Guide to Obtaining a Dental License in North Dakota

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North Dakota offers four pathways to dental licensure, with a credentials pathway that provides meaningful flexibility — applicants can qualify either through practice hours or through completion of a CODA-accredited residency or specialty program, whichever better reflects their background. All applicants are also required to submit a self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank as part of the application process, a requirement worth noting early in your timeline. Here’s a full breakdown of what each pathway requires.

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 Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners
  • Hold a current CPR certification

The Four Pathways

1. Initial Licensure by Examination

The standard route for new dental graduates, North Dakota accepts five regional clinical examinations, giving candidates solid 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 Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners: CRDTS, CDCA-WREB-CITA, SRTA, CITA, or WREB
  • Passing score on the North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Complete the application form from the North Dakota State Board of Dental Examiners and submit it along with the required fee. Provide official transcripts from your dental school, NBDE/INBDE scores, clinical examination results, and proof of current CPR certification. Submit a self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank, pass the North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination, and complete a criminal background check.

2. Licensure by Credential

North Dakota’s credentials pathway offers two distinct routes to eligibility — an important distinction that sets it apart from most states. Rather than requiring practice hours alone, North Dakota allows applicants to qualify either through documented clinical experience or through completion of a qualifying postgraduate program, whichever better fits their background.

Requirements:

  • A current, active dental license in good standing in another U.S. state
  • One of the following must be met:
    • At least 5,000 hours of active clinical practice over the five years immediately preceding your application, or
    • Completion of a CODA-accredited general practice residency or specialty program
  • At least 32 hours of continuing education completed in the two years prior to application
  • Passing score on the North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application along with the required fee. Provide verification of licensure from all states where you hold or have held a dental license, documentation of your qualifying practice hours or residency completion, and certificates of CE completion. Submit a self-query from the National Practitioner Data Bank, pass the North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination, and complete a criminal background check.

The 5,000-hour practice threshold over five years averages to 1,000 clinical hours per year — consistent with active, full-time practice throughout that window. If your practice history includes significant gaps or reduced schedules, the residency completion route may be the more accessible option.

3. Temporary License

North Dakota’s temporary license is available for dentists participating in dental residency programs within the state or for those with a specific short-term practice opportunity. It is not a general-purpose temporary permit — the license is valid for a limited period, typically up to one year, and is tied to the qualifying program or circumstance.

Requirements:

  • A dental degree from a CODA-accredited dental school
  • Acceptance into a North Dakota dental residency program, or documentation of a specific qualifying short-term practice opportunity

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application along with the required fee and documentation of your acceptance into a qualifying program or your short-term practice opportunity. Complete a criminal background check.

4. Volunteer License

North Dakota’s volunteer license provides a formal pathway for retired dentists who want to continue serving patients in a non-compensated capacity. It’s open to dentists who hold or have previously held a valid, unrestricted license in North Dakota or another state — making it accessible regardless of where you spent the majority of your career.

Requirements:

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

Steps to licensure: Submit a completed application along with the required fee and documentation of your current or prior licensure. Pass the North Dakota Jurisprudence Examination and complete a criminal background check.

Maintaining Your License

North Dakota dental licenses must be renewed annually by December 31st. Over each two-year period, dentists must complete 32 hours of continuing education, with the following mandatory topic requirements:

  • 2 hours on infection control
  • 2 hours on ethics or jurisprudence

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

Dentists who provide sedation services must comply with the North Dakota Dental Board’s sedation rules. Review these requirements carefully and ensure the appropriate permits or approvals are in place before offering any sedation services in your practice.

For the most current requirements, fee schedules, and application materials, visit the North Dakota 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 the right first step.