https://stateofmichigan-my.sharepoint.com/personal/freemana6_michigan_gov/Documents/Desktop/MiPLUS Documents/Updated Licensing Guides/Dentist_6

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 1 of 8

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

OVERVIEW:

The dentist license type allows a licensee to engage in the practice of dentistry.

NOTE: The content contained below is a general overview of licensing requirements. Links to access the Public

Health Code and Administrative Rules for this profession can be found at the end of this guide.

LICENS

URE REQUIREMENTS

CHECKLIS

(Listed below are the minimum requirements needed to obtain a

dentist

license.)

APPLICATION AND FEES

 Online Application For a Dentist License - Complete all fields, answer all questions, and upload any supporting

documentation. Online application can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus.

 Application Fee (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit or debit card):

Dentist – By Endorsement – $322.40

Dentist – By Exam – $322.40

Dentist – Relicensure – $342.40

Controlled Substance License – $259.10

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL APPLICANTS (EXCEPT RENEWAL)

NOTE: You must be issued your dentist license prior to applying for any dental specialty.

 Criminal Background Check – Once the online application is completed and submitted you will be emailed

an Application Confirmation letter containing instructions to complete the Criminal Background Check

(except those applicants seeking relicensure, if the license expired within the last three years).

 Good Moral Character Questions – Documentation will be required if you answer “yes” to either question to

show at the current time you have the ability to, and are likely to, serve the public in a fair, honest and open

manner, that you are rehabilitated, or that the substance of the former offense is not reasonably related to

the occupation or profession for which you are seeking a license.

 Social Security Number – An individual applying for licensure is required to provide his or her social security

number at the time of application. If exempt under law from obtaining a SSN or do not have a SSN, the

SSN affidavit form will be required to be uploaded at the time the application is submitted.

 Implicit Bias Training – An individual seeking licensure must have completed at least 2 hours of implicit bias

training within the five years immediately preceding issuance of the license.

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 2 of 8

 Human Trafficking – An individual seeking licensure must have completed training in identifying victims of

human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.11123 prior to being issued a license.

The training must only be completed one time.

 You may apply for a controlled substance license by completing the controlled substance license fields on the

application. If you do not apply for a controlled substance license on your initial application, you must wait for

the dentist license to be issued before applying for a controlled substance license.

 Opioids and Controlled Substances Awareness Training – An individual seeking a controlled substance

license or who is licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must have completed training in

opioids and controlled substances awareness that meets the standards established in the Board of Pharmacy

Controlled Substances Administrative Rules, R 338.3135 prior to being issued a license.

 Verification of Licensure – Verification of licensure must be sent directly to our office by the licensing agency

of any state of the United States or country in which you hold or ever held a license. The verification must

show that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force at the

time of application. Verification can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of

Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

 English Language Proficiency – An individual applying for licensure must demonstrate a working knowledge

of the English language. This can be established if either the applicant’s required health professional

educational program was taught in English, a transcript establishes the applicant earned not less than 60

college level credits from an English-speaking graduate or undergraduate school, or that the applicant

obtained a passing score on an approved English proficiency exam as established by the department under

R 338.7002b(2) of the Public Health Code – General Rules.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to this office confirming graduation from a CODA-accredited

dental program where a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree was

awarded. Transcripts can be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

 Arrange for the official report of your National Board scores to be sent directly to this office from the Joint

Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) by visiting their website at www.ada.org.

 Provide passing scores for all parts, written and clinical, of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc

(ADEX) examination that is conducted by CDCA-WREB-CITA, or another regional testing agency. Non-

ADEX examinations are NOT accepted.

 Beginning 6 months after October 2, 2023, submit proof of current certification in basic life support (BLS)

or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) for healthcare providers with a hands-on component from an agency

or organization that grants certification pursuant to standards equivalent to those established by the American

Heart Association (AHA), earned within the 2-year period before receiving a license.

