# Foreign-trained dentist license in Pennsylvania

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

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

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 Pennsylvania board before acting.

## Pathway

Advanced-standing CODA DMD/DDS only. A candidate educated outside the U.S. at a nonaccredited (non-CODA) school must submit credentials to a CODA-accredited (or provisionally accredited) dental school and obtain additional preclinical and clinical training leading to the award of a D.M.D. or D.D.S. degree by that school (49 Pa. Code 33.102(a)(2)). A CODA GPR/AEGD residency alone does NOT satisfy the education requirement.

## Required exams

National Board Dental Examination (NBDE Parts I & II / iNBDE); a Board-approved clinical/practical examination administered by an approved testing agency (ADEX, CDCA, CRDTS, CITA, SRTA — WREB legacy). Also required at initial licensure: DEA/opioid safe-prescribing training and child-abuse recognition CE. (WREB retired Dec 31, 2022.)

## Notes

PA recognizes CODA (US) and CDAC (Canada) accreditation. Certification of graduation from a foreign program does NOT meet PA educational qualifications; the mandatory route for a non-CODA foreign graduate is a CODA advanced-standing DMD/DDS (49 Pa. Code 33.102(a)(2), read with the accreditation requirement in 33.103/33.103b).

## Official board source

- Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry: <https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/dentistry>

## References

- Source 1: <https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/dentistry/dentist-licensure-snapshot>
- Source 2: <https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter33/subchapBtoc.html&d=reduce>
- Source 3: <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Pennsylvania_Licensure>

## Related

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