specialty license application and fee, provide verification of your general dentistry license, submit proof of specialty program completion, provide evidence of board certification or eligibility, pass the Jurisprudence Examination, and complete a background check.
Additional Requirements and Notes
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and demonstrate good moral character. The Alaska Jurisprudence Examination covers Alaska-specific dental statutes and regulations, and a working knowledge of both is expected before sitting for the exam.
Licenses are renewed on a biennial basis. Continuing education requirements must be fulfilled to maintain licensure in good standing.
Alaska also provides temporary and courtesy licenses for dentists in specific circumstances, such as short-term volunteer work or brief practice engagements — a useful option for those contributing to underserved communities across the state.
Foreign-trained dentists face additional requirements. Credentials must be evaluated by an approved credentialing agency, and depending on the applicant’s background, passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may also be required.
For current fee schedules, application materials, and regulatory updates, visit the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners website or contact the Board directly.