# Arkansas foreign-trained dentist residency pathway

> Residency pathway found for internationally trained dentists evaluating GPR, AEGD, CODA residency, or advanced-education options in Arkansas.

URL: https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/arkansas/residency-pathway

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: medium

Educational summary only, not legal, immigration, or admissions advice. Dental licensure rules change and program eligibility varies. Confirm current requirements directly with the Arkansas dental board before choosing a program or filing an application.

## Direct answer

In Arkansas, the sourced state record indicates a CODA residency, GPR, AEGD, or advanced-education pathway may satisfy part of the licensure path under specific conditions. CODA residency/advanced-education pathway accepted (no full repeat of dental school required). Under the board's Article IX (Credentials for Foreign Trained Dentists), a graduate of a non-CODA foreign dental school qualifies by EITHER (Option B) completing at least two predoctoral academic/clinical years at a CODA-accredited dental school, OR (Option C) Confirm the current rule directly with Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners before choosing a program or filing an application.

## Residency and advanced-education signal

CODA residency/advanced-education pathway accepted (no full repeat of dental school required). Under the board's Article IX (Credentials for Foreign Trained Dentists), a graduate of a non-CODA foreign dental school qualifies by EITHER (Option B) completing at least two predoctoral academic/clinical years at a CODA-accredited dental school, OR (Option C) successfully completing a 2-year CODA-accredited advanced education program in general dentistry (AEGD/GPR) or an ADA-recognized specialty. A 2-year GPR/AEGD residency at a CODA school therefore satisfies the education requirement without redoing the DDS/DMD.

## Required exams

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 ADEX/CDCA-WREB-CITA/CRDTS+SRTA). Plus the Arkansas jurisprudence examination (minimum 75%).

## Notes

Article IX explicitly provides a foreign-trained pathway and specifies a '2-year advanced education program' (AEGD/GPR/specialty) as an alternative to 2 predoctoral years — an unusually clear residency-style route. Note the underlying regulation text sourced via Cornell LII / Arkansas SOS register (038.00.06); confirm the current in-force Article IX text and the exact accepted clinical exams directly with the board, as the online copy may predate recent amendments. WREB retired Dec 31, 2022.

## Official board source

- Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners: <https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/dental-examiners-arkansas-state-board/>

## References

- <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arkansas/038-00-06-Ark-Code-R-001>
- <https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/dental-examiners-arkansas-state-board/licensure/>
- <https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/rulesRegs/Arkansas%20Register/2006/jun_2006/038.00.06-001.pdf>
- <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Arkansas_Licensure>

## Related

- [Foreign-trained dentist license in Arkansas](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/arkansas/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist residency pathway by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-residency-pathway/index.html.md)
- [Foreign dentist license without repeating dental school](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license-without-repeating-dental-school/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist advanced-standing pathway by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-advanced-standing/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-licensure/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure matcher](https://dentovio.com/tools/foreign-dentist-license-eligibility)