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All inquiries about licensure for internationally trained dentists should be directed to the Maine Board of Dental Practice. Determination of candidate eligibility will be at the sole discretion of the Maine Board of Dental Practice.

Generally, there are two pathways through which a internationally trained dentist could be considered for dentist licensure in the State of Maine:


Licensure by Endorsement

may be applicable when a internationally trained dentist holds a license to practice dentistry in another jurisdiction. The Maine Board of Dental Practice makes a determination whether the internationally license to practice dentistry is substantially equivalent to Maine's dentist license or if the individual's qualifications are substantially similar to the standard licensure qualifications noted in the Standard Pathway.



Standard Pathway

may be applicable when the internationally trained dentist has completed a dental medicine program in another jurisdiction. The Maine Board of Dental Practice determines whether the internationally trained applicant's education is equivalent to that of a CODA accredited doctoral degree by reviewing the following minimum requirements:

  1. Education requirements
    1. an earned doctoral degree in dentistry from a CODA accredited dental program or a determination of "educational equivalency." *
  2. Examination requirements
    1. Passage of the National Dental Board Examination (all sections); and
    2. Passage of a regional (clinical) examination such as the CDCA, WREB, CITA, etc.
  3. All other application materials.

* Educational equivalency reviews by the Board generally include the following:

  1. A transcript analysis from a credentialed third-party evaluator (World Education Service and/or Educational Credential Evaluators).
  2. Verification of post-graduate advanced clinical training.
  3. Verification of post-graduate clinical practice within the past three years preceding an application for licensure.

For more information, please review the Application for Dental Licensure checklist