# Foreign-trained dentist license in Minnesota

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

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

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 Minnesota board before acting.

## Pathway

Foreign-training EQUIVALENCY pathway — a full CODA advanced-standing DDS/DMD is NOT strictly required. Minn. Stat. §150A.06 Subd. 1 provides that a graduate of a dental college in another country 'must not be disqualified from examination solely because of the applicant's foreign training if the board determines that the training is equivalent to or higher than' a CODA-accredited dental college. Such an applicant may then sit the licensure exams (national board + clinical) and obtain a general dentist license. Foreign grads may also complete a U.S. CODA advanced-standing program (e.g., Univ. of Minnesota PASS) or a CODA specialty program. NOTE: The separate clinical-exam WAIVER for a completed CODA GPR/AEGD (Subd. 3(b) and PGY-1 waiver under Subd. 3b) is expressly limited to graduates of a CODA-accredited dental SCHOOL, so that residency clinical-waiver does not by itself cover a non-CODA foreign grad.

## Required exams

iNBDE / all components of the National Board Dental Examinations + a board-approved clinical exam: ADEX (via CDCA-WREB-CITA), CRDTS, or SRTA — all clinical components (incl. posterior and anterior operative) except the periodontal component, taken within 5 years. Alternatively PGY-1 clinical waiver via a completed U.S. CODA AEGD/GPR (available to CODA-school grads). Plus MN jurisprudence exam and CPR. (WREB retired Dec 31 2022.)

## Notes

Minnesota is a genuine foreign-equivalency / residency-friendly state: a foreign-trained dentist judged 'equivalent or higher' by the Board can be examined and licensed WITHOUT repeating dental school. Credentials must be evaluated (e.g., Foreign Credentials Service of America). The GPR/AEGD clinical-exam waiver route is written for CODA-school graduates; a foreign grad more typically uses the equivalency-plus-clinical-exam route or a CODA advanced-standing/specialty program. Confirm the equivalency determination process with the Board.

## Official board source

- Minnesota Board of Dentistry: <https://mn.gov/boards/dentistry/>

## References

- Source 1: <https://mn.gov/boards/dentistry/new-applicant/>
- Source 2: <https://mn.gov/boards/dentistry/new-applicant/limited-general/index.jsp>
- Source 3: <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Minnesota_Licensure>

## Related

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- [Minnesota dental license requirements](https://dentovio.com/dental-license-requirements/minnesota/index.html.md)
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