# Mississippi dental license requirements

> Source-backed dentist licensure pathway, exam, residency, endorsement, reciprocity, and official-board signals for Mississippi.

URL: https://dentovio.com/dental-license-requirements/mississippi

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Dentovio is not a dental board. Confirm current application forms, education rules, exam acceptance, score windows, jurisprudence requirements, endorsement eligibility, reciprocity, credentialing, fees, and foreign-trained exceptions directly with Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.

## Direct answer

For dentist license requirements in Mississippi, Dentovio's sourced licensure record highlights education/pathway language, exam signals, and any residency, endorsement, reciprocity, or credentialing notes it could isolate. Education/pathway signal: CODA postdoctoral (2+ year) pathway — a full advanced-standing DDS/DMD repeat is NOT required, but foreign grads CANNOT use licensure-by-credentials (that is CODA-graduates only). Per Miss. Code Ann. §73-9-23(3), a foreign (non-ADA/CODA) Exam signal: NBDE Parts I & II (or successor — i.e., iNBDE) of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (waived only for pre-1960 graduates). Confirm current requirements, application forms, score windows, endorsement eligibility, and foreign-trained exceptions with Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.

## Education and pathway signal

CODA postdoctoral (2+ year) pathway — a full advanced-standing DDS/DMD repeat is NOT required, but foreign grads CANNOT use licensure-by-credentials (that is CODA-graduates only). Per Miss. Code Ann. §73-9-23(3), a foreign (non-ADA/CODA) graduate applies for licensure BY EXAMINATION and must: be 21+, be English-proficient, have completed ≥6 academic years of postsecondary study culminating in a foreign dental degree, have been licensed/admitted to practice in that foreign country, AND present documentation of completing at least 2 or more years of full-time POSTDOCTORAL dental education in a CODA-accredited dental program (completed after the general dental degree), with the program's dean certifying the applicant achieved the same didactic and clinical competence as a graduate of the school's predoctoral program.

## Exam signal

NBDE Parts I & II (or successor — i.e., iNBDE) of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (waived only for pre-1960 graduates). A clinical/regional exam is also part of licensure by examination — Mississippi accepts ADEX-based regional exams (e.g., CITA/SRTA/CDCA); confirm the currently accepted clinical exam with the Board. (WREB retired Dec 31 2022.)

## Endorsement, reciprocity, or credentials signal

CODA postdoctoral (2+ year) pathway — a full advanced-standing DDS/DMD repeat is NOT required, but foreign grads CANNOT use licensure-by-credentials (that is CODA-graduates only). Foreign grads are barred from licensure-by-credentials.

## Residency signal

Residency or advanced education is flagged as a possible pathway signal in the sourced state record; verify degree, program, exam, and applicant-status conditions with the board.

## Notes

Key nuance: the required '2 or more years of full-time postdoctoral dental education in a CODA-accredited program' is a postdoctoral advanced-education requirement (a residency-style route) completed AFTER the foreign dental degree, plus a dean's competence certification — it is NOT a full advanced-standing DDS/DMD repeat, and it is NOT the same as merely finishing any GPR/AEGD (the dean-certification and 2-year full-time criteria must be met). Foreign grads are barred from licensure-by-credentials. Exact clinical-exam acceptance should be confirmed with the Board (Ridgeland, MS).

## Official sources

- <https://www.dentalboard.ms.gov/>
- <https://www.dentalboard.ms.gov/sites/dentalboard/files/Foreign%20Trained%20FAQ.pdf>
- <https://www.dentalboard.ms.gov/licensure-credentials-frequently-asked-questions>
- <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Mississippi_Licensure>

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