# Massachusetts dental licensure exams

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

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

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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry before applying.

## Direct answer

For dentist licensure exams in Massachusetts, Dentovio's sourced state record lists: 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. Older CRDTS/SRTA/CDCA-DSE combinations accepted only within specific historical date windows. Plus MA Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination. (WREB retired Dec 31 2022.) Confirm current iNBDE/NBDE, ADEX or other clinical exam, jurisprudence, law-and-rules, endorsement, and pathway-specific requirements with Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry.

## Exam signals

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. Older CRDTS/SRTA/CDCA-DSE combinations accepted only within specific historical date windows. Plus MA Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination. (WREB retired Dec 31 2022.)

## Pathway context

Advanced-standing CODA DDS/DMD only for full licensure. MGL c.112 §45 requires a diploma from a dental college accredited/recognized as accredited by CODA, and 234 CMR 4.03(3) (Initial Dentist Licensure by Examination) explicitly requires an original transcript stating the degree from a CODA-accredited dental school (or Board-approved successor accreditor). A foreign (non-CODA) graduate must complete a U.S. CODA-accredited advanced-standing DDS/DMD to obtain full licensure. Foreign-trained dentists WITHOUT a U.S. license typically use a Limited License (Dental Intern) under 234 CMR 4.05 while enrolled in an advanced-standing/postdoctoral program — this is restricted, not full licensure. No CODA GPR/AEGD-only pathway to full licensure for foreign grads.

## Notes

Full licensure requires a CODA-accredited dental degree; foreign grads satisfy this via a U.S. advanced-standing DDS/DMD. Limited License / Dental Intern (234 CMR 4.05) and Limited License Full-time Faculty are separate restricted categories for foreign-trained dentists in academic/training settings, not general practice licensure. Verify with Board: dentistry.admin@mass.gov.

## Official board source

- Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry: <https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-dentistry>

## References

- <https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-dentistry>
- <https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-dental-license>
- <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Massachusetts_Licensure>
- <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/234-CMR-4-04>

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