The Virginia dentist license application is the form you submit to the Virginia Board of Dentistry to earn the legal right to practice dentistry in the Commonwealth, and every dentist who wants to drill, fill, or diagnose in Virginia must complete it before touching a single patient. You file it online through the Board’s licensing portal, pay a fee, and send in proof of your schooling, your exams, and your clean record.
There are two ways through the door: licensure by examination and licensure by credentials. Each path uses the same online system, but each asks for a slightly different stack of papers. Get one box wrong, send one transcript that is not sealed, or skip the National Practitioner Data Bank report, and your file sits frozen until you fix it. The Board says it will tell you about missing items within about 15 business days, then asks for 30 business days to process a complete file, so a clean first submission can save you months.
In this guide you will learn:
- 🦷 The exact difference between the examination and credentials pathways, and how to pick the right one
- 📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of every form, box, and attachment, with named examples
- 🧾 The full list of documents to gather before you log in, so nothing stalls your file
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that send applications to Enforcement, and how to dodge them
- 💳 The fees, deadlines, filing channels, and what happens after you hit submit
What the Virginia Dentist License Application Is and Who Must File It
The Virginia dentist license application is the official request you make to the Virginia Board of Dentistry for permission to practice dentistry in the state. The Board is the agency that receives it, reviews it, and issues your license. The application exists because state law, found at § 54.1-2709 of the Code of Virginia, makes it illegal to practice dentistry in Virginia without a license. The rules that spell out what the application must contain live in the Regulations Governing the Practice of Dentistry, 18VAC60-21.
Anyone who wants to work as a dentist in Virginia must file this form. That includes the new graduate fresh out of dental school, the dentist moving in from another state, and the specialist who finished a residency. It does not matter if you only plan to work part time or fill in at one office. If you diagnose, treat, or prescribe as a dentist, you need the license first.
The application runs on a checklist. The current online version and its supporting forms carry a revision date of June 2023, so confirm you are using that set before you start. The Board breaks the file into an online form plus several mail-in or email-in attachments. Each attachment proves one fact about you: where you trained, what exams you passed, and whether any other state ever disciplined you.
The two pathways serve two different filers. Licensure by examination fits the dentist who is newly out of school or who has not held a full license elsewhere. Licensure by credentials fits the dentist who already holds an active, unrestricted license in another U.S. state and has practiced for years. The credentials path costs more and asks for extra proof of recent practice, which we cover in detail below.
One key point shapes everything: Virginia has no reciprocity with any other state. The Board says plainly it cannot grant exceptions or pre-approve your documents before you submit a complete file. So you cannot lean on your existing license to skip steps. You must build the full Virginia file from scratch.
| Examination Pathway | Credentials Pathway |
|---|---|
| Fee is $400.00 | Fee is $500.00 |
| For new grads or those without a full license elsewhere | For dentists holding an active, unrestricted out-of-state license |
| Does not require Form B Chronology | Requires Form B Chronology of all activities since graduation |
| No minimum practice-hours rule | Must show 600 hours in 5 of the last 6 calendar years |
| Board approves you to sit the ADEX exam if not yet taken | Must already hold passing clinical exam scores |
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather every item below before you open the online application. The system will not let you edit the form after you submit it, and missing pieces freeze your file. Think of this as packing for a trip where you cannot turn back once the plane leaves.
- Your full legal name and any former names. The Board cross-checks your name on every transcript, license, and exam report. If your diploma says one name and your license says another, you must send proof of the change, or the file stalls.
- A current credit card. The fee is paid online with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. The Board will not even send your file for review until payment clears.
- Your dental school’s contact for transcripts. You need a final, sealed, original transcript with the conferred degree date and the registrar’s signature. Copies are rejected, so line up the school early.
- A list of every license you ever held. This means every state and every health profession, not just dentistry. Leaving one off sends your file to Enforcement for investigation.
- Your National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) record. You must ask the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations to release your scores to Virginia through their portal. Copies you print yourself do not count.
- Your clinical exam score report. For the examination pathway, as of January 1, 2023, the Board accepts only the ADEX exam. The testing agency must send the original report.
- An NPDB Self-Query report. Every applicant, with no exception, must order a Self-Query from the National Practitioner Data Bank. It cannot be older than six months and there is a fee.
- Your work history with dates. Credentials applicants must list every job and gap since graduation on Form B, plus clinical hours per calendar year. Missing time periods raise red flags.
- Name-change documents, if any. A photocopy of a marriage license or court order works. Without it, a name mismatch holds your file.
