Learn about your state's licensure requirements.
In Delaware and New York, a one-year postgraduate residency is required in order to gain licensure. In California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington, a residency is an option for students to gain licensure in lieu of the examination.
Testing agencies which administer clinical examinations for licensure:
- Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA)
- Council of Interstate Testing Agencies, Inc. (CITA)
- Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS)
- Southern Regional Testing Agency, Inc. (SRTA)
- Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
Additionally, Delaware administers their own examination.
Licensure Requirements by State:
State | Initial Licensure Requirements |
AL | CDCA, CITA, SRTA, CRDTS |
AK | WREB |
AZ | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA or WREB |
AR | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
CA | WREB or PGY1 |
CO | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB, OR PGY1 |
CT | CDCA, CITA, OR PGY1 |
DE | Delaware Practical Board Examination AND PGY1 |
DC | CDCA, CITA |
FL | ADEX |
GA | CRDTS |
HI | CDCA, CITA |
ID | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, WREB |
IL | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
IN | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
IA | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
KS | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
KY | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
LA | CDCA, CITA |
ME | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
MD | CDCA, CITA |
MA | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
MI | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
MN | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB, OR PGY1 |
MS | CDCA, CITA |
MO | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
MT | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
NE | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
NV | CITA, CDCA, WREB |
NH | CITA, CDCA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
NJ | CITA, CDCA |
NM | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
NY | PGY1 |
NC | CDCA, CITA |
ND | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
OH | CDCA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB, or PGY1 |
OK | WREB |
OR | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
PA | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
RI | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
SC | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA |
SD | CRDTS, WREB |
TN | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
TX | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
UT | CDCA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
VT | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
VA | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
WA | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB, OR PGY1 |
WV | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
WI | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |
WY | CDCA, CITA, CRDTS, SRTA, WREB |