If you graduated from a non-ADA accredited dental school before receiving your DDS or DMD degree or

specialty degree or certification recognized in R 338.11501 from an ADA accredited school:

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 3 of 8

 Arrange for a certified copy of this final, official transcript from the non-ADA accredited school where a dental

degree was obtained to be submitted to this office. An original, official translation must also be included if the

transcript is not in English. Documents can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of

Professional Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909.

 Arrange for official transcripts to be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909 confirming one of the following:

o Successful completion of a CODA-accredited dental program where a Doctor of Dental Surgery

(DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree was awarded.

o Successful completion of a minimum two-year master’s degree or certificate program in a

CODA-accredited dental program with a degree or certificate being awarded from a dental

specialty program in one of the following: Endodontics; Oral and maxillofacial surgery; Oral and

maxillofacial pathology; Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; Pediatric dentistry;

Periodontics; Prosthodontics; Dental anesthesiology; Dental public health; Oral and

maxillofacial radiology; Oral medicine; or Orofacial pain.

o Successful completion of a minimum two-year master’s degree or certificate program in a

CODA-accredited specialty branch of dentistry NOT listed above. Applicants in this situation

must petition the board to approve their degree.

NOTE: Applicants who have completed a specialty program may have the educational

program submit the Certification of Specialty Program form instead of providing official

transcripts.

 Arrange for the official report of your National Board scores to be sent directly to this office from the Joint

Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) by visiting their website at www.ada.org.

 Provide passing scores for all parts, written and clinical, of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc

(ADEX) examination that is conducted by CDCA-WREB-CITA, or another regional testing agency. Non-

ADEX examinations are NOT accepted.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

All applicants:

 Applicants for licensure by endorsement must have held a license as a dentist in good standing in another

state for 1 year prior to applying for licensure.

 Submit proof of current certification in basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) for

healthcare providers with a hands-on component from an agency or organization that grants certification

pursuant to standards equivalent to those established by the American Heart Association (AHA), earned within

the 2-year period before receiving a license.

Applicants who have been licensed in another state for less than 5 years:

 Arrange for official transcripts to be emailed to bpldata@michigan.gov or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909 confirming one of the following:

o Successful completion of a CODA-accredited dental program where a Doctor of Dental Surgery

(DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree was awarded.

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 4 of 8

o Successful completion of a minimum two-year master’s degree or certificate program in a

CODA-accredited dental program with a degree or certificate being awarded from a dental

specialty program in one of the following: Endodontics; Oral and maxillofacial surgery; Oral and

maxillofacial pathology; Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; Pediatric dentistry;

Periodontics; Prosthodontics; Dental anesthesiology; Dental public health; Oral and

maxillofacial radiology; Oral medicine; or Orofacial pain.

o Successful completion of a minimum two-year master’s degree or certificate program in a

CODA-accredited specialty branch of dentistry NOT listed above. Applicants in this situation

must petition the board to approve their degree.

NOTE: Applicants who have completed a specialty program may have the educational

program submit the Certification of Specialty Program form instead of providing official

transcripts.

 Arrange for the official report of your National Board scores to be sent directly to this office from the Joint

Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) by visiting their website at www.ada.org.

 Provide passing scores of all parts, written and clinical, of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc

(ADEX) clinical examination that is conducted by the CDCA-WREB-CITA.

Note: If an applicant has passed a regional examination or state board examination the applicant

may petition the board for review of the regional or state board examination to determine if it is

substantially equivalent to the ADEX examination.

Applicants who have been licensed in another state for at least 5 years that required the successful

completion of a regional or state exam:

 Provide certification of your passing examination scores directly from the regional testing agency or state

board. Documentation should be sent to BPLDat[email protected].

Applicants who have been licensed in another state for at least 5 years that did NOT require the successful

completion of a regional or state exam:

 Provide passing scores for all parts, written and clinical, of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc

(ADEX) examination that is conducted by CDCA-WREB-CITA, or another regional testing agency.