Set aside a folder, physical or digital, for these items. The Board owns any document you send and will not return it, so keep your own copies. Mailing the wrong version, like an unsealed transcript, wastes weeks because you must request a fresh one.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You complete the Virginia dentist license application entirely online through the Board’s licensing portal. There is no paper version of the main application to mail in. The supporting forms, however, are printable, and you can find them on the Board’s Applications & Forms page.
To begin, the Board points you to its Application Wizard, found on the Apply for a License page. The wizard asks a few questions and then routes you to the right pathway. From the Dentist page you read the instructions, then click the Apply Now button to launch the online form.
You will create an online account with a User ID and password. The Board strongly suggests using the View Checklist feature inside your account. After you log in, look under the Pending Licenses section and click View Checklist to see which items are done and which are still missing. This is the single best way to track your file without calling the Board.
The supporting forms you may need are Form A (Certification of Dental School, post-doctoral specialty programs only), Form B (Chronology, credentials only), Form C (Certification of Dental Boards, the license verification request), and the Employment Verification form. Download the ones that fit your pathway, since not every applicant needs all four. Keep the Online Application Instructions PDF open in another tab as you work, because it lists each checklist item in order.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Virginia Dentist License Application Line by Line
This walkthrough follows the Board’s checklist in the order it appears in the official instructions. Complete each item fully. The Board warns that not answering every question delays your file, and that discrepancies can trigger an investigation.
Item 1: The Online Application Itself
The first item is the main online application, where you enter your name, addresses, education, exam history, and answer a set of yes-or-no screening questions about your background. Answer every field and every question, even the ones that feel obvious.
To fill it out, log in to your account, select the dentist license type, and move through each screen. Type your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security record and your dental diploma. For example, Dr. Aisha Rahman enters her name as Aisha N. Rahman, matching her diploma and her current license.
A common edge case is the screening questions about past discipline, malpractice, or criminal history. If you answer Yes to any, attach a clear written explanation and supporting papers right away. A frequent mistake here is rushing through and leaving a question blank, which the instructions say delays your file. The misconception filers carry is that a minor old issue is not worth disclosing; in truth, the Board cross-checks your answers against the NPDB and your license verifications, and a mismatch can send your file to Enforcement.
Item 2: The Application Fee
This item asks you to pay the licensing fee online. The fee is $400.00 for licensure by examination and $500.00 for licensure by credentials. You pay with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.
To pay, follow the payment screen at the end of the online form and enter your card details. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell, applying by credentials, pays $500.00 with his Visa card and saves the on-screen receipt.
A key nuance: the fee is good for one year from the date the Board receives it, and under 18VAC60-21-40(G) all fees are non-refundable. A common mistake is picking the wrong pathway and paying the wrong amount; since the money is non-refundable, you may lose it and have to pay again. The misconception is that your application reaches the Board the moment you submit the form. It does not. The instructions are clear that your file is not sent for review until payment clears.
Item 3: Form A, Certification of Graduation (Post-Doctoral Specialty Programs Only)
This item asks a dental school or program to certify that you earned a degree or certificate from a post-doctoral specialty program. You only complete it if you finished a post-doctoral specialty program, such as a residency. General-dentistry applicants skip it.
To handle it, write your name and graduation date at the top of Form A, then send it to the dean or program director. They complete the rest, mark the program’s CODA or CDAC accreditation status, and return it bearing the school’s seal.
For example, Dr. Priya Nair, an oral surgery resident, sends Form A to her residency director, who marks the program as A1: Approval (without reporting requirements) and affixes the school seal. A common edge case is a hospital program that has its own letterhead form; the Board allows the school’s own form as long as it carries the seal and lists the accreditation status. The mistake to avoid is having the school sign Form A before you graduate, since certifications made before graduation cannot be accepted. The misconception is that this form replaces your transcript; it does not, and you still need the official transcript in Item 4.
Item 4: Official Transcript
This item requires a final, original transcript from your dental school. It must bear the school’s seal, show the date your degree was conferred, and carry the registrar’s signature. Copies, certificates, and diplomas do not satisfy it.
To send it, ask your school to mail the sealed transcript to the Board, or have an e-script or Parchment service email it directly to bodlicensing@dhp.virginia.gov. For example, Dr. Aisha Rahman logs into her school’s Parchment account and orders an official transcript sent straight to the Board’s email.
