Florida

Foreign-trained dentist license in Florida

In short, Florida requires a CODA-accredited advanced-standing degree (no residency-only route found).

Florida licensure exams

Preparing for a Florida Laws and Rules exam?

Dentovio builds source-backed prep for the Florida Dental Laws and Rules (FDLR) exam for dentists and the Florida Dental Hygiene Laws and Rules (FHLR) exam for hygienists. Start with your exam hub, study guide, or original free practice questions.

Pathway

Advanced-standing / supplemental CODA program required — NOT a residency pathway. Under s. 466.006, Fla. Stat., a graduate of a non-CODA (foreign) dental school must complete at least 2 consecutive academic years of full-time study in a CODA-accredited supplemental general dentistry program that provides didactic and clinical education at the DDS/DMD level. The statute expressly excludes advanced education programs in a dental specialty, and experience gained under a teaching/residency permit does NOT count toward this requirement — so a GPR/AEGD or specialty residency is NOT an accepted substitute.

Required exams

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. WREB retired Dec 31, 2022.

Notes

Florida has no reciprocity/endorsement/licensure-by-credentials. The 2-year CODA 'supplemental general dentistry program' is effectively an advanced-standing route to DDS/DMD-level education; it is distinct from (and cannot be replaced by) a GPR/AEGD residency. Requires the Florida-specific Laws and Rules exam in addition to iNBDE + ADEX.

Residency pathway

No residency-only route found: the sourced state record generally points foreign-trained dentists toward a CODA-accredited DDS/DMD or advanced-standing pathway, not a residency-only route.

View residency pathwayCompare advanced-standingCompare no-repeat pathsView licensure exams

Official source

Florida Board of Dentistry (Florida Department of Health)

Visit the Florida board →

INBDE · written national board

Preparing for the INBDE?

The written national board is its own project alongside the state pathway. Dentovio builds INBDE prep specifically for internationally trained dentists — start with the international hub, the pass guide, or the free practice test.

References