Guide to Obtaining a Dental License in North Carolina

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North Carolina offers four pathways to dental licensure, covering new graduates, experienced out-of-state clinicians, academic faculty, and retired dentists looking to give back through volunteer care. The state accepts a notably broad range of clinical examinations, and its annual renewal cycle — paired with specific mandatory CE topics — makes ongoing compliance planning an important part of practicing in North Carolina. Here’s everything you need to know before you apply.

General Requirements

All applicants, regardless of pathway, must meet the following baseline criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be of good moral character
  • Hold a degree from a CODA-accredited dental school
  • Pass the NBDE Parts I & II, or the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE)
  • Pass a clinical examination accepted by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners
  • Hold a current CPR certification

The Four Pathways

1. Examination Pathway

The standard route for new dental graduates, North Carolina accepts one of the broader ranges of clinical examinations in the country, giving candidates meaningful flexibility in which board they sit for.

Requirements:

  • Completion of all general requirements listed above
  • Passing score on one of the following clinical examinations accepted by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners: CITA, CDCA, SRTA, CRDTS, or WREB
  • Passing score on the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Complete the application form from the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners and submit it with the required fee. Provide official transcripts from your dental school, NBDE/INBDE scores, clinical examination results, and proof of current CPR certification. Pass the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination and complete a criminal background check.

2. Licensure by Credentials

North Carolina’s credentials pathway is designed for dentists who are actively licensed and practicing in another state. The practice hour requirement is specific — 5,000 hours over a defined five-year window — and applicants must also have their continuing education current before they apply.

Requirements:

  • A current, active dental license in good standing in another U.S. state
  • At least 5,000 hours of active clinical practice over the five years immediately preceding your application
  • At least 15 hours of continuing education per year for the two years prior to application
  • Passing score on the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application with the required documentation and fees. Provide verification of licensure from all states where you hold or have held a dental license, documentation of your active practice hours, and certificates of CE completion. Pass the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination and complete a criminal background check.

The 5,000-hour requirement over five years averages to roughly 1,000 clinical hours per year — equivalent to consistent, active practice throughout the full window. If there are gaps in your practice history, review this requirement carefully before applying.

3. Instructor’s License

North Carolina’s instructor’s license is available to dentists holding a full-time appointment at a dental school in the state. It’s a straightforward pathway that ties licensure directly to academic employment and carries the same jurisprudence requirement as every other route.

Requirements:

  • Graduation from a CODA-accredited dental school
  • A full-time appointment as an instructor at a North Carolina dental school
  • Passing score on the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application with the required documentation and fees, including proof of your full-time faculty appointment. Pass the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination and complete a criminal background check.

4. Volunteer License

North Carolina’s volunteer license offers a formal pathway for retired dentists who want to continue serving patients without compensation. Whether you hold or have previously held a valid, unrestricted license in North Carolina or another state, this pathway provides a structured way to keep contributing to your community in retirement.

Requirements:

  • A current or prior valid, unrestricted dental license in North Carolina or another U.S. state
  • Agreement to provide dental services without compensation
  • Passing score on the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application with the required documentation and fees. Pass the North Carolina Jurisprudence Examination and complete a criminal background check.

Maintaining Your License

North Carolina dental licenses must be renewed annually by January 31st. Each year, dentists must complete 15 hours of continuing education, with the following mandatory topic requirements:

  • 1 hour on controlled substance prescribing practices
  • 1 hour on ethics or jurisprudence

All licensees must also maintain a current CPR certification throughout their time in practice.

New licensees have an additional requirement to be aware of: an opioid prescribing course must be completed within the first year of licensure. If you’re newly licensed in North Carolina, prioritize this early in your first year to ensure you’re in compliance.

Dentists who provide sedation services must also comply with the North Carolina Dental Board’s sedation rules — a separate compliance layer that applies based on the scope of services offered rather than the licensure pathway used.

For the most current requirements, fee schedules, and application materials, visit the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners website or contact their office directly. Requirements are subject to change, and confirming the latest details before you apply is always time well spent.