A common edge case is a hospital-based post-doctoral program that does not keep transcripts. In that case the Board accepts a dated, detailed letter on official letterhead, signed by the program director, describing your coursework and clinical training. A frequent mistake is opening the sealed envelope yourself and then mailing it in; once the seal is broken, the transcript is no longer official and the Board rejects it. The misconception is that a foreign transcript will be reviewed; the Board states that documentation from non-CODA/CDAC foreign programs is not required and will not be considered.
Item 5: Form C, License Verification
This item asks every state board where you hold or ever held any health care license to certify your license status directly to Virginia. It covers dentistry and any other health profession you have been licensed in.
To handle it, fill in the top of Form C, sign it, and send one copy to each board. The board completes the verification and sends it to Virginia. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell, who holds licenses in Maryland and North Carolina, mails a Form C to each state board and asks them to send the verification to bodlicensing@dhp.virginia.gov.
A key nuance is timing: the certification cannot be older than six months from the date it was prepared. A common edge case is a state that does not issue original verifications; then you must submit the agency’s written statement explaining why, plus a copy of the online verification from that state’s website. The mistake that hurts most is failing to list a license you once held, even an expired one in another field, because the instructions say this sends your file to Enforcement for investigation. The misconception is that copies of your own license or permit will do; they will not, since the verification must come from the issuing board.
Item 6: Clinical Scores
This item requires an original, detailed score report proving you passed an accepted clinical competency exam. The exam must test the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of dental conditions using live patients or manikins. For the examination pathway, as of January 1, 2023, the Board accepts only the ADEX exam.
To send it, ask the testing agency to mail or email the original report to the Board, or to release it through their portal. You must request it yourself; the candidate’s own copy is not accepted, and score cards cannot be combined into one. For example, Dr. Aisha Rahman asks CDCA-WREB-CITA to send her ADEX report directly to the Board.
A major nuance applies to older exams under the examination pathway: if you passed your clinical exam five or more years before the Board receives your file, you must do one of three things under 18VAC60-21-250. You can retake a board-approved exam, complete board-approved clinical continuing education, or show you practiced lawfully for 48 of the past 60 months. A common mistake is submitting an exam that uses compensatory scoring, which the Board does not accept; it is your job to confirm with the testing agency. The misconception is that any regional exam counts; Canadian exams are not accepted, and certificates instead of score reports are rejected.
Item 7: NBDE, National Board Dental Examination
This item requires an original grade card showing you passed all parts of the National Board Dental Examination, given by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. Copies of grade cards are not accepted.
To send it, contact the Joint Commission and ask that your results be released to the Virginia Board through their online portal. For example, Dr. Priya Nair logs into her JCNDE account and authorizes the release of her National Board results to Virginia.
A common edge case is the dentist who took the older two-part NBDE versus the newer Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE); the Board wants proof you passed all parts of whichever version applied to you. A frequent mistake is printing your own grade card and mailing it; since copies are rejected, this wastes time. The misconception is that your clinical exam scores cover this requirement; they do not, because the NBDE tests written knowledge while the clinical exam tests hands-on skill, and the Board wants both.
Item 8: NPDB, National Practitioner Data Bank Self-Query
This item requires a current Self-Query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank. The report cannot be older than six months from the date it was prepared, and there is a fee to order it. Under 18VAC60-21-190, this report is required from all applicants without exception.
To get it, go to the NPDB website, create an account, order a Self-Query, and pay the fee. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell orders his Self-Query on the NPDB site and uploads the PDF when it arrives.
A key nuance is the six-month clock. If your Virginia license is not issued within six months of the NPDB report date, the Board will ask for a fresh report before it approves you. A common mistake is ordering the report too early, then watching it expire while you wait on slow transcripts. The misconception is that a clean record means you can skip this report; you cannot, because the rule applies to every applicant, spotless record or not.
Item 9: Electronic Signature and Attestation
This item is your electronic signature at the end of the online form. By signing, you authorize the release of confidential information, affirm your application is complete and correct, and attest that you have read and will follow Virginia’s dental laws and regulations.
To complete it, review the Laws and Regulations tab on the Board’s site, then type your signature where the form prompts you. For example, Dr. Aisha Rahman reads the regulations, then signs electronically to certify her file is true.
A common edge case is signing before you finish gathering documents; the signature attests the file is complete, so sign only when you are ready. The mistake to avoid is treating the attestation as boilerplate, because a false attestation can lead to discipline later. The misconception is that an electronic signature is less binding than ink; in Virginia it carries the same legal weight as a handwritten signature.
