# Foreign-trained dentist license in Maryland

> Maryland pathway signal for internationally trained dentists: Advanced-standing route required.

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

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 Maryland board before acting.

## Pathway

Advanced-standing CODA DDS/DMD only for full (general) licensure. Md. Code, Health Occ. §4-302(d) requires the applicant to HOLD a DDS/DMD (or equivalent) from a college authorized by a U.S. state or a Canadian province and recognized by the Board — a foreign (non-CODA) degree does not qualify, so a foreign-trained dentist must complete a U.S. CODA-accredited advanced-standing DDS/DMD (2-3 years) to earn general licensure. The §4-303 education waiver applies ONLY to a LIMITED license (not general): it requires completion of at least 2 years of formal general clinical training in a U.S./Canadian degree-granting institution. There is no CODA GPR/AEGD residency shortcut to general licensure for foreign grads.

## Required exams

iNBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination; formerly NBDE Parts I & II) + ADEX clinical exam administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA. Maryland accepts the all-manikin OR live-patient version of the ADEX exam. (WREB was retired Dec 31 2022.)

## Notes

General licensure effectively requires a CODA advanced-standing DDS/DMD for foreign-trained dentists. A separate LIMITED license exists (§4-303 / §4-302(m)) requiring 2 years of formal general clinical training in a U.S./Canadian institution, but a limited license is restricted, not full general licensure. Verify current forms and any faculty/limited-license options directly with the Board (410-402-8500).

## Official board source

- Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners (Maryland Dept. of Health): <https://health.maryland.gov/dental/Pages/home.aspx>

## References

- Source 1: <https://health.maryland.gov/dental/Pages/home.aspx>
- Source 2: <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Maryland_Licensure>
- Source 3: <https://onestop.md.gov/licenses/board-of-dental-examiners-5d15409954f24d03e9997a58>

## Related

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