Dentist Licensure Requirements in Nevada

To apply for a general dentistry license in Nevada, an applicant must have successfully passed a clinical examination.

The Board accepts two clinical examinations: ADEX, for applicants who took it after October 1, 2007, or WREB (the Western Regional Examining Board's examination).

NRS 631.230 makes a person eligible to apply for a Nevada dentistry license if they are over 21, a graduate of an accredited dental school or college, and of good moral character — the Board may weigh a suspended, revoked or currently disciplined out-of-state license in assessing character.

NRS 631.240 then requires the applicant to present a Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations certificate showing an average score of at least 75 on the National Board Dental Examination, and to either pass a clinical examination approved by the Board and the American Board of Dental Examiners or present a Western Regional Examining Board certificate showing a passing clinical exam score; the Board also examines each applicant in writing on the contents and interpretation of the dentistry chapter and the Board's own regulations.

NAC 631.090 spells out what that clinical exam must cover: the Dental Simulated Clinical Examination (or WREB's comparable exam), plus demonstrated proficiency in endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, restorative dentistry and periodontics.

NAC 631.030 lists the application's supporting documentation, including disciplinary and criminal history disclosures, fingerprints, CPR certification, and — for an applicant who intends to use laser radiation in practice — proof of a laser proficiency course of at least 6 hours based on the Board's curriculum guidelines.

An applicant who fails the clinical exam twice may not retake it for 12 months (NRS 631.280); NAC 631.140 lets an applicant who fails only one required demonstration retake just that demonstration at the next scheduled exam.

A dentist already licensed in Nevada may be issued a specialist's license under NRS 631.250 once they complete the educational requirements a Commission on Dental Accreditation-approved certifying board currently specifies for that specialty, and they must then limit their practice to it.

NRS 631.255 lets the Board skip the clinical exam and issue a specialist's license to a person who either holds a current diplomate certification from such a certifying board, or has completed that board's educational requirements and is recognized as eligible for certification — the latter path requires submitting the diplomate certificate within 6 years of licensure and maintaining it throughout the specialty license.

NAC 631.190 limits specialist licenses to nine specialties: oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontia, periodontia, prosthodontia, pediatric dentistry, endodontia, public health, and oral and maxillofacial radiology.

NAC 631.270 separately bars a dentist from stating or implying a specialty unless licensed for it, though a dentist may still advertise a practice "limited to" an area if the ad also discloses they are not a licensed specialist in it.

Under NRS 631.330, most Nevada dental licenses renew biennially (licenses issued under NRS 631.271, 631.2715 and 631.275 renew annually); missing the June 30 renewal deadline every two years automatically suspends the license, and a suspension not reinstated within 12 months is automatically revoked.

NAC 631.173 sets the base continuing education load for a dentist at 20 hours annually or 40 hours biennially, matching the renewal cycle, with hours not carried over between periods; NAC 631.175 requires at least 15 hours annually (30 biennially) of that total in clinical subjects, and at least 2 hours annually (4 biennially) in infection control.

Every licensee must also maintain current CPR certification (NAC 631.173), and a dentist registered to dispense controlled substances must complete 2 hours per licensure period on the misuse and prescribing of controlled substances and opioids (NAC 631.175, NRS 631.344).

NRS 631.342 additionally requires, within 2 years of initial licensure, a 4-hour course on the medical consequences of a weapon-of-mass-destruction terrorism event (or an accepted Disaster Life Support alternative) and 2 hours of SBIRT training for substance use disorders; licensees with a special endorsement issued pursuant to NRS 631.285 must also biennially complete immunization-related training.

NAC 631.177 requires licensees to certify their completed hours and current CPR status at renewal, keep attendance records for 3 years, and submit to Board audits; a third or subsequent failure to prove completed hours is unprofessional conduct.