Item 10: Legal Name Change Documentation
This item asks for proof of any name change since you graduated or were licensed elsewhere. It applies if your current name differs from the name on your diploma, your transcript, or your other licenses.
To handle it, upload, email, fax, or mail a photocopy of your marriage license or court order. For example, Dr. Aisha Rahman, whose diploma reads Aisha Khan, uploads her marriage certificate to bridge the two names.
A common edge case is multiple changes, such as marriage then divorce; you must document each change in the chain. The mistake to avoid is assuming the Board will connect the dots on its own; without proof, a name mismatch holds your file. The misconception is that you need certified originals; photocopies of the marriage license or court order are accepted here.
Item 11: Address of Record and Publicly Disclosable Address
This item asks for your Address of Record and a publicly disclosable address. Under § 54.1-2400.02 of the Code of Virginia, the addresses of licensees are made public, and normally your Address of Record is the public one.
To fill it out, enter your Address of Record. If you do not want that address public, enter a second, publicly disclosable address, such as your work or practice address. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell lists his home as the Address of Record and his clinic address as the public one.
A common edge case is a dentist who works at several offices; pick the main practice address for the public field. The mistake to avoid is leaving the public field blank when you want privacy, because then your home address becomes public by default. The misconception is that the two addresses must differ; if you are fine with your Address of Record being public, you simply enter the same address in both sections.
Item 12: Form B Chronology (Licensure by Credentials Only)
This item, on Form B, asks credentials applicants to list every personal and professional activity since earning their degree or certification. That includes every job, teaching post, volunteer role, and every gap of unemployment. Examination applicants do not complete it.
To fill it out, list each period in order with from and to dates, the position or activity, the employer’s contact information, and clinical practice hours per year. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell lists 07/2017 to present, Associate Dentist, Bell Family Dental, 1,400 hours per year.
A key nuance is that you must account for all time with no gaps, including non-professional periods. A common mistake is submitting a resume or CV instead; the Board states those are not accepted as substitutes and will not be considered. The misconception is that you only list dental jobs; in truth, you must include unemployment and non-dental periods too, so the timeline has no holes.
Item 13: Current Unrestricted Out-of-State License in Good Standing (Credentials Only)
This item requires credentials applicants to hold a current, unrestricted license to practice dentistry in another U.S. jurisdiction. That license must have been earned by passing a clinical competency exam comparable to Virginia’s, and each board must certify you are in good standing.
To meet it, make sure your out-of-state license is active and free of restrictions, then rely on the Form C verifications from Item 5 to prove good standing. For example, Dr. Marcus Bell’s active Maryland license, earned through a regional clinical exam, satisfies this item.
A common edge case is a license with a restriction or a probation; the Board wants an unrestricted license, so a restricted one can block the credentials path. The mistake to avoid is letting your out-of-state license lapse while your Virginia file is pending, which can disqualify you. The misconception is that an inactive license counts; it must be current and unrestricted at the time you apply.
Item 14: Number of Hours of Clinical Practice (Credentials Only)
This item asks credentials applicants to report clinical practice hours for each dental position held in the six years before applying. To qualify, you must have practiced at least 600 hours in each of five calendar years during the six years right before your application. The Board counts back six years from the date it receives your file.
To report it, list your hours per calendar year on Form B. For example, if the Board receives your file on May 1, 2026, the six-year window starts May 2, 2020; Dr. Marcus Bell shows 1,400 hours in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, clearing the 600-hour floor in five years.
A common edge case is a year you took off for family or illness; the rule allows one light year out of six, since you only need five qualifying years. The mistake to avoid is reporting hours by job total instead of per calendar year, which makes it impossible for the Board to confirm you hit 600 each year. The misconception is that any work counts; only clinical practice hours count, so administrative or teaching-only time may not qualify, and you may need the notarized Employment Verification form to back up your numbers.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named dentists who each take a different route through the application. Use them as models for your own file.
