How to get licensed as a dentist in Utah
Licensure in Utah is administered by the Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board. The requirements follow the same four components every U.S. board uses, and there is no Advanced Standing program inside the state, so internationally trained dentists usually earn the degree elsewhere and licence here afterwards.
What the Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board asks for
Step 1
An accredited dental degree
A DDS or DMD from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. For internationally trained dentists this is what an Advanced Standing seat provides, and it is the component a foreign degree alone rarely satisfies.
Step 2
The national written board
A passing Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) result. Older NBDE Part I and II records are still recognised for candidates who completed them before the transition.
Step 3
A clinical examination the board accepts
This is the component that varies most between states: which regional testing agency's examination is accepted, whether a manikin-based format counts, and whether completed residency training can substitute for it.
Step 4
State law, fees and background checks
A jurisprudence or state-law component, current CPR or basic life support certification, fingerprinting or a background check, and the application fee the board publishes.
Board rules change between cycles. Use this page to orient yourself, then verify every requirement against the board's own current publication before you pay a fee or book an examination.
If you are choosing between states
The clinical examination step is where neighbouring states most often diverge: which regional testing agency's examination the board accepts, whether a manikin-based format counts, and whether completed residency training can stand in for it. Decide where you intend to practise before you book a clinical examination, because sitting the wrong format is expensive to undo.
If you already hold a licence in another state, ask the Utah Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board about licensure by credentials — most states offer a route for dentists with several years of active, clean practice, though the year requirement varies and none of it is automatic reciprocity.
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