# Foreign-trained dentist license in Connecticut

> Connecticut pathway signal for internationally trained dentists: Residency pathway found.

URL: https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/connecticut

Last verified: 2026-07-08

Research confidence: high

Educational summary only, not legal or immigration advice. Dental licensure rules change and the details vary; confirm current requirements directly with the Connecticut board before acting.

## Pathway

CODA residency (postgraduate training) pathway accepted — no advanced-standing DDS/DMD required. Per Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-107 and DPH rules, a foreign dental school graduate (DDS/DMD or equivalent) may qualify by completing (1) not less than 2 years of graduate dental training as a resident in a CODA-accredited program, AND (2) at least 3 additional years (beyond the second postgraduate year) of CODA-accredited residency/fellowship training in a Connecticut school of dentistry — OR serve as a full-time faculty member in a Connecticut dental school for at least 3 years. This is a residency/faculty pathway that does NOT require repeating dental school.

## Required exams

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, SRTA, CRDTS; WREB retired Dec 31, 2022) — an aggregate/overall passing score is not acceptable; every section must be passed.

## Notes

Connecticut is one of the few states with an explicit residency-based pathway for foreign graduates, but it is stringent: total ~5 years of CODA postgraduate training (2 + 3), with the additional 3 years specifically at a CT dental school (or 3 years CT full-time faculty). Verify current clinical-exam list and residency-verification forms with DPH.

## Official board source

- Connecticut Dental Commission / Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing & Investigations: <https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentist/licensure-eligibility-requirements-of-graduate-of-foreign-dental-schools>

## References

- Source 1: <https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentist/licensure-eligibility-requirements-of-graduate-of-foreign-dental-schools>
- Source 2: <https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-20/chapter-379/section-20-107/>
- Source 3: <https://www.cga.ct.gov/PS98/rpt/olr/htm/98-R-0051.htm>

## Related

- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-licensure/index.html.md)
- [Connecticut dental license requirements](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-requirements/connecticut/index.html.md)
- [Connecticut dental license reciprocity](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-reciprocity/connecticut/index.html.md)
- [Connecticut dental licensure exams](https://dentovio.com/dental-licensure-exams/connecticut/index.html.md)
- [Connecticut foreign-trained dentist residency pathway](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/connecticut/residency-pathway/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure matcher](https://dentovio.com/tools/foreign-dentist-license-eligibility)