Getting licensed to practice as a dentist in Arizona means applying through the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Arizona licensing and credentialing for you.
Official AZ boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners websiteHow to get licensed in Arizona
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam results (INBDE + a clinical exam), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Arizona issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners
The AZ board sets Arizona's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$410
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~45 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
Free AZ checklist
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Every document, form and fee, stage by stage, with links to the official board forms. Emailed to you now.
Renewing your Arizona dental license
Once you're licensed, the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Deadline
- Renewal application and fee due by the last day of your birth month every third year; the license expires 30 days after that birth month
- Renewal fee
- $650 triennial renewal ($15 retired or disabled status) (late fee: $100 late renewal penalty (applications received or postmarked after the expiration date))
- Continuing education (CE)
- 63 hours every 3-year renewal period
- At least 3 hours opioid education
- At least 3 hours infectious diseases or infectious disease control
- At least 3 hours CPR at healthcare-provider level, ACLS or PALS (hands-on skills demonstration required)
- At least 3 hours ethics or Arizona dental jurisprudence
- At least 36 hours in clinical/health-related areas
- No more than 15 hours in practice management, patient management or health-care delivery
- Current healthcare-provider CPR card, or ACLS or PALS within 2 years, at renewal (R4-11-1202)
- How to renew
- Submit the Board's online renewal application with the fee by the end of the birth month and affirm CE complianceOpen the renewal portal
- NoteThe $110 initial license fee covers only the time to the first birth month, so the first renewal can fall within months of licensure; CE for new licensees is due by the end of the first full renewal period
- NoteA CE extension can be requested with the Board's CE Extension Request form if submitted by the birth-month deadline
- NoteSedation and anesthesia permits renew separately every 5 years ($300)
- NoteNotify the Board in writing within 10 days of an address or practice location change; report a felony or patient-safety misdemeanor charge within 10 working days
- NoteRetired status (age 65+ or fully withdrawn from practice) renews for $15 and requires surrendering the DEA registration
Last verified November 3, 2026 from the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesA.R.S. 32-1236 Renewal of licenseArizona State Board of Dental Examiners: FeesArizona State Board of Dental Examiners: FAQsAriz. Admin. Code R4-11-1203 Continuing dental education: dentists and dental consultants
Comparing states? See how often dentists renew, deadlines, fees and CE in every state: dental license renewal requirements by state.
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Arizona renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CE hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Dental credentialing & payer enrollment in Arizona
A Arizona license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Arizona license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Arizona license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each dental plan (and any medical plan you'll bill) that you want to join in Arizona. Each runs its own credentialing review.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Arizona Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Arizona? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
How Rivon handles Arizona licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Arizona license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Arizona application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Arizona dentist licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a dental license in Arizona?
Most Arizona dentist applications take about 45 days once the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses dentists in Arizona?
Dentists in Arizona are licensed by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Arizona dentist application fee?
As an estimate, the Arizona dentist application fee is around $410. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners before you apply.
How do I renew my Arizona dental license?
In Arizona, renewals are filed with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners. How to renew: Submit the Board's online renewal application with the fee by the end of the birth month and affirm CE compliance. Renewal cycle: Every 3 years. Deadline: Renewal application and fee due by the last day of your birth month every third year; the license expires 30 days after that birth month. Renewal fee: $650 triennial renewal ($15 retired or disabled status) (late fee: $100 late renewal penalty (applications received or postmarked after the expiration date)). Continuing education: 63 hours every 3-year renewal period. Required topics include At least 3 hours opioid education; At least 3 hours infectious diseases or infectious disease control; At least 3 hours CPR at healthcare-provider level, ACLS or PALS (hands-on skills demonstration required); At least 3 hours ethics or Arizona dental jurisprudence; At least 36 hours in clinical/health-related areas; No more than 15 hours in practice management, patient management or health-care delivery; Current healthcare-provider CPR card, or ACLS or PALS within 2 years, at renewal (R4-11-1202). This is as published by the board (last verified November 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a dental license in Arizona?
63 CE hours. The Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners publishes the requirement as: 63 hours every 3-year renewal period. Required topics include At least 3 hours opioid education; At least 3 hours infectious diseases or infectious disease control; At least 3 hours CPR at healthcare-provider level, ACLS or PALS (hands-on skills demonstration required); At least 3 hours ethics or Arizona dental jurisprudence; At least 36 hours in clinical/health-related areas; No more than 15 hours in practice management, patient management or health-care delivery; Current healthcare-provider CPR card, or ACLS or PALS within 2 years, at renewal (R4-11-1202). Last verified November 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Arizona dentist license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does dentist credentialing involve in Arizona?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Arizona that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Arizona Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Arizona license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Arizona — including by telehealth — you typically need a Arizona license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Arizona dentist licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Arizona license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Arizona application and payer enrollment end to end.