# Foreign-trained dentist license in West Virginia

> West Virginia pathway signal for internationally trained dentists: Residency pathway found.

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

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 West Virginia board before acting.

## Pathway

Advanced-standing-style CODA program required (2+ years), which functions as a residency route only if it is a 2-year advanced program: W.Va. CSR 5-1-3.5 lets the Board license a foreign-dental-school graduate who holds certification of a TWO-YEAR (or more) advanced general dentistry training program from a US/Canadian CODA-accredited school; 5-1-3.6 similarly allows a 2-year (or more) CODA-accredited dental specialty advanced education program. A one-year GPR/AEGD alone does NOT confer full licensure. Without such 2-year CODA training, foreign-trained dentists are limited to intern/resident/teaching permits (5-1-3.3/3.4).

## Required exams

National board exam by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) — iNBDE/NBDE; plus a clinical exam administered by CDCA, CRDTS, CITA, SRTA, or WREB (or successor); plus the West Virginia Dental Law exam.

## Notes

Board policy explicitly declined to grant full licensure to foreign-trained, US-board-certified specialists without a clinical board exam (WV biennium report). So the accepted route is a 2+ year CODA advanced general dentistry OR specialty program PLUS the required national + clinical exams. This is more restrictive than a 1-year GPR/AEGD pathway. Board contact toll-free (877) 914-8266.

## Official board source

- West Virginia Board of Dentistry: <http://www.wvdentalboard.org>

## References

- Source 1: <http://www.wvdentalboard.org>
- Source 2: <https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/west-virginia/W-Va-C-S-R-SS-5-1-3>
- Source 3: <https://www.ada.org/~/media/Project/ADA%20Organization/ADA/ADA-org/Files/Education/Licensure%20by%20State/West_Virginia_Licensure>
- Source 4: <https://wvbodv7prod.glsuite.us/GLSuiteWeb/Clients/WVBOD/StaticFiles/home.aspx>

## Related

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