NOTE: Instead of taking the examination, the applicant may petition the board for a determination

that the applicant’s credentials are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure by

endorsement instead of taking an examination.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT FOR THOSE LICENSED IN A

PROVINCE OF CANADA

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Applicants for licensure by endorsement must hold an active Canadian license as a dentist in good standing

for 1 year prior to applying for licensure.

 Applicant must have been certified by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 5 of 8

 Provide passing scores from 1 of the following:

o The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) dental written examination AND all parts

of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc (ADEX) clinical examination that is conducted by

the CDCA-WREB-CITA.

o All parts, written and clinical, of the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc (ADEX) clinical

examination that is conducted by the CDCA-WREB-CITA or another regional testing agency. Non-

ADEX examinations are NOT accepted.

 Arrange for official transcripts to be emailed to bpl[email protected] or mailed to the Bureau of Professional

Licensing, PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909 confirming one of the following:

o Successful completion of a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation

of Canada (CDAC) with all training completed in Canada where a BDS, DDS, or DMD degree was

awarded.

o Successful completion of an ADA accredited dental program where a Doctor of Dental Surgery

(DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree was awarded.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE APPLYING FOR RELICENSURE

(These are in addition to the requirements stated above that apply to ALL Applicants)

 Online application can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus, select MiPLUS Login, select

“Modification” next to your license number and then select “Relicensure.”

All applicants for relicensure must complete the following:

 Submit proof of current certification in basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) for

healthcare providers with a hands-on component from an agency or organization that grants certification

pursuant to standards equivalent to those established by the American Heart Association (AHA), earned

within the 2-year period before receiving the license.

 Submit copies of certificates showing proof of having earned 60 hours of board-approved continuing

education earned within the 3-

year period immediately preceding the date of your application for relicensure.

The continuing education must include the following:

o 3 hours in pain and symptom management.

o 1 hour in dental ethics and jurisprudence with inclusion of delegation of duties to allied dental

personnel, which may be completed in 1 or more courses.

o 1 hour in infection control, which must include sterilization of hand pieces, personal protective

equipment, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection control

guidelines.

 Dental Amalgam – Documentation will be required if you are subject to the provisions of Administrative Rule

338.11811 regarding the installation and operation of a dental amalgam separator. You must verify that you

are in compliance with the dental amalgam separator rules and provide the amalgam separator make and

year that each separator was installed. The dental amalgam separator rules do NOT apply to any of the

following: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons; Oral and maxillofacial radiologists; Oral pathologists;

Orthodontists; Periodontists; Dentists while providing services in a dental school, in a hospital or through a

local health Department; and Dentists who install and use a holding tank and do not discharge amalgam

waste.

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 6 of 8

Applicants for relicensure whose license has lapsed for more than 3 years, but less than 5 years, at the

time of application and have NOT held a valid and unrestricted dentist license in another state or Canada

within the 3 years immediately preceding the application for relicensure must also complete the following:

 Retake and pass the American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX) clinical and written examination for

dentists developed and scored by the CDCA-WREB-CITA or another regional testing agency with a passing

score of not less than 75, withing the 2-year period immediately preceding your application for relicensure.

Applicants for relicensure whose license has lapsed for 5 years or more at the time of application AND

have NOT held a valid and unrestricted dentist license in another state or Canada within the 3 years

immediately preceding the application for relicensure, must also complete the following:

 Meet the requirements for licensure by examination. The American Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX)

dental clinical and written examination conducted and scored by the CDCA-WREB-CITA or another regional

testing agency must be retaken and passed within the 2-year period immediately preceding the application

for relicensure. No other exams need to be retaken if the ones previously taken meet the requirements as

laid out in the application for licensure by examination section.

RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

 Online Application For a Dentist Renewal – Can be completed by visiting www.michigan.gov/miplus.