Scenario 1: Aisha Rahman, new graduate applying by examination. Aisha just earned her DDS and passed the ADEX exam this year. She files by examination.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Pathway | Licensure by Examination |
| Application fee | $400.00 paid by Visa |
| Form A | Skipped (no post-doctoral specialty program) |
| Official transcript | Sealed DDS transcript sent by school via Parchment |
| Form C | Skipped (never held any health license) |
| Clinical scores | ADEX report sent by the testing agency |
| NBDE | INBDE results released through the JCNDE portal |
| NPDB Self-Query | Ordered online, dated within 6 months |
| Name change | Marriage certificate uploaded (Khan to Rahman) |
| Signature | Electronic signature attesting file is complete |
Scenario 2: Marcus Bell, out-of-state dentist applying by credentials. Marcus holds active licenses in Maryland and North Carolina and has practiced full time for nine years. He files by credentials.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Pathway | Licensure by Credentials |
| Application fee | $500.00 paid by Visa |
| Official transcript | Sealed DDS transcript emailed by his school |
| Form C | One sent to Maryland, one to North Carolina |
| Clinical scores | Regional clinical exam report sent by agency |
| NBDE | All parts released through the JCNDE portal |
| NPDB Self-Query | Ordered online, dated within 6 months |
| Form B Chronology | Full job and gap history since 2017, no gaps |
| Clinical hours | 1,400 hours per year, 2021 through 2025 |
| Out-of-state license | Active, unrestricted Maryland license in good standing |
Scenario 3: Priya Nair, specialist with a post-doctoral residency. Priya finished a CODA-accredited oral surgery residency and applies by examination after passing the ADEX exam.
| Form Section | What Priya Enters |
|---|---|
| Pathway | Licensure by Examination |
| Application fee | $400.00 paid by Mastercard |
| Form A | Completed by her residency director, marked A1, with school seal |
| Official transcript | Sealed dental school transcript plus residency letter |
| Clinical scores | ADEX report sent by the testing agency |
| NBDE | All parts released through the JCNDE portal |
| NPDB Self-Query | Ordered online, dated within 6 months |
| OMS registration | Notes plan to register as an oral surgeon after licensure |
| Address fields | Home as Address of Record, clinic as public address |
| Signature | Electronic signature attesting file is complete |
How to File the Completed Virginia Dentist License Application
You file the main application through one channel only: the online licensing portal. The supporting documents, though, travel through several channels, and each item lists which ones the Board accepts. Below is how each channel works.
Online (the application and fee). Log in to your account, complete the form, and pay the fee with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. There is no separate paper application. Once you submit, you cannot edit it, so review every screen first. Keep your on-screen payment receipt as proof of filing.
By mail (supporting documents). Many attachments may be mailed to: Virginia Board of Dentistry, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463. The Board suggests using FedEx or UPS with delivery confirmation, because USPS mail routes through a separate offsite facility and can be delayed. There is no extra fee to mail documents beyond your postage. Keep the carrier’s tracking record as your proof of filing.
By email (schools, agencies, and some applicant uploads). Schools, testing agencies, and issuing boards may email transcripts, score reports, and verifications directly to bodlicensing@dhp.virginia.gov. You may also email or upload your name-change documents and Form B. There is no fee for this channel. Save the sent-email confirmation as your proof.
By fax (limited). Some items, such as name-change documents, may be faxed to the Board’s eFax line at (804) 698-4266. Note that Form A certifications cannot be faxed. There is no fee, but keep your fax confirmation page as proof.
After everything arrives, the Board says it will tell you about missing items within about 15 business days, and once your file is complete, it asks for 30 business days to process it.
What Happens After You File
Once you submit and pay, the Board begins reviewing your file, but only after the fee clears. You can watch progress yourself by logging in and clicking the View Checklist link under Pending Licenses, which shows completed and outstanding items in real time. This saves you from guessing or calling.
If something is missing, the Board notifies you within roughly 15 business days of receiving your application. You then send the missing item through the channel that item allows. Remember that an incomplete application stays active for only one year from the date the Board received it; after that, you must reapply and pay again.
Once your file is complete, allow about 30 business days for processing. If your license is not issued within six months of your NPDB report date and your license verifications, the Board will ask for a fresh NPDB Self-Query and current verifications before it can approve you. So a slow file can force you to reorder documents.
When the Board approves you, it issues your Virginia dentist license, and you may begin practicing. If you plan to prescribe controlled drugs, you then apply separately for a DEA registration through the Drug Enforcement Administration, since you must hold the state license first. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must also register with the Board under 18VAC60-21-310 before practicing as a surgeon.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has stalled real applications. Avoid them to keep your file moving.
- Leaving a screening question blank. The Board says unanswered questions delay your file and may trigger a request for clarification.
- Picking the wrong pathway and paying the wrong fee. Because fees are non-refundable, you may lose the money and pay again.
- Mailing an unsealed or copied transcript. Copies are rejected outright, so you must request a fresh sealed original.
- Opening the transcript envelope yourself. A broken seal makes the transcript unofficial, and the Board will not accept it.
- Omitting a license you once held. Failing to list any past license, even in another field, sends your file to Enforcement.
