Compare sourced dentist licensure exam signals across all U.S. jurisdictions: national boards, ADEX or other clinical exams, jurisprudence, law-and-rules, residency, and pathway-specific notes.
| State | Exam signal | Exam page | Licensure path | Board source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Written: NBDE Parts I & II, or the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (iNBDE), administered by JCNDE (per Rule 270-X-2-.01). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Alaska | Written: NBDE Part I & Part II, or the iNBDE (JCNDE). Clinical requirement satisfiable by (a) a regional clinical exam — ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, or CRDTS+SRTA — passed within 5 years; OR (b) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Arizona | Written: national board examinations (iNBDE, which replaced NBDE Parts I & II). Clinical: a state/regional clinical exam accepted by the board — ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, DLOSCE, or CRDTS+SRTA — passed within 5. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Arkansas | Written: National Board Dental Examination card from JCNDE (NBDE Parts I & II, now the iNBDE). Clinical: proof of passing a board-accepted clinical licensure examination (regional exam such as. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| California | Written: iNBDE (replaced NBDE Parts I & II). Pathways after obtaining a qualifying degree: (1) Licensure by ADEX — pass the ADEX dental examination (clinical + written components); or (2) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Colorado | Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (iNBDE, which replaced NBDE Parts I/II) plus a Board-accepted clinical competency exam (ADEX/CDCA-WREB-CITA family; WREB retired Dec 31, 2022). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Connecticut | National Board Dental Examination (now iNBDE, which replaced NBDE Parts I/II) plus successful completion of ALL components of a DPH/Dental Commission-approved regional clinical board exam (ADEX/CDCA, CITA,. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Delaware | National Board Dental Examination (iNBDE, replacing NBDE Parts I/II) plus a Board-accepted clinical/practical examination (ADEX/CDCA family; WREB retired Dec 31, 2022). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| District of Columbia | NBDE Parts I and II or the iNBDE, plus a Board-accepted regional clinical examination (e.g., ADEX; historically NERB/CDCA). WREB retired Dec 31, 2022. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Florida | National Board Dental Examination (Parts I and II / iNBDE), the ADEX Dental Licensing Examination (clinical; if taken outside Florida must be on/after Oct 2, 2011), and the Florida Laws and Rules Examination. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Georgia | Written: iNBDE (or NBDE Part I & II, score 75+). Clinical: board-approved regional exam (ADEX [CDCA/CITA], CRDTS, or SRTA), patient- or manikin-based per Rule 150-3-.01. Plus a Georgia jurisprudence exam. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Hawaii | Written: iNBDE (or NBDE Part I & II). Clinical: must pass ALL 5 parts of the ADEX exam (including the optional 5th periodontal section); no other regional exam (CRDTS, SRTA, WREB, NERB) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Idaho | Written: iNBDE (or NBDHE for hygiene) per IDAPA 24.31.01.100.02. Clinical: board-approved clinical exam (ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS+SRTA); | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Illinois | Written: iNBDE (integrated National Board Dental Examination), per 225 ILCS 25/9(e). Clinical: a regional exam accepted per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1220. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Indiana | Written: national board dental examination (iNBDE / formerly NBDE), all sections. Clinical: one board-approved regional exam per 828 IAC 1-1-7 — CRDTS, NERB, SRTA, or WREB (WREB retired Dec 31 2022). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Iowa | National board exam (iNBDE, formerly NBDE Parts I & II) + a board-accepted clinical exam (ADEX/CDCA, CRDTS, etc.; WREB retired 12/31/2022). English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Kansas | iNBDE (or NBDE Parts I & II) + a board-accepted clinical/OSCE licensure exam. Effective 1/1/2023 Kansas requires a patient- or manikin-based clinical exam including an OSCE plus endodontic, periodontic,. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Kentucky | National Board Dental Examination (iNBDE / NBDE) + one regional clinical examination taken within the 5 years preceding application: CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, DLOSCE, or SRTA. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Louisiana | National board exam (NBDE / iNBDE) + the ADEX clinical examination (must be completed within 5 years of applying for licensure by examination) + the Louisiana jurisprudence exam. (WREB retired 12/31/2022; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Maine | National Dental Board Examination (iNBDE / NBDE or its successor) + all sections of a Board-approved regional or state clinical examination (ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, SRTA) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Maryland | iNBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination; formerly NBDE Parts I & II) + ADEX clinical exam administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA. Maryland accepts the all-manikin OR live-patient version of the ADEX exam. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Massachusetts | iNBDE (NBDE Parts I & II per 234 CMR 4.03(5)(a)) + ADEX clinical exam administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA (234 CMR 4.03(5)(b)); patient-based periodontal examination required, minimum 75% in each section. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Michigan | NBDE (or iNBDE, which replaced the NBDE) conducted/scored by the JCNDE + ADEX clinical (written and clinical) administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA or another Board-approved regional agency; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Minnesota | iNBDE / all components of the National Board Dental Examinations + a board-approved clinical exam: ADEX (via CDCA-WREB-CITA), CRDTS, or SRTA — all clinical components (incl. posterior and anterior operative) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Mississippi | NBDE Parts I & II (or successor — i.e., iNBDE) of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (waived only for pre-1960 graduates). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Missouri | iNBDE (National Board Dental Examination). Clinical exam via an accepted regional board — Missouri accepts CDCA/ADEX, CITA, and other regional examining boards (WREB retired Dec 31 2022). