# Foreign-trained dentist license in Tennessee

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

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

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 Tennessee board before acting.

## Pathway

No full license on a non-CODA degree; a restricted LIMITED LICENSE is available via an ADA-accredited SPECIALTY program (not GPR/AEGD). Rule 0460-02-.03 (Limited and Educational Limited Licensure): a graduate whose transcript shows the equivalent of a DDS/DMD, plus an ECE course-by-course evaluation showing the equivalent of 4 years of US dentistry study, plus 'certification of successful completion of a graduate training program in a recognized specialty branch of dentistry from an advanced specialty program accredited by the American Dental Association,' plus the National Board exam. This limited license restricts practice to ADA-accredited institutions / dental education programs or federally-designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). For UNRESTRICTED licensure by exam, TN requires a CODA-accredited DDS/DMD (i.e., a foreign grad would need an advanced-standing CODA DDS/DMD).

## Required exams

National Board (JCNDE) — NBDE Parts I & II or the iNBDE; plus (for standard licensure by exam) a board-approved regional clinical exam — ADEX/CDCA, SRTA, CRDTS, CITA accepted (WREB retired Dec 31, 2022). TN Ethics & Jurisprudence exam required for all pathways.

## Notes

The non-CODA pathway is a limited/practice-restricted license tied to completing an ADA-accredited advanced SPECIALTY program — a general-dentistry GPR/AEGD residency does NOT qualify. Full unrestricted licensure requires a CODA-accredited DDS/DMD.

## Official board source

- Tennessee Board of Dentistry (TN Dept. of Health): <https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/dentistry-board.html>

## References

- Source 1: <https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/dentistry-board.html>
- Source 2: <https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0460/0460-02.20230919.pdf>
- Source 3: <https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/DS_Instructions.pdf>

## Related

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