# Kentucky dental licensure exams

> Dentist licensure exam signals for Kentucky, including national-board, clinical-exam, jurisprudence, and pathway-specific notes where sourced.

URL: https://dentovio.com/dental-licensure-exams/kentucky

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not legal, admissions, testing-vendor, or board advice. Exam acceptance, score windows, jurisprudence rules, endorsement routes, and foreign-trained dentist pathways can change. Confirm current instructions with Kentucky Board of Dentistry before applying.

## Direct answer

For dentist licensure exams in Kentucky, Dentovio's sourced state record lists: National Board Dental Examination (iNBDE / NBDE) + one regional clinical examination taken within the 5 years preceding application: CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, DLOSCE, or SRTA. TOEFL required if English is not the applicant's primary language. Kentucky jurisprudence exam also required. (WREB retired 12/31/2022; CDCA-WREB-CITA is the merged successor.) Confirm current iNBDE/NBDE, ADEX or other clinical exam, jurisprudence, law-and-rules, endorsement, and pathway-specific requirements with Kentucky Board of Dentistry.

## Exam signals

National Board Dental Examination (iNBDE / NBDE) + one regional clinical examination taken within the 5 years preceding application: CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, DLOSCE, or SRTA. TOEFL required if English is not the applicant's primary language. Kentucky jurisprudence exam also required. (WREB retired 12/31/2022; CDCA-WREB-CITA is the merged successor.)

## Pathway context

CODA residency (GPR / postgraduate general dentistry) pathway ACCEPTED — no repeat of dental school required. Kentucky offers a distinct 'Licensure by International Training' pathway for graduates of non-CODA-accredited (foreign) dental schools: applicant completes TWO years of post-graduate training in a CODA-accredited general dentistry program (a residency), rather than an advanced-standing DDS/DMD.

## Notes

Clearest residency pathway of the five. Confirmed on the official board Initial Licensure page: 2-year CODA-accredited general dentistry postgraduate program + regional clinical exam + TOEFL (if applicable). Board contact: (502) 429-7280.

## Official board source

- Kentucky Board of Dentistry: <https://dentistry.ky.gov/Dentists/Pages/Initial-Licensure.aspx>

## References

- <https://dentistry.ky.gov/Dentists/Pages/Initial-Licensure.aspx>
- <https://dentistry.ky.gov/Documents/IDLF0124.pdf>
- <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Kentucky_Licensure>

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