Washington foreign-trained dentist residency pathway
In Washington, the sourced state record indicates a CODA residency, GPR, AEGD, or advanced-education pathway may satisfy part of the licensure path under specific conditions. Two routes for a non-CODA / non-accredited-school graduate (WAC 246-817-160): (1) advanced-standing route — evidence of at least two additional predoctoral or postdoctoral academic years of CODA-approved dental education (must include clinical training if completed after July 1, 2018); OR (2) Confirm the current rule directly with Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (Dept. of Health) before choosing a program or filing an application.
Residency signal
Two routes for a non-CODA / non-accredited-school graduate (WAC 246-817-160): (1) advanced-standing route — evidence of at least two additional predoctoral or postdoctoral academic years of CODA-approved dental education (must include clinical training if completed after July 1, 2018); OR (2) CODA residency in lieu of the practical/clinical exam — a general practice residency, AEGD, or pediatric residency, at least one year, ACCREDITED BY CODA, LOCATED IN WASHINGTON STATE, in a residency program that serves predominantly low-income patients (RCW 18.32.040(3)(c)). The residency substitutes for the clinical exam but the 2-additional-academic-years education requirement for non-accredited-school grads still applies.
Exam signal
Written: iNBDE, or NBDE Parts I & II, or the Canadian NDEB exam. Clinical: ADEX, CDCA, CITA, WREB, SRTA, CRDTS, or DLOSCE (results within 5 years) — OR the qualifying WA-based low-income CODA residency in lieu of the clinical exam. Plus WA jurisprudence.
Source notes
Residency pathway is conditional: must be a CODA GPR/AEGD/pediatric residency located in Washington serving predominantly low-income patients (RCW 18.32.040(3)(c)) and substitutes only for the clinical exam. WAC 246-817-160 was under review to clarify foreign-trained/non-accredited education requirements — verify current text. University of Washington also offers an advanced-standing DDS (UWIDDS) as a separate route.
Official board source
Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (Dept. of Health)
Visit the Washington boardReferences
- https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/licensing-requirements
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-817-160
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.32.040
- https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/Washington_Licensure