- Submitting your own copy of exam scores. Score reports must come from the testing agency, not from you.
- Using an exam with compensatory scoring. The Board does not accept these, and confirming this is your job.
- Ordering the NPDB Self-Query too early. A report older than six months at issuance forces you to reorder it.
- Sending a resume instead of Form B. Resumes and CVs are not accepted as substitutes for the chronology.
- Reporting clinical hours by job total, not per year. The Board needs hours per calendar year to confirm the 600-hour rule.
- Mailing documents by USPS without tracking. USPS routes to an offsite facility and can be delayed, so use FedEx or UPS.
- Signing the attestation before the file is ready. Your signature affirms the file is complete and correct.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do use the View Checklist tool often, because it shows exactly what is still missing.
- Do request transcripts and verifications early, since schools and boards can be slow.
- Do match your name across every document, because mismatches freeze your file.
- Do confirm your exam is ADEX for the examination pathway, since that is the only accepted exam since January 1, 2023.
- Do keep copies of everything, because the Board owns and never returns your documents.
- Do mail with FedEx or UPS delivery confirmation, so you have proof the Board received it.
Don’t:
- Don’t submit before paying, because your file is not reviewed until the fee clears.
- Don’t open sealed transcript envelopes, since that voids their official status.
- Don’t hide a past license or discipline, because the Board cross-checks and may investigate.
- Don’t assume Virginia honors your other license, since the Board has no reciprocity.
- Don’t let your NPDB report or out-of-state license go stale during the wait.
- Don’t wait past one year to complete a stalled file, or you must reapply and pay again.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most dentists file the Virginia application themselves, but some hire a licensing service. Here is how the choice breaks down.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save the service fee, since the only required cost is the Board’s $400 or $500 fee.
- You control the timeline, because you chase your own schools and boards directly.
- You learn the regulations firsthand, which helps you stay compliant later.
- You avoid handing sensitive records to a third party, keeping your data private.
- You can use the View Checklist tool yourself, which makes self-filing very trackable.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You shoulder every detail, so one missed box can cost weeks.
- You must track six-month clocks on the NPDB report and verifications yourself.
- You may misread the 600-hour or five-year rules without guidance.
- You handle all the follow-up calls and emails to slow schools and boards.
- You risk an Enforcement referral if you misstate your license history.
FAQs
Do I need to file the application online, or can I mail a paper version?
Yes, you file the main application online through the Board’s portal. Only the supporting documents, like transcripts and verifications, travel by mail, email, or fax.
Is the examination pathway cheaper than the credentials pathway?
Yes, the examination pathway costs $400.00, while the credentials pathway costs $500.00. Both fees are non-refundable, so choose your pathway with care.
Do I have to complete Form B if I apply by examination?
No, Form B Chronology is only for licensure by credentials. Examination applicants skip it entirely.
Do I write my maiden name or my current name on the application?
Yes, use your current legal name, then attach a marriage license or court order to bridge any former name on your diploma or licenses.
Is the ADEX exam the only clinical exam Virginia accepts?
Yes, for the examination pathway, the Board has accepted only the ADEX exam since January 1, 2023. Canadian exams are never accepted.
Do I list every license I ever held, even an expired one in another field?
Yes, you must list every license, certification, or registration in any health profession. Omitting one sends your file to Enforcement for investigation.
Is the NPDB Self-Query required even if my record is spotless?
Yes, the report is required from every applicant without exception under the regulations. A clean record does not excuse you from it.
Do I report my clinical hours as one job total on Form B?
No, report hours per calendar year. The Board needs yearly figures to confirm 600 hours in five of the last six years.
Is a copy of my transcript acceptable if it is notarized?
No, only a final original transcript with the school seal, conferred date, and registrar’s signature counts. Copies are rejected even if notarized.
Do I need to send my own printed NBDE grade card?
No, you must have the Joint Commission release your scores through their portal. Copies you print yourself are not accepted.
Is my electronic signature legally binding on this application?
Yes, your electronic signature authorizes release of records and attests your file is complete and correct, carrying full legal weight.
Do I get my documents back after the Board reviews them?
No, documents you submit become the property of the Board and cannot be returned. Always keep your own copies.
Is there a deadline to finish a stalled application?
Yes, an incomplete application stays active for one year from the date of receipt. After that, you must reapply and pay again.
Do I apply for my DEA registration at the same time as my state license?
No, you must hold your Virginia dental license first, then apply separately to the DEA for a controlled-substance registration.
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