Dentist Licensure Requirements in Rhode Island

The ADA lists three accepted clinical examinations for Rhode Island: the ADEX exam as administered by CDCA-WREB-CITA, CRDTS, and SRTA.

An applicant qualifies by passing the ADEX exam, including its periodontal portion, within five years of applying for licensure; or by passing an approved non-regional-board examination equivalent to ADEX with an earned score of 75% in every discipline, clinical skill, procedure or knowledge area the ADEX exam tests (using the CDCA's own weighting and scoring methods), plus a comprehensive CDCA Dental Simulated Clinical Exercise (DSCE) written exam scored at 75%; or by holding a license in good standing to practice dentistry in another state for the five years immediately before applying, where that state itself required successful completion of a clinical exam that was not part of the applicant's training program.

Section 5-31.1-6 requires every dentist applicant to present evidence of graduating from a dental school accredited by the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation and approved by the board, meet any additional requirements the board or director sets by regulation, and pass the examinations the board requires; it also authorizes an application fee under § 23-1-54 and a special no-fee license letting retired dentists volunteer, without compensation, treating indigent patients in underserved or critical-need areas.

Rule 216-RICR-40-05-2.4.6 adds that an applicant must be of good moral character, at least 18 years old, a graduate of a CODA-accredited school approved by the Board, have passed the required examinations (or met the endorsement requirements), and be in good standing in every state where licensed, confirmed through a National Practitioner Data Bank query.

Rule 2.4.7 lists the application package: government-issued ID, official transcripts or graduation verification, national board results, ADEX or equivalent exam results submitted directly to the Board, verification of good standing in other licensing states, and the non-refundable application fee.

Rhode Island treats specialty advertising as a form of unprofessional conduct that can support license revocation or suspension.

Rule 2.15.1 and § 5-31.1-10 both bar a dentist from advertising a practice as limited to a specialty area unless the dentist is a diplomate of, or fellow in, a specialty board accredited or recognized by the American Dental Association, or has completed a postgraduate program approved by the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Licenses run on a two-year cycle expiring June 30 of even-numbered years.

Section 5-31.1-7 and Rule 2.6.1 set the licensee's renewal-application deadline at May 1 of each even-numbered year; § 5-31.1-21 describes the board mailing that same biennial registration application by May 1 but separately sets the licensee's completed, fee-paid filing due by June 1 of that year — the source is not internally consistent on this date, so confirm the live deadline with the board.

The board may grant one six-month extension for demonstrated hardship.

Rule 2.6 sets the dentist CE requirement at 40 credit hours per two-year accrual period beginning July 1 (prorated for a license held less than two years), plus at least one hour per year of CDC Infection Control Guidelines training and a current Basic Life Support/CPR certification with a hands-on skill component, meeting American Heart Association guidelines.

Rule 2.16 caps how those credits can be earned: up to 40 hours from educational/scientific courses, up to 40 hours from self-instructed courses requiring a post-test, and smaller per-category caps for authored papers and presentations (28 hours), teaching/research appointments (12 hours), table clinics and product exhibits (6 hours), community service (6 hours), and CPR courses (3 hours).

A registration not renewed by July 1 automatically expires, though the board may reinstate it on payment of the current fee plus a reinstatement fee.