 Renewal Application Fee (Must be paid by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express credit or debit

card):

Dentist Renewal Application Fee: $296.40

Controlled Substance Renewal Application Fee: $248.10

 Renewal Cycle: 3 years

 Good Moral Character Questions – Documentation will be required if you answer “yes” to either

question to show at the current time you have the ability to, and are likely to, serve the public in a fair,

honest and open manner, that you are rehabilitated, or that the substance of the former offense is not

reasonably related to the occupation or profession for which you are seeking license renewal.

 Disciplinary Question – Documentation will be required if you answer “yes” to having sanctions imposed

against you by a similar licensure, registration, certification, or disciplinary board of another state or

country you have not previously reported to the department.

 Human Trafficking – A licensee seeking renewal must have completed training in identifying victims of

human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.11123 prior to prior to renewing

their license. The training must only be completed one time.

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 7 of 8

 Implicit Bias Training – A licensee seeking renewal must have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit

bias training for each year of the applicant’s license cycle. For the first renewal on or after June 1, 2022,

licensees will only need to have 1 hour for each year since the rule’s promulgation date of June 1, 2021.

 Your controlled substance license will renew along with the dentist license unless you uncheck the “renew

cs” box on the renewal application.

 Opioids and Controlled Substances Awarness Training – By the end of the renewal cycle that begins after

January 4, 2019, all controlled substance licensees or individuals who are licensed to prescribe or

dispense controlled substances must certify on their renewal application prior to renewing their license

that they have completed training in opioids and controlled substances awareness that meets the

standards established in Administrative Rule 338.3135.

 Dental Amalgam – Documentation will be required if you are subject to the provisions of Administrative

Rule 338.11811 regarding the installation and operation of a dental amalgam separator. You must verify

that you are in compliance with the dental amalgam separator rules and provide with each license renewal

application the amalgam separator make and year that each separator was installed. The dental

amalgam separator rules do NOT apply to any of the following: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons; Oral and

maxillofacial radiologists; Oral pathologists; Orthodontists; Periodontists; Dentists while providing

services in a dental school, in a hospital or through a local health Department; and Dentists who install

and use a holding tank and do not discharge amalgam waste.

 Accept Renewal Attestation - By accepting the renewal attestation you as the licensee are certifying that

you have met the continuing education requirements during the 3-year period immediately preceding the

application for renewal.

 Possess current certification in basic or advanced cardiac life support from an agency or organization that

grants certification pursuant to standards substantially equivalent to the standards adopted in Rule

338.11705(4).

 60 hours of continuing education as outlined in Rule 338.11701 approved by the board earned as follows:

o At least 20 hours in programs devoted to clinical issues.

o 3 hours in pain and symptom management.

o 1 hour in dental ethics and jurisprudence with inclusion of delegation of duties to allied dental

personnel, which may be completed in 1 or more courses.

o 1 hour in infection control, which must include sterilization of hand pieces, personal protective

equipment, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection control

guidelines.

o 20 hours of the required continuing education hours in programs directly related to clinical issues

including delivery of care, materials used in delivery of care, and pharmacology.

o At least 20 of the continuing education hours must be from attending synchronous, live courses

or programs per R 338.11701.

o No more than 30 of the 60 hours of the required continuing education hours may be done

asynchronously, noninteractive.

o A dental specialist shall complete 20 hours of the required continuing education hours in the dental

specialty field in which he or she is licensed.

 Additional information regarding continuing education can be found by accessing the Administrative Rules

for Dentistry at: www.michigan.gov/healthlicense and click on the dentistry link.

MICHIGAN DENTIST LICENSING GUIDE

Revision Date 6/7/24 Page 8 of 8

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND FORMS

 By visiting www.michigan.gov/healthlicense and clicking on the dentistry link you can access the following

helpful resources and forms.

Resources:

 Michigan Public Health Code

 Administrative Rules for Dentistry

 Track continuing education using CE Broker - The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) has partnered

with CE Broker to help licensed professionals keep track of their continuing education (CE) credits. Additional

information can be found on our website.