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Montana | National board exam (iNBDE) plus a board-accepted regional clinical/practical examination per MCA 37-4-301 (WREB retired Dec 31 2022; ADEX/CDCA-type regional exams now used). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Nebraska | iNBDE, or both Part I and Part II of the NBDE (per 38-1117). Clinical competency demonstrated via a board-approved simulation/manikin-based psychomotor clinical exam (periodontal, restorative, prosthodontic,. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Nevada | NBDE/iNBDE (written) plus a board-approved clinical examination — ADEX-based (WREB retired Dec 31 2022) per NRS 631.240 — and a written exam on Nevada law (Ch. 631) and board regulations. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| New Hampshire | iNBDE (National Board), plus the ADEX clinical examination (or another regional/state clinical exam acceptable to the Board taken within the last 3 years); the ADEX written portion is also required. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| New Jersey | National Board Dental Examination Parts I and II (now iNBDE for those who did not complete NBDE) plus a Board-accepted clinical exam. NJ historically accepted NERB/ADEX (CDCA) clinical exams. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| New Mexico | Dental National Board Examination (NBDE/iNBDE) plus a Board-accepted clinical examination (historically WREB/CRDT/SRTA/ADEX-NERB) and the New Mexico jurisprudence exam. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| New York | National Board Dental Examination Parts I and II / iNBDE (scores sent directly from the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations) plus a Board-accepted clinical examination (NY accepts ADEX/CDCA). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| North Carolina | Board-approved written exam (NBDE/iNBDE) and Board-approved clinical examination. NC accepts ADEX-based clinical exams (CDCA-WREB / CITA). WREB retired Dec 31, 2022. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| North Dakota | Passing score on an exam administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (NBDE/iNBDE) or the National Dental Examining Board of Canada, plus a Board-approved clinical competency. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Ohio | NBDE Parts I & II OR iNBDE; a Board-accepted regional/state clinical examination (ADEX/CDCA/CITA/CRDTS/SRTA) OR five years of active practice in another jurisdiction in lieu of the clinical exam; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Oklahoma | National Board Dental Examination Parts I & II (or iNBDE); a Board-approved clinical examination (CDCA/ADEX, WREB legacy, CRDTS, SRTA, CITA — Board may determine equivalencies); | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Oregon | Passage of a Board-accepted dental clinical examination (ADEX/CDCA/WREB-legacy/CRDTS/SRTA/CITA) and English-language proficiency; national board (NBDE/iNBDE) per Board rule. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Pennsylvania | National Board Dental Examination (NBDE Parts I & II / iNBDE); a Board-approved clinical/practical examination administered by an approved testing agency (ADEX, CDCA, CRDTS, CITA, SRTA — WREB legacy). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Rhode Island | NBDE Parts I & II (or iNBDE); ADEX exam (including the periodontal portion) within 5 years of application, scored via CDCA methods; OR a Board-approved equivalent clinical exam with 75% in each area; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| South Carolina | National Board (JCNDE) — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE; plus a regional clinical exam. SC accepts ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS+SRTA. (WREB was retired Dec 31, 2022.) SC jurisprudence exam also required. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| South Dakota | National Board (JCNDE) — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE; plus a board-approved clinical competency exam (patient-, simulation-, or manikin-based) — SD accepts ADEX (CDCA-WREB-CITA) and CRDTS+SRTA. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Tennessee | National Board (JCNDE) — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE; plus (for standard licensure by exam) a board-approved regional clinical exam — ADEX/CDCA, SRTA, CRDTS, CITA accepted (WREB retired Dec 31, 2022). | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Texas | National Board — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE (electronically validated); plus a general-dentistry regional clinical exam dated within 7 years — TSBDE validates ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA (exams after Jan 1, 2019. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Utah | National Board — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE (JCNDE); plus a regional clinical licensure exam covering perio, endo, operative, class 2/3 restoration, and prosthodontics — Utah accepts CDCA, SRTA, CRDTS,. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Vermont | Written: NBDE Parts I & II, or iNBDE, or the written exam of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada. Clinical: ADEX administered by CDCA or CITA (not incl. optional perio), or CRDTS, or SRTA; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Virginia | National board (iNBDE / NBDE) plus a clinical competency examination per Board guidance document 60-25; ADEX-based clinical exams (CDCA/CITA) and other Board-accepted regional exams. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Washington | Written: iNBDE, or NBDE Parts I & II, or the Canadian NDEB exam. Clinical: ADEX, CDCA, CITA, WREB, SRTA, CRDTS, or DLOSCE (results within 5 years) | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| West Virginia | National board exam by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) — iNBDE/NBDE; plus a clinical exam administered by CDCA, CRDTS, CITA, SRTA, or WREB (or successor); | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Wisconsin | National dental examination via the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (iNBDE/NBDE) plus an approved dental testing service clinical exam: ADEX (CDCA-WREB-CITA), CRDTS, or SRTA; | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
| Wyoming | iNBDE required (rules explicitly cite 'successful passage of the INDBE'; iNBDE replaced NBDE Parts I/II). Clinical exam: a regional exam demonstrating competency in endodontics, fixed prosthodontics,. | Exam guide | State pathway | Board source |
States may distinguish national-board exams, clinical exams, state jurisprudence, law-and-rules exams, and pathway-specific alternatives. Use the ADEX clinical-exam hub for a focused ADEX, CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS/SRTA, and DLOSCE table.
Many boards limit how old a clinical or written score can be. Use the official board page before relying on an older exam result.
Foreign-trained, residency, endorsement, and licensure-by-credentials candidates may face different exam or education requirements.
